Updated README with onboarding instructions

README.md

@@ -1,2 +1,167 @@
-# markdown-to-elevenlabs
-A simple python project that converts markdown files to voiceovers, using the ElevenLabs API
+Here’s a draft for your `README.md` file to document your project:
+
+---
+
+# Markdown to ElevenLabs
+
+**Markdown to ElevenLabs** is an open-source project that converts Markdown files into high-quality voiceovers using the [ElevenLabs Text-to-Speech API](https://www.elevenlabs.io). The project is designed for creating natural-sounding audio from written content, ideal for podcasts, audiobooks, and more.
+
+---
+
+## Features
+- **Markdown Parsing**: Splits Markdown files into sections, intelligently grouping paragraphs and lists.
+- **Text-to-Speech Conversion**: Uses ElevenLabs API to generate realistic voiceovers with customizable voice settings.
+- **Audio Processing**: Combines generated audio sections into a single cohesive file, complete with natural pauses.
+- **Flexible Operation Modes**:
+  - Process Markdown only (`--markdown-only`).
+  - Generate audio only (`--audio-only`).
+  - Combine existing audio files only (`--combine-only`).
+- **Error Handling and Preprocessing**:
+  - Cleans and normalizes text for smooth audio generation.
+  - Handles special characters (`—`, `…`, etc.) gracefully.
+
+---
+
+## Installation
+
+### Prerequisites
+- Python 3.8 or newer
+- ElevenLabs API Key ([Get yours here](https://www.elevenlabs.io))
+- Dependencies:
+  - Install `pydub` for audio manipulation.
+  - Install `dotenv` for environment variable management.
+  - Install `unidecode` for text normalization.
+
+### Install Dependencies
+```bash
+pip install -r requirements.txt
+```
+
+### Requirements File
+Ensure the following dependencies are listed in your `requirements.txt`:
+```txt
+elevenlabs
+pydub
+python-dotenv
+unidecode
+```
+
+### Copy Environment Variables File
+
+The CLI command to copy `.env.example` to `.env` is:
+
+### Linux or macOS
+```bash
+cp .env.example .env
+```
+
+### Windows (Command Prompt)
+```cmd
+copy .env.example .env
+```
+
+### Windows (PowerShell)
+```powershell
+Copy-Item .env.example .env
+```
+
+### Add Environment Variables
+
+1. Log in to your [ElevenLabs account](https://elevenlabs.io/app/sign-in) and [generate an API key](https://elevenlabs.io/app/settings/api-keys).
+2. Copy your API key and voice ID to the `.env` file:
+   ```env
+   ELEVENLABS_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
+   ELEVENLABS_VOICE_ID=your_voice_id_here
+   ```
+
+---
+
+## Usage
+
+Here’s the updated section of the `README.md` file:
+
+---
+
+### 1. Prepare Markdown Files
+Place your Markdown files in the `markdown` folder located in the project root. Before running the script, review and edit these files as needed:
+- Remove any content you don't want included, such as:
+  - Code blocks
+  - Tables of contents
+  - Superfluous headings or sections
+- Ensure the text is structured logically for audio generation.
+
+After editing, the script will process the Markdown files and split them into individual sections for audio conversion.
+
+### 2. Run the Script
+```bash
+python main.py [options]
+```
+
+### Options
+| Option          | Description                                                                                     |
+|------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
+| `--reset`        | Deletes previous output files and starts fresh.                                                |
+| `--audio-only`   | Skips Markdown processing and generates audio for existing Markdown sections.                  |
+| `--markdown-only`| Processes Markdown files only, without generating audio.                                       |
+| `--combine-only` | Combines existing audio files into a single cohesive file.                                     |
+| `--voice-id`     | Specify a voice ID (overrides `.env`).                                                         |
+| `--api-key`      | Specify an API key (overrides `.env`).                                                         |
+
+### Example Commands
+#### Full Pipeline (Markdown → Audio → Combined File)
+```bash
+python main.py --reset
+```
+
+#### Markdown Parsing Only
+```bash
+python main.py --markdown-only
+```
+
+#### Audio Generation Only
+```bash
+python main.py --audio-only
+```
+
+#### Combine Existing Audio Files
+```bash
+python main.py --combine-only
+```
+
+---
+
+## File Structure
+```
+markdown-to-elevenlabs/
+├── main.py                   # Main entry point for the program
+├── src/
+│   ├── split_markdown.py     # Splits Markdown files into sections
+│   ├── build_output.py       # Handles audio generation and combination
+├── markdown/                 # Input Markdown files
+├── output/
+│   ├── markdown/             # Processed Markdown sections
+│   ├── audio/                # Generated audio files
+├── .env                      # Environment variables
+├── requirements.txt          # Python dependencies
+├── README.md                 # Project documentation
+```
+
+---
+
+## Contributing
+Contributions are welcome! To get started:
+1. Fork the repository.
+2. Create a new branch for your feature or bugfix.
+3. Submit a pull request with a detailed explanation.
+
+---
+
+## License
+This project is licensed under the [MIT License](LICENSE).
+
+---
+
+## Acknowledgments
+- **ElevenLabs** for their industry-leading Text-to-Speech API.
+- **pydub** for seamless audio processing.
+- **open-source contributors** for making projects like this possible!