moodcast – OpenClaw Skill

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name: moodcast description: Transform any text into emotionally expressive audio with ambient soundscapes using ElevenLabs v3 audio tags and Sound Effects API metadata: {"moltbot":{"requires":{"env":["ELEVENLABS_API_KEY"]},"primaryEnv":"ELEVENLABS_API_KEY","homepage":"https://github.com/ashutosh887/moodcast"}}

MoodCast

Transform any text into emotionally expressive audio with ambient soundscapes. MoodCast analyzes your content, adds expressive delivery using ElevenLabs v3 audio tags, and layers matching ambient soundscapes.

When to Use This Skill

Use MoodCast when the user wants to:

• Hear text read with natural emotional expression
• Create audio versions of articles, stories, or scripts
• Generate expressive voiceovers with ambient atmosphere
• Listen to morning briefings that actually sound engaging
• Transform boring text into captivating audio content

Trigger phrases: "read this dramatically", "make this sound good", "create audio for", "moodcast this", "read with emotion", "narrate this"

Slash command: /moodcast

Core Capabilities

1. Emotion-Aware Text Enhancement

Automatically analyzes text and inserts appropriate v3 audio tags:

• Emotions: [excited], [nervous], [angry], [sorrowful], [calm], [happy]
• Delivery: [whispers], [shouts], [rushed], [slows down]
• Reactions: [laughs], [sighs], [gasps], [giggles], [crying]
• Pacing: [pause], [breathes], [stammers], [hesitates]

2. Ambient Soundscape Generation

Creates matching background audio using Sound Effects API:

• News → subtle office ambiance
• Story → atmospheric soundscape matching mood
• Motivational → uplifting background
• Scary → tense, eerie atmosphere

3. Multi-Voice Dialogue

For conversations/scripts, assigns different voices to speakers with appropriate emotional delivery.

Instructions

Quick Read (Single Command)

python3 {baseDir}/scripts/moodcast.py --text "Your text here"

With Ambient Sound

python3 {baseDir}/scripts/moodcast.py --text "Your text here" --ambient "coffee shop background noise"

Save to File

python3 {baseDir}/scripts/moodcast.py --text "Your text here" --output story.mp3

Different Moods

python3 {baseDir}/scripts/moodcast.py --text "Your text" --mood dramatic
python3 {baseDir}/scripts/moodcast.py --text "Your text" --mood calm
python3 {baseDir}/scripts/moodcast.py --text "Your text" --mood excited
python3 {baseDir}/scripts/moodcast.py --text "Your text" --mood scary

List Available Voices

python3 {baseDir}/scripts/moodcast.py --list-voices

Custom Configuration

python3 {baseDir}/scripts/moodcast.py --text "Your text" --voice VOICE_ID --model eleven_v3 --output-format mp3_44100_128

Emotion Detection Rules

The skill automatically detects and enhances:

Text Pattern	Audio Tag Added
"amazing", "incredible", "wow"	[excited]
"scared", "afraid", "terrified"	[nervous]
"angry", "furious", "hate"	[angry]
"sad", "sorry", "unfortunately"	[sorrowful]
"secret", "quiet", "between us"	[whispers]
"!" exclamations	[excited]
"..." trailing off	[pause]
"haha", "lol"	[laughs]
Questions	Natural rising intonation

Example Transformations

Input:

Breaking news! Scientists have discovered something incredible. 
This could change everything we know about the universe...
I can't believe it.

Enhanced Output:

[excited] Breaking news! Scientists have discovered something incredible.
[pause] This could change everything we know about the universe...
[gasps] [whispers] I can't believe it.

Input:

It was a dark night. The old house creaked. 
Something moved in the shadows...
"Who's there?" she whispered.

Enhanced Output:

[slows down] It was a dark night. [pause] The old house creaked.
[nervous] Something moved in the shadows...
[whispers] "Who's there?" she whispered.

Environment Variables

• ELEVENLABS_API_KEY (required) - Your ElevenLabs API key
• MOODCAST_DEFAULT_VOICE (optional) - Default voice ID (defaults to CwhRBWXzGAHq8TQ4Fs17)
• MOODCAST_MODEL (optional) - Default model ID (defaults to eleven_v3)
• MOODCAST_OUTPUT_FORMAT (optional) - Default output format (defaults to mp3_44100_128)
• MOODCAST_AUTO_AMBIENT (optional) - Set to "true" for automatic ambient sounds when using --mood

Configuration Priority: CLI arguments override environment variables, which override hardcoded defaults.

