feat: combine --speaker and --voice for clarity

9 files changed, 237 insertions, 220 deletions

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9e9a6b2..3ed84e8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -68,8 +68,7 @@ Everything the TUI does can also be scripted with flags: `python audiobook.py --
 | `--model <id>`                     | `audiocpp`: Choose the model from `server.json`                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
 | `--instructions "..."`             | `audiocpp`: voice design or style instruction. Required for voice design models (`vdes`)                                                                           |
 | `--option KEY=VALUE`               | `audiocpp`: Some models support custom options (e.g. `emotion=netural`) that can be passed with this flag                                                                                                                                                          |
-| `--voice <name>`                   | `audiocpp`, `faster`: Server-side voice to request (`audiocpp`: a `voice_preset`/`voice_dir` entry for cloning; with `AUDIOCPP_CLONE_MODEL_ID` set it reroutes to the clone model — typically the Qwen Base model).                                                                  |
-| `--speaker <name>`                 | `audiocpp`: Built-in Qwen3-TTS CustomVoice speaker (e.g. `Vivian`, `Ryan`, `Uncle_Fu`). Selects speaker mode on the CustomVoice model entry; mutually exclusive with `--voice`.                                                                                              |
+| `--voice <name>`                   | `audiocpp`, `faster`: Voice to request. `audiocpp`: on the Qwen3-TTS CustomVoice entry a built-in speaker (e.g. `Vivian`, `Ryan`, `Uncle_Fu`); on every other family a `voice_preset`/`voice_dir` entry for cloning (with `AUDIOCPP_CLONE_MODEL_ID` set it reroutes to the clone model — typically the Qwen Base model). `faster`: a key in the server's `voices.json`. |
 | `--clone <path>`                   | `qwen`: Reference audio (`wav`) for voice cloning.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
 | `--transcription "..."`            | `qwen`: Override whisper auto-transcription with manual audio transcript.                                                                                                                                                                                          |
 | `--no-transcription`               | `qwen`: Skip auto-transcription of the reference audio.                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
diff --git a/app/converter/converter.py b/app/converter/converter.py
index 6e677c8..80411d3 100644
--- a/app/converter/converter.py
+++ b/app/converter/converter.py
@@ -185,7 +185,6 @@ class AudiobookConverter:
                  instructions: Optional[str] = None,
                  request_options: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None,
                  api_url: Optional[str] = None,
-                 speaker: Optional[str] = None,
                  progress: Optional[Callable[[dict], None]] = None,
                  cancel=None):
         if speed <= 0:
@@ -206,7 +205,6 @@ class AudiobookConverter:
         self.output_format = output_format
         self.backend = backend
         self.voice = voice
-        self.speaker = speaker
         self.debug = bool(debug)
         # Voice design / style instruction and free-form request options
         # (audio.cpp only): forwarded to AudioCppTTSClient, which validates
@@ -219,18 +217,17 @@ class AudiobookConverter:
             # configured on the server, so no local reference audio is needed.
             self.tts = FasterTTSClient(voice=voice, api_url=api_url)
         elif backend == BACKEND_AUDIOCPP:
-            # Speaker mode (--speaker or no flag on a CustomVoice entry) uses
-            # a built-in speaker name; an explicit --voice selects a
-            # server-side preset (cloning). model_id overrides
-            # AUDIOCPP_MODEL_ID for multi-model servers; instructions describe
-            # or style the voice, request_options pass per-model controls
-            # through to the server.
+            # --voice picks the voice: a built-in speaker name on the
+            # CustomVoice entry, or a server-side preset (cloning)
+            # elsewhere. model_id overrides AUDIOCPP_MODEL_ID for
+            # multi-model servers; instructions describe or style the
+            # voice, request_options pass per-model controls through to
+            # the server.
             self.tts = AudioCppTTSClient(voice=voice, language=self.language,
                                          model_id=model_id,
                                          instructions=instructions,
                                          request_options=self.request_options,
-                                         api_url=api_url,
-                                         speaker=speaker)
+                                         api_url=api_url)
         else:
             self.tts = QwenTTSClient(
                 voice_mode=voice_mode,
@@ -294,14 +291,13 @@ class AudiobookConverter:
         """Narrator name used in output file names (see compute_narrator_tag)."""
         return self.compute_narrator_tag(
             self.backend, self.voice, self.voice_mode,
-            self.voice_clone_ref_audio, self.instructions, self.speaker)
+            self.voice_clone_ref_audio, self.instructions)
 
     @staticmethod
     def compute_narrator_tag(backend: str, voice: Optional[str],
                              voice_mode: str,
                              voice_clone_ref_audio: Optional[str],
-                             instructions: Optional[str] = None,
-                             speaker: Optional[str] = None) -> str:
+                             instructions: Optional[str] = None) -> str:
         """Narrator name used in output file names, without a server connection.
 
