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Nova vs Shimmer: Which Voice Should You Choose?

Both Nova and Shimmer are positive voices, but with different intensities. Nova is brightly enthusiastic. Shimmer is gently warm. Choose Nova for public-facing energy and Shimmer for private, personal moments.

Key Differences at a Glance

Overall Tone
Nova
Bright and upbeat
Shimmer
Soft and intimate
Energy Level
Nova
Engaging and motivating
Shimmer
Gentle and flowing
Best For
Nova
Tutorials and guides
Shimmer
Personal moments
Avoid Using For
Nova
Serious, somber content
Shimmer
Public announcements

Audio Samples

All samples use the high-quality tts-1-hd model at 1x speed.

Greeting

Nova
0:00
Shimmer
0:00

News

Nova
0:00
Shimmer
0:00

Technical

Nova
0:00
Shimmer
0:00

Emotional

Nova
0:00
Shimmer
0:00

Dialog

Nova
0:00
Shimmer
0:00

Voice Characteristics

CharacteristicNovaShimmer
StyleBrightSoft
DescriptionUpbeat without overdoing it. Works for apps, tutorials, and customer-facing use.Most intimate tone. Suited for personal content and quiet moments.
Best Use Cases
  • Mobile apps
  • Tutorials
  • Product demos
  • Customer-facing features
  • Interactive guides
  • Personal messages
  • ASMR content
  • Intimate narration
  • Bedtime stories
  • Relaxation audio

Which Should You Choose?

Nova is upbeat. Shimmer is soft and personal.

N
Choose Nova if:
  • +You need a bright tone for your content
  • +Your project involves mobile apps
  • +You want tutorials capabilities
  • +Your audience will appreciate bright delivery
S
Choose Shimmer if:
  • +You need a soft tone for your content
  • +Your project involves personal messages
  • +You want asmr content capabilities
  • +Your audience will appreciate soft delivery
Pro Tip: Test Both Voices

The best way to make your decision is to test both voices with your actual content. Listen to the audio samples above with headphones, and consider generating test clips with your own scripts. Small differences in delivery can have significant impacts on user experience, so investing time in testing upfront will pay dividends.

Explore Individual Voices

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