> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developers.telnyx.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Write Effective Prompts

> Write voice descriptions that produce consistent, high-quality results — format templates, dimension guides, and common pitfalls.

## Recommended format

Structure your prompt for consistent results:

```
<Gender>, <Age range>. <Quality/energy description>.
<1–2 sentences about timbre, pacing, delivery>
```

**Example:**

> Female, mid-thirties. Warm and full, slightly husky. Moderate pace, sounds like someone who smiles while talking.

## Dimensions to describe

### Age

| Descriptor                      | What it produces          |
| ------------------------------- | ------------------------- |
| "young adult", "in their 20s"   | Lighter, more energetic   |
| "mid-thirties", "early forties" | Balanced, mature          |
| "elderly", "in his 80s"         | Deeper, weathered texture |

### Tone / Timbre

* **Deep** / **low-pitched** — gravitas, authority
* **Smooth** / **rich** — polished, professional
* **Gravelly** / **raspy** — character, authenticity
* **Airy** / **breathy** — intimate, soft
* **Warm** / **mellow** — approachable, friendly

### Gender

Male, female, or describe the sound directly: "a lower-pitched, husky female voice" or "a neutral, mid-pitched androgynous voice."

### Pacing

* **Measured** / **deliberate** — careful, authoritative
* **Rapid-fire** / **quick** — energetic, urgent
* **Relaxed** / **conversational** — natural, approachable
* **Rhythmic** — storytelling, narration

### Emotion / Energy

* **Calm** / **serene** — support, meditation
* **Enthusiastic** / **upbeat** — marketing, announcements
* **Authoritative** / **matter-of-fact** — IVR, instructions
* **Warm** / **empathetic** — customer service, healthcare

### Accent / Regional

Describe the regional quality you want. Be specific:

* "Slight British accent" rather than "British"
* "Neutral American" rather than just "American"
* "Soft Southern drawl" rather than "Southern"

### Use case context

Adding context helps the model understand intent:

* "Customer service agent for a bank"
* "Podcast narrator for true crime"
* "Bedtime story reader for children"

## Example prompts

| Use Case                | Prompt                                                                                                                  | Recommended Engine                                                                                           |
| ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Customer service**    | Female, mid-thirties. Warm and full, slightly husky. Moderate pace, sounds like someone who smiles while talking.       | **Minimax**<br /><audio controls src="/audio/customer_service_minimax.wav" style={{ height: "30px" }} />     |
| **IVR system**          | Male, late thirties. Clean and dry, matter-of-fact. Deliberate pace, pauses before numbers and details.                 | **Telnyx**<br /><audio controls src="/audio/ivr_system_telnyx.wav" style={{ height: "30px" }} />             |
| **Voice agent**         | Female, late twenties. Clear and professional, slightly upbeat. Natural conversational pace with a helpful tone.        |                                                                                                              |
| **Podcast narrator**    | Male, early forties. Deep and smooth, with a rich baritone. Measured pacing, storytelling cadence.                      | **Minimax**<br /><audio controls src="/audio/podcast_narrator_minimax.wav" style={{ height: "30px" }} />     |
| **Empathetic support**  | Male, mid-thirties. Warm, slightly gravelly. Measured and unhurried. You can hear patience in the breathing rhythm.     | **Telnyx**<br /><audio controls src="/audio/empathetic_support_telnyx.wav" style={{ height: "30px" }} />     |
| **Notification/alert**  | Female, mid-twenties. Bright and crisp. Quick pace, clear enunciation. No emotion — just information.                   | **Minimax**<br /><audio controls src="/audio/notification___alert_minimax.wav" style={{ height: "30px" }} /> |
| **Meditation guide**    | Female, mid-forties. Soft, airy, and serene. Extremely slow and deliberate pace. Soothing and deeply relaxing delivery. | **Minimax**<br /><audio controls src="/audio/meditation_guide_minimax.wav" style={{ height: "30px" }} />     |
| **Energetic promo**     | Male, early twenties. Bright and enthusiastic, high energy. Rapid-fire pacing, sounds highly engaged and convincing.    | **Minimax**<br /><audio controls src="/audio/energetic_promo_minimax.wav" style={{ height: "30px" }} />      |
| **Audiobook (Fiction)** | Male, in his 60s. Deep, weathered texture. Relaxed, storytelling cadence with a warm, nostalgic feel.                   | **Telnyx**<br /><audio controls src="/audio/audiobook_(fiction)_telnyx.wav" style={{ height: "30px" }} />    |

## Common pitfalls

* **Too vague** — "nice voice" or "good voice" produces generic output. Be specific about at least 3 dimensions.
* **Contradictory traits** — "whisper" + "booming" confuses the model. Pick a coherent set of characteristics.
* **Provider differences** — the same prompt may produce noticeably different results on Telnyx vs Minimax. Try both.
* **Ignoring the preview text** — the text you provide for synthesis should match the voice's intended use. Don't use a cheerful script for a somber voice.

## The Enhance button

The portal's **Enhance** button uses AI to expand a short description into a detailed prompt.

| Before (Short description)               | After (Enhanced prompt)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| ---------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Empathetic tech support agent            | *Empathetic tech support agent*<br /><br />**Gender and age:** Female, late 20s to early 30s.<br />**Where the voice sits:** Head and chest, with a balanced resonance.<br />**Texture:** Silky smooth with a faint warmth, slightly airy.<br />**Pace:** Moderate, with deliberate pauses for clarity and reassurance.<br />**Distinctive quality:** A gentle, patient lilt that conveys calm and understanding.                            |
| Persuasive outbound sales caller         | *Persuasive outbound sales caller*<br /><br />**Gender and age:** Female, 28-34.<br />**Where the voice sits:** Throat with chest undertones.<br />**Texture:** Smooth and polished, like warm honey over gravel.<br />**Pace:** Brisk and rhythmic, with confident pauses for emphasis.<br />**Distinctive quality:** A bright, engaging lilt that conveys enthusiasm without sounding forced.                                              |
| Professional medical clinic receptionist | *Professional medical clinic receptionist*<br /><br />**Gender and age:** Female, 28-34.<br />**Where the voice sits:** Chest and throat, grounded and clear.<br />**Texture:** Smooth, slightly warm, with a subtle firmness like pressed cotton.<br />**Pace:** Measured and steady, with deliberate pauses for clarity.<br />**Distinctive quality:** A calm, reassuring tone, as if accustomed to offering comfort in stressful moments. |
| Patient language tutor                   | *Patient language tutor*<br /><br />**Gender and age:** Female, late 20s to early 30s.<br />**Where the voice sits:** Head and chest, balanced resonance.<br />**Texture:** Smooth, warm, and gently textured like soft velvet.<br />**Pace:** Measured and deliberate, with thoughtful pauses and clear enunciation.<br />**Distinctive quality:** A calm, encouraging lilt that feels reassuring and attentive.                            |

This is a good starting point, but review the expanded prompt before generating — you may want to tweak specific dimensions.