YouTube announces Text-to-Speech feature for Shorts, delays Custom Thumbnails

Today, in a video update for YouTube Creators, the platform announced the launch of a new text-to-speech feature for YouTube Shorts and provided an update on the availability of custom thumbnails.

Many creators have been requesting the ability to upload custom thumbnails for their Shorts videos. According to YouTube, however, there are no plans to launch this feature in 2024. The reasoning behind this decision is that the majority of Shorts views come from the Shorts feed, where thumbnails are not displayed. YouTube recommends that creators focus on creating engaging videos rather than optimizing thumbnails for the time being.

While custom thumbnails are not coming this year, YouTube did reveal plans for upcoming features related to Shorts thumbnails. These include:

• The ability to edit the thumbnail frame of a Short after it has been uploaded.
• The option to add text and filters to customize thumbnails.

Specific details and launch dates for these features have not been announced, but creators can expect them in the coming months.

Text-to-Speech Now Available for Shorts

The main focus of the announcement was the introduction of a new text-to-speech feature for Shorts. This feature aims to give creators more ways to express themselves by allowing them to add narrated text overlays to their videos.

Here's how the text-to-speech feature works:

1. Creators can record their Short directly in the Shorts camera or upload a video from their gallery.
2. In the editing screen, tap "text" and add the desired text overlay.
3. Tap the "add voice" icon to choose from four different voices that will narrate the text.
4. Creators can select the start and end point for the visual text to coincide with the narrated portion.

The text-to-speech feature is currently rolling out to Android devices over the next few weeks. YouTube has not yet announced a release date for iOS devices.

The lack of custom thumbnails for Shorts in 2024 may be disappointing for some creators, but the upcoming editing features and the introduction of text-to-speech offer new creative possibilities. Text overlays narrated by a computer voice can enhance accessibility for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing, and can also add emphasis or humor to specific parts of a Short.

Overall, this update demonstrates YouTube's ongoing commitment to improving the Shorts creation experience. While creators wait for custom thumbnails, the new text-to-speech feature and upcoming editing options provide them with more tools to bring their Shorts to life.