ElevenLabs Configuration
Overview
ElevenLabs is a cloud-based text-to-speech service that produces significantly more natural-sounding speech than Windows built-in voices. iReporter integrates with ElevenLabs as an optional voice engine — when configured, all button voice output uses ElevenLabs instead of Windows TTS.
ElevenLabs requires an internet connection during races. A free-tier account provides enough monthly character credits for most iReporter use cases.
Getting an ElevenLabs Account and API Key
- Go to https://elevenlabs.io and click Sign Up.
- Create a free account using your email address or a Google/Apple login.
- Once logged in, click your profile avatar (top-right) and select Profile + API Key.
- Under the API Key section, click Copy to copy your key.
Keep this key private — it controls access to your account credits.
Configuring iReporter
- In the iReporter settings panel, tick Enable Voice in the top bar.
- In the Voice Options panel, set the Voice Engine dropdown to Eleven Labs.
- Paste your API key into the API Key field.
- Click Load Voices to fetch the list of voices available on your account.
- Select a voice from the Voice dropdown.
- Click Test Voice to hear a sample phrase spoken with the selected voice.
Voice Output Device
By default, voice output goes to your system's default audio device. You can route it to a specific device using the Voice Output Device dropdown:
- Default (system audio) — plays through your normal speakers or headset
- VB-Audio CABLE Input — routes audio into a virtual microphone, which can then be used as your iRacing in-car microphone so race control hears the spoken message
VB-Audio Virtual Cable is free software available at https://vb-audio.com/Cable/.
Choosing a Voice
ElevenLabs offers dozens of pre-made voices as well as the ability to clone custom voices. For race reporting, clear and authoritative voices work best. After clicking Load Voices, try a few with Test Voice until you find one that reads race messages clearly at speed.
You can browse voices on the ElevenLabs Voice Library to preview them before loading in iReporter.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
| Load Voices returns empty list | Check your API key is correct and your account is active. Free accounts may have usage limits. |
| Test Voice fails with error | Ensure your API key is saved (click outside the field first). Check your internet connection. |
| Voice plays through wrong device | Use the Voice Output Device dropdown to select the correct output. |
| No voice heard during race | Confirm Enable Voice is ticked globally. Check the per-button Speak Text is not empty and Disable Voice for this button is not ticked. |
Switching Back to Microsoft Voice
To revert to Windows TTS, use the Voice Engine dropdown and select Microsoft Voice, or click the Switch to Microsoft Voice button inside the ElevenLabs panel. This clears the stored API key and voice selection.