Technical Notes

• Uses ElevenLabs Eleven v3 model for audio tag support
• Sound Effects API for ambient generation (up to 30 seconds)
• Free tier: 10,000 credits/month (~10 min audio)
• Max 2,400 characters per chunk (v3 supports 5,000, but we split conservatively for reliability)
• Audio tags must be lowercase: [whispers] not [WHISPERS]

Tips for Best Results

1. Dramatic content works best - stories, news, scripts
2. Shorter segments (under 500 chars) sound more natural
3. Combine with ambient for immersive experience
4. Roger and Rachel voices are most expressive with v3

Credits

Built by ashutosh887
Using ElevenLabs Text-to-Speech v3 + Sound Effects API
Created for #ClawdEleven Hackathon

MoodCast

Transform any text into emotionally expressive audio with ambient soundscapes.

MoodCast is a Moltbot skill that uses ElevenLabs' most advanced features to create compelling audio content. It analyzes your text, adds emotional expression using Eleven v3 audio tags, and can layer ambient soundscapes for immersive experiences.

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Features

Feature	Description
Emotion Detection	Automatically analyzes text and inserts v3 audio tags ([excited], [whispers], [laughs], etc.)
Ambient Soundscapes	Generates matching background sounds using Sound Effects API
Multiple Moods	Pre-configured moods: dramatic, calm, excited, scary, news, story
Smart Text Processing	Auto-splits long text, handles multiple speakers

Demo

Input:

Breaking news! Scientists have discovered something incredible. 
This could change everything we know about the universe...
I can't believe it.

MoodCast Output:

[excited] Breaking news! Scientists have discovered something incredible.
[pause] This could change everything we know about the universe...
[gasps] [whispers] I can't believe it.

The AI voice delivers this with genuine excitement, dramatic pauses, and a whispered ending.

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Quick Start

1. Install the Skill

# Option 1: Clone to your Moltbot skills directory
git clone https://github.com/ashutosh887/moodcast ~/.clawdbot/skills/moodcast

# Option 2: Install via MoltHub (recommended)
npx molthub@latest install moodcast

# Option 3: Install to workspace (for per-agent skills)
# After installing, move to workspace or use git clone method

2. Set Your API Key

export ELEVENLABS_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"

Or add to ~/.clawdbot/moltbot.json:

{
  "skills": {
    "entries": {
      "moodcast": {
        "enabled": true,
        "apiKey": "your-api-key-here",
        "env": {
          "ELEVENLABS_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Note: apiKey automatically maps to ELEVENLABS_API_KEY when the skill declares primaryEnv.

3. Use It!

Via Moltbot (WhatsApp/Telegram/Discord/iMessage):

Hey Molty, moodcast this: "It was a dark and stormy night..."

Or use the slash command:

/moodcast "It was a dark and stormy night..."

Via Command Line:

python3 ~/.clawdbot/skills/moodcast/scripts/moodcast.py --text "Hello world!"

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Usage Examples

Basic Usage

python3 moodcast.py --text "This is amazing news!"

With Mood Preset

python3 moodcast.py --text "The door creaked open slowly..." --mood scary

With Ambient Sound

python3 moodcast.py --text "Welcome to my café" --ambient "coffee shop busy morning"

Save to File

python3 moodcast.py --text "Your story here" --output narration.mp3

Show Enhanced Text

python3 moodcast.py --text "Wow this is great!" --show-enhanced
# Output: [excited] Wow this is great!

Custom Configuration

# Custom voice, model, and output format
python3 moodcast.py --text "Hello" --voice VOICE_ID --model eleven_v3 --output-format mp3_44100_128

# Override mood's default voice
python3 moodcast.py --text "Dramatic scene" --mood dramatic --voice CUSTOM_VOICE_ID

# Skip emotion enhancement
python3 moodcast.py --text "Plain text" --no-enhance

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Supported Audio Tags (Eleven v3)

MoodCast automatically detects emotions and inserts these tags:

Emotions

Tag	Triggers
[excited]	amazing, incredible, wow, !!!
[happy]	happy, delighted, thrilled
[nervous]	scared, afraid, terrified
[angry]	angry, furious, hate
[sorrowful]	sad, sorry, tragic
[calm]	peaceful, gentle, quiet

Delivery

Tag	Effect
[whispers]	Soft, secretive tone
[shouts]	Loud, emphatic delivery
[slows down]	Deliberate pacing
[rushed]	Fast, urgent speech