         Custom voice mode uses the built-in speaker's display name; voice
@@ -322,8 +318,6 @@ class AudiobookConverter:
         elif backend == BACKEND_AUDIOCPP:
             if voice:
                 narrator = voice
-            elif speaker:
-                narrator = speaker
             elif instructions:
                 # The voice comes from the instruction, not a speaker name.
                 narrator = "designed"
@@ -677,12 +671,12 @@ class AudiobookConverter:
             self._say(f"audio.cpp endpoint: {config.AUDIOCPP_API_URL}")
             self._say(f"Model id: {self.tts.model_id}")
             self._say(f"Model family: {getattr(self.tts, 'family', 'unknown')}")
-            if self.voice:
+            if getattr(self.tts, "preset_mode", False):
                 self._say("Backend: audio.cpp (voice cloning, reference configured on server)")
-                self._say(f"Voice: {self.voice}")
-            elif self.speaker:
+                self._say(f"Voice: {self.tts.voice}")
+            elif getattr(self.tts, "speaker_mode", False):
                 self._say("Backend: audio.cpp (custom voice, built-in speaker)")
-                self._say(f"Speaker: {self.speaker}")
+                self._say(f"Speaker: {self.tts.voice}")
             elif self.instructions:
                 self._say("Backend: audio.cpp (voice from --instructions description)")
                 self._say(f"Instruction: {self.instructions}")
@@ -726,7 +720,6 @@ class AudiobookConverter:
                              voice_clone_ref_audio: Optional[str],
                              output_format: str,
                              instructions: Optional[str] = None,
-                             speaker: Optional[str] = None,
                              confirm: Optional[Callable[[str, bool], bool]] = None,
                              ) -> Tuple[List[Path], List[Tuple[Path, str]]]:
         """Discover books and ask every overwrite question up front.
@@ -758,8 +751,7 @@ class AudiobookConverter:
         # starts, so the rest of the run is unattended.
         planned: List[Tuple[Path, str]] = []
         narrator_tag = AudiobookConverter.compute_narrator_tag(
-            backend, voice, voice_mode, voice_clone_ref_audio, instructions,
-            speaker)
+            backend, voice, voice_mode, voice_clone_ref_audio, instructions)
         for book_file in book_files:
             output_name = book_file.stem
             if stem_counts[book_file.stem] > 1:
@@ -795,7 +787,7 @@ class AudiobookConverter:
             book_files, planned = AudiobookConverter.preflight_overwrites(
                 self.backend, self.voice, self.voice_mode,
                 self.voice_clone_ref_audio, self.output_format,
-                self.instructions, self.speaker)
+                self.instructions)
 
         if not book_files:
             self._say(f"[INFO] No supported files found in {BOOKS_FOLDER}")
diff --git a/app/converter/tts.py b/app/converter/tts.py
index a88697e..7204e0c 100644
--- a/app/converter/tts.py
+++ b/app/converter/tts.py
@@ -260,13 +260,27 @@ def speaker_display_name_for(name: str) -> str:
 
     Accepts either the canonical/config form (e.g. "uncle_fu", "Uncle_Fu")
     or the display form ("Uncle Fu"), case-insensitively; unknown names pass
-    through unchanged. Used by AudioCppTTSClient to normalize the --speaker /
+    through unchanged. Used by AudioCppTTSClient to normalize the --voice /
     Speaker-picker value into what audiocpp_server expects in the request's
     voice field.
     """
     return SPEAKER_DISPLAY_NAMES.get((name or "").lower(), name)
 
 
+def is_builtin_speaker(name: Optional[str]) -> bool:
+    """True when NAME is one of the Qwen3-TTS CustomVoice built-in speakers.
+
+    Matches case-insensitively across the canonical ("Uncle_Fu"), display
+    ("Uncle Fu") and shorthand ("uncle_fu") forms, so the --voice flag and
+    the Convert form's Speaker picker resolve to the same set.
+    """
+    if not name:
+        return False
+    norm = name.lower().replace("_", " ").replace("-", " ")
+    return any(norm == speaker.lower().replace("_", " ")
+               for speaker in QWEN3_TTS_SPEAKERS)
+
+
 def speaker_display_name() -> str:
     """Return the display name for the configured custom speaker."""
     return speaker_display_name_for(config.SPEAKER)
@@ -870,11 +884,12 @@ class AudioCppTTSClient(_BaseTTSClient):
     its voice is supplied; all three are resolved server-side from the
     request's "voice"/"instructions" fields:
 
