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Sage vs Shimmer: Which Voice Should You Choose?

Both Sage and Shimmer create calm listening experiences, but through different qualities. Sage is peacefully steady and instructional. Shimmer is softly intimate and personal. Choose Sage for educational calm and Shimmer for emotional connection.

Key Differences at a Glance

Overall Tone
Sage
Calm and measured
Shimmer
Soft and intimate
Energy Level
Sage
Patient and unhurried
Shimmer
Gentle and flowing
Best For
Sage
Educational content
Shimmer
Personal moments
Avoid Using For
Sage
Urgent, action-driven content
Shimmer
Public announcements

Audio Samples

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

Greeting

Sage
0:00
Shimmer
0:00

News

Sage
0:00
Shimmer
0:00

Technical

Sage
0:00
Shimmer
0:00

Emotional

Sage
0:00
Shimmer
0:00

Dialog

Sage
0:00
Shimmer
0:00

Voice Characteristics

CharacteristicSageShimmer
StyleCalmSoft
DescriptionSteady pacing, no rush. Fits meditation, education, and instructional guides.Most intimate tone. Suited for personal content and quiet moments.
Best Use Cases
  • Meditation apps
  • Educational content
  • Instructional guides
  • Healthcare content
  • Step-by-step tutorials
  • Personal messages
  • ASMR content
  • Intimate narration
  • Bedtime stories
  • Relaxation audio

Which Should You Choose?

Both are calm. Sage is more instructional while Shimmer is more intimate.

S
Choose Sage if:
  • +You need a calm tone for your content
  • +Your project involves meditation apps
  • +You want educational content capabilities
  • +Your audience will appreciate calm 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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