Related Projects: iOS Version | Android Version | Audiobook Pipeline
Run&Read Studio is a professional macOS application designed for generating high-quality audiobooks from digital documents. It provides a comprehensive workflow for converting EPUB, PDF, and TXT files into audiobooks using both local and cloud-based Text-to-Speech (TTS) engines.
Run&Read Studio is currently in alpha. It may include bugs, incomplete features, and breaking changes, but it is under active development.
The app passes the complete happy flow and does what it is intended to do: generate audiobooks.
- Mac App Store: Download Run And Read Studio
- TestFlight: Join the beta (coming soon)
[Screenshot: Main Library and Synthesis Interface]
Run&Read Studio exports audiobooks in the custom .randr format, optimized for the Run&Read mobile players. Download the player for your device:
App Store: Run & Read for iOS/iPadOS
Google Play: Run & Read for Android
Scan QR codes to download
We believe that great literature and valuable information should be accessible to everyone. Run&Read Studio was created to make high-quality audiobook generation available to more people at home—especially those who may not know how to run Python scripts or complex command-line pipelines. By providing a professional, easy-to-use macOS interface, we're bringing the power of advanced Text-to-Speech technology to your personal library, allowing you to listen to your digital content while you're on the go—whether you're exercising, commuting, or simply relaxing.
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Document Import: Support for EPUB, PDF, and plain text files.
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Local & Cloud TTS:
- Apple TTS: Built-in, free, and offline-capable using system voices.
- Cloud Providers: Integration with OpenAI and ElevenLabs for premium voice quality.
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Workflow Management:
- Starting Point Selection: Choose exactly where to begin conversion (skip front matter).
- Sampling: Generate short audio previews to verify voice and settings.
- Estimation: Accurate time and cost estimates before starting full generation.
- Resumable Processing: Pause and resume generation at any time without losing progress.
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Export Options: Export to standard MP3 or the optimized
.randrarchive for mobile playback.
Experience the high-quality synthesis of O. Henry's "The Ransom of Red Chief," generated using the ElevenLabs model.
Download the complete .randr packed book for mobile playback:
The Ransom of Red Chief.randr
Run&Read Studio is built using modern macOS development practices, focusing on a clean, maintainable architecture.
The project follows Domain-Driven Design (DDD) principles and a "Functional Core, Imperative Shell" approach. It is implemented using SwiftUI with an MVVM pattern and utilizes Swift Concurrency (async/await) for long-running synthesis tasks.
For a detailed technical overview, see the Architecture Specification.
The development is structured into clear milestones, from foundational architecture to advanced export features.
- Milestone 0: Foundations, Domain Model, and Persistence Setup. ✅
- Milestone 1: Document Ingestion (EPUB/PDF/TXT) and Library Management. ✅
- Milestone 2: TTS Integration (Apple Local, OpenAI, ElevenLabs) and Sampling. ✅
- Milestone 3: Synthesis Pipeline, Progress Tracking, and Resumption. ✅
- Milestone 4: Integrated Audio Player and Export (MP3/RANDR). ✅
- Milestone 5: Polish, Quality Hardening, and Storage Management. ✅ (high-priority items complete)
- Milestone 6: Support for local open-source TTS models (MLX, Kokoro-82M, etc.). Planned.
Detailed progress can be tracked in the Milestones Document and individual Summary Reports.
- macOS: 14.0 (Sonoma) or later.
- Xcode: 15.0 or later.
- Swift: 5.9+.
- Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/answersolutions/runandread-studio.git
- Open
Run&Read Studio.xcodeprojin Xcode. - Ensure you have a valid development team selected for code signing.
- Build and run the
Run&Read Studioscheme.
To use cloud-based TTS providers, you'll need to obtain API keys from the respective services. Keys are entered in the app's Settings and stored securely in the macOS Keychain.
- Go to platform.openai.com and sign in or create an account.
- Navigate to API Keys in the left sidebar (or go to platform.openai.com/api-keys).
- Click Create new secret key, give it a name, and copy the key.
- Make sure your account has a positive credit balance under Billing.
- Go to elevenlabs.io and sign in or create an account.
- Click your profile icon in the bottom-left corner and select Profile + API key.
- Copy your API key from the API Key section.
- Free accounts include a monthly character quota; paid plans offer higher limits and premium voices.
- Go to console.deepgram.com and sign in or create an account.
- In the left sidebar, navigate to API Keys.
- Click Create a New API Key, set a name and permissions, then copy the generated key.
- New accounts receive free credits to get started.
Run&Read Studio is designed with privacy in mind. Local synthesis using Apple TTS remains entirely on your device. For cloud providers (OpenAI/ElevenLabs), only the text segments required for synthesis are transmitted. API keys are stored securely in the macOS Keychain.
Run&Read Studio is committed to respecting intellectual property rights. Please use this application only for your personally purchased digital content or for works that are in the public domain. For preloaded books from Project Gutenberg and other sources, we adhere strictly to their guidelines and terms of use.
Run&Read Studio is alpha software. Use it at your own risk. If you run into bugs or issues, please report them so we can improve the app.
Thank you for choosing Run&Read. We hope our app enriches your daily routine by making reading more accessible and enjoyable!
Contributions are welcome. Before submitting a pull request, please review:
- Architecture Specification — system design, domain model, and architectural decisions
- Documentation Index — all project docs including milestone summaries and development process
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.