Reactions

Tag	Effect
[laughs]	Natural laughter
[sighs]	Weary exhale
[gasps]	Surprise intake
[giggles]	Light laughter
[pause]	Dramatic beat

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Mood Presets

Mood	Voice	Style	Best For
dramatic	Roger	Theatrical, expressive	Stories, scripts
calm	Lily	Soothing, peaceful	Meditation, ASMR
excited	Liam	Energetic, upbeat	News, announcements
scary	Roger (deep)	Tense, ominous	Horror, thrillers
news	Lily	Professional, clear	Briefings, reports
story	Rachel	Warm, engaging	Audiobooks, tales

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Configuration

Command Line Arguments

Argument	Short	Description
--text	-t	Text to convert to speech (required)
--mood	-m	Mood preset: dramatic, calm, excited, scary, news, story
--voice	-v	Voice ID (overrides mood's default voice)
--model		Model ID (default: eleven_v3)
--output-format		Output format (default: mp3_44100_128)
--ambient	-a	Generate ambient sound effect (prompt)
--ambient-duration		Ambient duration in seconds (max 30, default: 10)
--output	-o	Save audio to file instead of playing
--no-enhance		Skip automatic emotion enhancement
--show-enhanced		Print enhanced text before generating
--list-voices		List available voices

Environment Variables

Variable	Required	Description	Default
ELEVENLABS_API_KEY	Yes	Your ElevenLabs API key	-
MOODCAST_DEFAULT_VOICE	No	Default voice ID (overridden by --voice or --mood)	CwhRBWXzGAHq8TQ4Fs17
MOODCAST_MODEL	No	Default model ID (overridden by --model)	eleven_v3
MOODCAST_OUTPUT_FORMAT	No	Default output format (overridden by --output-format)	mp3_44100_128
MOODCAST_AUTO_AMBIENT	No	Auto-generate ambient sounds when using --mood	-

Priority order: CLI arguments > Environment variables > Hardcoded defaults

Moltbot Config (~/.clawdbot/moltbot.json)

{
  "skills": {
    "entries": {
      "moodcast": {
        "enabled": true,
        "apiKey": "xi-xxxxxxxxxxxx",
        "env": {
          "ELEVENLABS_API_KEY": "xi-xxxxxxxxxxxx",
          "MOODCAST_AUTO_AMBIENT": "true"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Note: apiKey is a convenience field that maps to ELEVENLABS_API_KEY when primaryEnv is set in the skill metadata.

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ElevenLabs APIs Used

This skill demonstrates deep integration with multiple ElevenLabs APIs:

1. Text-to-Speech (Eleven v3)

• Model: eleven_v3 for audio tag support
• Format: mp3_44100_128
• Features: Full audio tag expression system

2. Sound Effects API

• Generates ambient soundscapes from text prompts
• Up to 30 seconds per generation
• Seamless looping support

3. Voices API

• Lists available voices
• Supports custom voice selection
• Mood-based voice matching

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Project Structure

moodcast/
├── SKILL.md           # Moltbot skill definition (AgentSkills format)
├── README.md          # Project documentation
├── requirements.txt   # Python dependencies
├── .gitignore         # Git ignore rules
├── scripts/
│   └── moodcast.py    # Main Python script
└── examples/
    ├── news.txt       # News article example
    ├── scary.txt      # Horror story example
    ├── dramatic.txt   # Dramatic narrative example
    ├── calm.txt       # Peaceful scene example
    └── story.txt      # Adventure story example

Skill Installation Locations

Moltbot loads skills from three locations (in precedence order):

1. Workspace skills: <workspace>/skills/moodcast (per-agent, highest precedence)
2. Managed skills: ~/.clawdbot/skills/moodcast (shared across agents)
3. Bundled skills: Shipped with Moltbot install (lowest precedence)

Use npx molthub@latest install moodcast to install to the managed directory, or clone directly to your workspace for per-agent installation.

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Technical Details

API Integration

Criteria	Implementation
ElevenLabs API usage	Uses Eleven v3 audio tags (deepest TTS feature), Sound Effects API, Voices API
Practical use cases	Content creators, writers, podcasters, anyone who wants expressive audio
Demo approach	Single clear hook: "Text that feels emotion" with live demonstration

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License

MIT License - feel free to use, modify, and share!

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Acknowledgments

• ElevenLabs for the incredible audio AI APIs
• Moltbot / Peter Steinberger for the amazing AI assistant platform

Built for the #ClawdEleven Hackathon (ElevenLabs × Moltbot)