Qwencloud Audio TTS

Qwen Audio TTS (Text-to-Speech)

Synthesize natural speech from text using Qwen TTS models. This skill is part of qwencloud/qwencloud-ai.

Skill directory

Use this skill's internal files to execute and learn. Load reference files on demand when the default path fails or you need details.

Security

NEVER output any API key or credential in plaintext. Always use variable references ($QWENCLOUD_API_KEY in shell, os.environ["QWENCLOUD_API_KEY"] in Python). The scripts accept QWENCLOUD_API_KEY, then QWEN_API_KEY, then DASHSCOPE_API_KEY. Any check or detection of credentials must be non-plaintext: report only status (e.g. "set" / "not set", "valid" / "invalid"), never the value. Never display contents of .env or config files that may contain secrets.

When the API key is not configured, NEVER ask the user to provide it directly. Instead, help create a .env file with a placeholder (QWENCLOUD_API_KEY=sk-your-key-here) and instruct the user to replace it with their actual key from the QwenCloud Console. Only write the actual key value if the user explicitly requests it.

Key Compatibility

Scripts support both standard QwenCloud API keys (sk-...) and Token Plan keys (sk-sp-...). Token Plan keys are automatically routed to the Token Plan endpoint for supported TTS models — see Token Plan Support below.

Token Plan: do not use curl; always use the bundled Python scripts.

Coding Plan keys (also sk-sp- prefix but purchased via Coding Plan subscription) cannot be used — TTS models are not available on Coding Plan. The script detects key type at startup and routes accordingly. If qwencloud-ops-auth is installed, see its references/codingplan.md for full details.

Detect the API key type without exposing the key:

python3 -c "
import sys; sys.path.insert(0, 'scripts')
from qwencloud_lib import detect_api_key_type
print(detect_api_key_type('scripts/qwencloud_lib.py'))
"

For Token Plan, fetch and read the current Token Plan model catalog, then use an exact listed model with scripts/tts.py. If CDN access fails, use the local fallback.

Model Selection

🚫 CRITICAL — Never override the user's model choice. If the user (or the request JSON) explicitly specifies a model, you MUST use exactly that model. Do NOT: - Replace it with a "better suited" model (e.g., switching to qwen3-tts-instruct-flash for stylized/poetic text) - Add instructions the user did not ask for - Modify any parameter the user explicitly provided Model selection guidance below applies only when the user has NOT specified a model.

Before selecting, recommending, or defaulting a model, fetch and read the current QwenCloud audio TTS model catalog. It contains the model list, basic model information, script and voice compatibility, recommendations, and defaults. If CDN access fails, use the local fallback.

Consult the qwencloud-model-selector skill when model choice depends on capability, scenario, or pricing. CosyVoice requires the dashscope SDK and uses different voices; see cosyvoice-guide.md.

⚠️ Important: The model catalog is a point-in-time snapshot and may be outdated. Model availability changes frequently. Always check the [official model list](https://www.qwencloud.com/models) for the authoritative, up-to-date catalog before making model decisions.

Model details: For more information about a specific model, direct the user to https://www.qwencloud.com/models/<model-name>. Replace <model-name> with the exact model ID; never modify or guess it.

Dynamic model queries: If the qwencloud-model-selector skill or QwenCloud CLI (qwencloud models info <model>) is available, use it for real-time model data. CLI requires authentication — see the qwencloud-usage skill for login flow.

Available Voices

Use the QwenCloud audio TTS model catalog linked above for current model-to-voice compatibility and defaults. For complete voice inventories, use the official voice-list links in sources.md.

Voice defaulting: When no voice is supplied for a Qwen-Audio WebSocket model, tts.py selects that model's configured default voice and prints a notice to stderr. Any explicit voice—including explicit Cherry—is passed through unchanged. Fetch the model catalog before choosing a voice.

Execution

⚠️ Multiple artifacts: When generating multiple files in a single session, you MUST append a numeric suffix to each filename (e.g. out_1.wav, out_2.wav) to prevent overwrites.

Qwen TTS (HTTP API) — tts.py

Prerequisites

• API Key: Check QWENCLOUD_API_KEY, QWEN_API_KEY, then DASHSCOPE_API_KEY using a non-plaintext check only (e.g. in shell: [ -n "$QWENCLOUD_API_KEY" ]; report only "set" or "not set", never the key value). If not set: run the qwencloud-ops-auth skill if available; otherwise guide the user to obtain a key from QwenCloud Console and set it via .env file (echo 'QWENCLOUD_API_KEY=sk-your-key-here' >> .env in project root or current directory) or environment variable. The script searches for .env in the current working directory and the project root. Skills may be installed independently — do not assume qwencloud-ops-auth is present. Note: The script auto-loads .env from the current directory and the project root (in addition to any exported environment variable). A shell check showing $QWENCLOUD_API_KEY as "not set" does NOT mean the script will fail — it may still find the key in .env. Treat the shell check as informational only; the authoritative test is simply running the script (it exits with a clear error if no key is found anywhere).
• Python 3.9+ (stdlib only, no pip install needed)

Environment Check

Before first execution, verify Python is available:

python3 --version  # must be 3.9+

If python3 is unavailable or below 3.9, PAYG may use Path 2 (curl); Token Plan must install Python 3.9+ instead.

Default: Run Script

Script path: Scripts are in the scripts/ subdirectory of this skill's directory (the directory containing this SKILL.md). You MUST first locate this skill's installation directory, then ALWAYS use the full absolute path to execute scripts. Do NOT assume scripts are in the current working directory. Do NOT use cd to switch directories before execution.

Execution note: Run all scripts in the foreground — wait for stdout; do not background.

Discovery: Run python3 <this-skill-dir>/scripts/tts.py --help first to see all available arguments.