AkinVox Kokoro Cloning v1
English voice cloning for Kokoro. Give it a short recording, its transcript and new text. Turn the adapter off to use the original Kokoro voices.
I’m building this for my audiobook site, akinvox.com. The goal is voice cloning without sacrificing quality or speed. V1 has had 100k cloning updates on pretrained Kokoro; I believe more training could improve it substantially. Work on v2 is ongoing. The site is still under construction, and I’d appreciate you giving it a go.
Samples
Each example uses a different synthetic voice and passage. Compare the reference, its same-sentence clone, then a clone speaking different words.
Strengths
Five voices across narration, dialogue, a longer passage, explanation and questions. These are selected examples; voice similarity varies with the reference.
Warm narration · Warm British woman
Listen for the voice character and relaxed storytelling rhythm.
1. Reference
Transcript
The morning sunlight filled the room. I opened the window, took a quiet breath, and smiled at the beautiful day ahead.
2. Clone · same sentence
Transcript
The morning sunlight filled the room. I opened the window, took a quiet breath, and smiled at the beautiful day ahead.
3. Clone · different sentence
Transcript
The old bookshop stood at the end of a narrow street. Inside, every shelf held the promise of a different adventure.
Lively dialogue · Bright American woman
Listen for questions, replies and changing emphasis. One voice reads both characters.
1. Reference
Transcript
Did you leave the tickets on the table? she asked. I put them in your bag, he replied. Then we had better catch that train.
2. Clone · same sentence
Transcript
Did you leave the tickets on the table? she asked. I put them in your bag, he replied. Then we had better catch that train.
3. Clone · different sentence
Transcript
You brought the map? she asked. Of course I did, he replied. Then why are we walking in circles? For a moment, neither of them said a word.
A longer passage · Low, mature British man
Listen for a consistent voice and clear phrasing through a sustained passage.
1. Reference
Transcript
The ferry left the harbour just after dawn. Daniel watched the houses shrink behind him. By the time the sun reached the hills, the island was only a distant line.
2. Clone · same sentence
Transcript
The ferry left the harbour just after dawn. Daniel watched the houses shrink behind him. By the time the sun reached the hills, the island was only a distant line.
3. Clone · different sentence
Transcript
Rain tapped softly against the window. Daniel set his cup beside the open book and turned another page. Outside, the town was waking up. A delivery van stopped near the bakery, and someone called a greeting across the street. He had planned to leave an hour ago, but the letter on the table had changed everything. He read the final line once more, folded the paper carefully, and reached for his coat. This time, he knew exactly where he needed to go.
Factual explanation · Clear American man
Listen for distinct words, numbers and steady instructional delivery.
1. Reference
Transcript
A compass needle points towards magnetic north. When you turn the map to match it, the landmarks around you become much easier to identify.
2. Clone · same sentence
Transcript
A compass needle points towards magnetic north. When you turn the map to match it, the landmarks around you become much easier to identify.
3. Clone · different sentence
Transcript
Set the timer for twenty minutes and place the tray on the middle shelf. The warm air circulates around the food, helping it cook evenly. Leave a little space between each piece so the heat can reach every side.
Questions and answers · Light, youthful American man
Listen for changes in intonation between questions and answers.
1. Reference
Transcript
Why does the moon look larger near the horizon? Is it really closer to us? The answer has more to do with perception than distance.
2. Clone · same sentence
Transcript
Why does the moon look larger near the horizon? Is it really closer to us? The answer has more to do with perception than distance.
3. Clone · different sentence
Transcript
Is the bridge still open? Can we cross before sunset? Yes, said the guide, but we should leave now. What happens if the weather changes? Then we take the sheltered path through the trees.
Quick start
Quick-start example · Stock Kokoro af_heart
The synthetic reference included in the installation guide.
1. Reference
Transcript
I love getting lost in a good audiobook. Every story opens a new world, and a familiar voice makes the journey feel like home.
2. Clone · same sentence
Transcript
I love getting lost in a good audiobook. Every story opens a new world, and a familiar voice makes the journey feel like home.
3. Clone · different sentence
Transcript
Welcome to AkinVox. Today, we are trying a new voice and telling a different story.
Weaknesses
Expressive delivery, whispering and accents remain difficult.
Expressive delivery · Deep, quiet American man
Pace, breathiness and emphasis can drift.
1. Reference
Transcript
Rain is falling outside the old library. The shelves are full of stories, and a small lamp lights the page. Another chapter is waiting to begin.
2. Clone · same sentence
Transcript
Rain is falling outside the old library. The shelves are full of stories, and a small lamp lights the page. Another chapter is waiting to begin.
3. Clone · different sentence
Transcript
The museum opens early on Saturday. Visitors can explore the new exhibition and discover how these remarkable inventions changed everyday life.
Whisper preservation · Whispering woman
Whispered delivery can become normally voiced speech.
1. Reference
Transcript
A thin layer of snow covers the garden. Beyond the glass, a robin rests on the fence. The whole morning feels still and quiet.
2. Clone · same sentence
Transcript
A thin layer of snow covers the garden. Beyond the glass, a robin rests on the fence. The whole morning feels still and quiet.
3. Clone · different sentence
Transcript
The clock in the hallway has stopped. I can hear the soft rustle of pages as someone turns to the next chapter. Outside, the last light is fading.
Accent preservation · Australian man
The original accent may not carry over.
1. Reference
Transcript
I parked the car near the water, then walked down to the beach. We can meet after work and take the boat home.
2. Clone · same sentence
Transcript
I parked the car near the water, then walked down to the beach. We can meet after work and take the boat home.
3. Clone · different sentence
Transcript
After work, we drove past the harbour and stopped for a walk along the water. The boat was already gone, so we bought a coffee and watched the clouds roll in.
Usage
Python 3.10–3.12, Linux or WSL. CPU works; GPU setup and the local browser demo are in the guide.
Install
git clone https://github.com/akinvox/kokoro-cloning.git
cd kokoro-cloning
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
python -m pip install --upgrade pip
python -m pip install torch==2.6.0 torchaudio==2.6.0 --index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cpu
python -m pip install -c constraints-tested.txt .
python -m spacy download en_core_web_sm
Use a clean 5–15 second recording of one speaker. Put its exact words in reference.txt. CrisperWhisper can help transcribe it; check the result.
kokoro-clone --reference reference.wav --reference-text-file reference.txt --text "A new story begins here." --output clone.wav
Original Kokoro, adapter off:
kokoro-clone --adapter off --voice af_heart --text "A new story begins here." --output stock.wav
Release notes
- English only, 24 kHz mono. Long passages work best split into sentences.
- LoRA adapter, reference mapper and reference encoders included. The loader downloads the original base; no merging needed.
- Training code will follow when the research is ready.
Apache-2.0 for AkinVox code and weights, including commercial use. Upstream notices · Validation · Sample details
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