---
title: "Cartesia TTS"
description: "Sonic-1, Sonic-2, and Sonic-3 voice synthesis via Cartesia's HTTP bytes endpoint."
icon: "volume"
---

# Cartesia TTS

`CartesiaTTS` is a Patter `TTSProvider` backed by Cartesia's [`/tts/bytes` HTTP endpoint](https://docs.cartesia.ai/api-reference/tts/bytes). It streams raw PCM_S16LE chunks that drop directly into Patter's pipeline with no transcoding. Uses the platform `fetch` — no vendor SDK required, works on Node 18+. The default model is `sonic-3` (current GA snapshot, ~90 ms TTFB target).

<Note>
  This page covers Cartesia **TTS**. For Cartesia's `ink-whisper` STT see
  [the Cartesia STT page](/typescript-sdk/providers/cartesia).
</Note>

## Install

```bash
npm install getpatter
```

## Usage

<Note>
  Use the namespaced import (`getpatter/tts/cartesia`) or the flat
  re-export (`CartesiaTTS`). Both auto-resolve `CARTESIA_API_KEY` from the
  environment when `apiKey` is omitted.
</Note>

<CodeGroup>
```typescript TypeScript
// Namespaced import
import * as cartesia from "getpatter/tts/cartesia";

const tts = new cartesia.TTS();                                  // reads CARTESIA_API_KEY
const tts2 = new cartesia.TTS({ voice: "f786b574-daa5-4673-aa0c-cbe3e8534c02" });

// Flat alias (equivalent)
import { CartesiaTTS } from "getpatter";

const tts3 = new CartesiaTTS({ voice: "f786b574-daa5-4673-aa0c-cbe3e8534c02" });
```

```python Python
# See python-sdk/providers/cartesia-tts for the Python twin.
```
</CodeGroup>

In an agent:

```typescript
// npx tsx example.ts
import { Patter, Twilio, DeepgramSTT, CartesiaTTS } from "getpatter";

const phone = new Patter({ carrier: new Twilio(), phoneNumber: "+15550001234" });

const agent = phone.agent({
  stt: new DeepgramSTT(),                             // DEEPGRAM_API_KEY from env
  tts: new CartesiaTTS({ voice: "f786b574-daa5-4673-aa0c-cbe3e8534c02" }),
  systemPrompt: "You are a helpful assistant.",
});

await phone.serve({ agent });
```

## Models and rates

Cartesia TTS bills per 1,000 characters synthesized. Per-model rates (defaults from `getpatter/pricing`):

| Model | Rate / 1k chars | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| `sonic-3` (default) | $0.030 | GA, ~90 ms TTFB. Drop-in compatible with sonic-2 voice IDs. |
| `sonic-2` | $0.030 | Previous flagship. |
| `sonic-1` / `sonic-english` | $0.030 | Legacy English. |
| `sonic-multilingual` | $0.030 | Multilingual variant. |

Override via `new Patter({ pricing: { cartesia_tts: { models: { "sonic-3": { price: ... } } } } })`.

## Languages

`language: "en"` by default. Sonic-3 supports 30+ languages — pass any [Cartesia-supported BCP-47 code](https://docs.cartesia.ai/api-reference/tts/text-to-speech) (`"es"`, `"fr"`, `"de"`, `"it"`, `"pt"`, `"ja"`, `"zh"`, …). Voice cloning works across all of them — the same voice ID will speak whichever language you target.

## Telephony optimization

Use the carrier-aware factories so audio reaches Patter's telephony adapter at the carrier's native sample rate, skipping a resample step:

```typescript
import { CartesiaTTS } from "getpatter";

// Twilio: PCM @ 8 kHz directly (skips the 16k→8k resample before mulaw transcode).
const twilioTts = CartesiaTTS.forTwilio();

// Telnyx: PCM @ 16 kHz (matches Telnyx's L16/16000 default — zero transcoding).
const telnyxTts = CartesiaTTS.forTelnyx();
```

## Options

| Option | Default | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| `apiKey` | — | Reads from `CARTESIA_API_KEY` when omitted. |
| `model` | `"sonic-3"` | Any Cartesia TTS model id. |
| `voice` | `"f786b574-..."` (Katie) | Cartesia voice id. |
| `language` | `"en"` | BCP-47 code. |
| `sampleRate` | `16000` | 8000, 16000, 22050, 24000, 44100 Hz. |
| `speed` | — | `"fastest" ... "slowest"` or float in `[0.6, 2.0]`. |
| `emotion` | — | Cartesia emotion preset. |
| `volume` | — | Float in `[0.5, 2.0]` (sonic-3 only). |
| `baseUrl` | Cartesia API | Override for proxying. |
| `apiVersion` | `"2025-04-16"` | Cartesia API version pin. |