-    - Speaker mode (--speaker NAME, or no flag on a CustomVoice entry):
-      Qwen3-TTS CustomVoice only. A built-in speaker name (e.g. "Vivian")
-      is passed through, plus the INSTRUCT style prompt. The selected entry
-      must be the CustomVoice model (capability == speaker); selecting it
-      on a non-speaker entry fails fast with a hint.
+    - Speaker mode (--voice with a built-in speaker name, or no flag on a
+      CustomVoice entry): Qwen3-TTS CustomVoice only. A built-in speaker
+      name (e.g. "Vivian") is passed through, plus the INSTRUCT style
+      prompt. The selected entry must be the CustomVoice model (capability
+      == speaker); a speaker name on a non-speaker entry is treated as a
+      server-side preset instead.
     - Preset mode (--voice NAME): a voice configured on the server
       (``voice_presets`` or ``voice_dir`` in its config, e.g. a cloning
       reference). The name is validated against GET /v1/audio/voices at
@@ -882,9 +897,9 @@ class AudioCppTTSClient(_BaseTTSClient):
       plain TTS on a clone-based model instead of failing. When
       AUDIOCPP_CLONE_MODEL_ID names a second server entry of the same
       family (typically the Qwen Base model), preset requests are routed
-      to it. Selecting --voice on a CustomVoice primary with a clone id
-      configured is the documented way to switch a speaker setup to
-      cloning; without a clone id the voice is validated against the
+      to it. Selecting a non-speaker --voice on a CustomVoice primary with
+      a clone id configured is the documented way to switch a speaker setup
+      to cloning; without a clone id the voice is validated against the
       server's voice library.
     - Voice design (task "vdes" entries, e.g. Qwen3-TTS VoiceDesign): the
       voice is described in natural language through ``instructions``,
@@ -892,11 +907,14 @@ class AudioCppTTSClient(_BaseTTSClient):
       A constant per-run seed keeps the designed voice consistent across
       chunk boundaries.
 
-    With neither --voice nor --speaker the entry's capability picks the
-    mode: design entries require --instructions; speaker entries use the
-    built-in CustomVoice speaker in config.SPEAKER; clone entries (the
-    Base model, and every other family) fail fast with a hint to pass
-    --voice, instead of silently synthesizing with a random default voice.
+    The entry's capability decides how an explicit --voice is read: on a
+    speaker-capable entry a name that matches a built-in speaker selects
+    speaker mode, and every other name is a server-side preset. With no
+    --voice the entry's capability picks the mode: design entries require
+    --instructions; speaker entries use the built-in CustomVoice speaker
+    in config.SPEAKER; clone entries (the Base model, and every other
+    family) fail fast with a hint to pass --voice, instead of silently
+    synthesizing with a random default voice.
 
     ``instructions`` also works on non-design entries, where it acts as a
     generic style/delivery instruction (voice control): families that read
@@ -918,13 +936,7 @@ class AudioCppTTSClient(_BaseTTSClient):
                  api_url: Optional[str] = None,
                  model_id: Optional[str] = None,
                  instructions: Optional[str] = None,
-                 request_options: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None,
-                 speaker: Optional[str] = None):
-        if voice and speaker:
-            raise ValueError(
-                "--voice and --speaker are mutually exclusive: --voice selects "
-                "a server-side preset (cloning), --speaker a built-in "
-                "CustomVoice speaker (see README).")
+                 request_options: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None):
         self.api_url = (api_url or config.AUDIOCPP_API_URL).rstrip("/")
         # Per-run model selection: the --model CLI flag overrides config; an
         # empty value is resolved at connect time when the server hosts exactly
@@ -940,14 +952,16 @@ class AudioCppTTSClient(_BaseTTSClient):
         # negative "randomize" seed, so a negative value means "send no seed
         # at all" (see _request_wav) and the server randomizes.
         self._seed = _resolve_request_seed()
-        # Voice/picker selection. preset_mode is True iff a server-side
-        # preset (--voice) was requested: it gates _select_model's reroute
-        # to AUDIOCPP_CLONE_MODEL_ID and the INSTRUCT style-prompt logic.
-        # speaker is a built-in CustomVoice speaker name; the entry's
-        # capability (resolved in _connect) validates it. The request's
-        # "voice" field (self.voice) is filled in _connect per the mode.
-        self.preset_mode = bool(voice)
-        self.speaker = speaker or None
+        # Voice selection (the --voice name). preset_mode / speaker_mode are
+        # resolved in _connect: a --voice that names a built-in CustomVoice
+        # speaker on a speaker-capable entry selects speaker mode; every
+        # other name (and any name on a clone-capable entry) is a server-side
+        # preset. preset_mode gates _select_model's reroute to
+        # AUDIOCPP_CLONE_MODEL_ID and the INSTRUCT style-prompt logic. The
+        # request's "voice" field (self.voice) is filled in _connect per the
+        # mode.
+        self.preset_mode = False
+        self.speaker_mode = False
         self.voice = voice or None
         # Style/voice-design instruction sent with every request (the CLI
         # --instructions flag overrides AUDIOCPP_INSTRUCTIONS in config.py).
@@ -979,92 +993,103 @@ class AudioCppTTSClient(_BaseTTSClient):
         """Health-check the server and resolve the model, family, task, and voice.
 
         The entry's voice capability (audiocpp_entry_voice_capability, from
-        family/task/id) plus the caller's --voice/--speaker/--instructions
-        pick the mode: design entries require --instructions and reject
-        --voice/--speaker; a --speaker name requires a speaker-capable
-        (CustomVoice) entry; a --voice preset validates against the server's
-        voice library (and reroutes to AUDIOCPP_CLONE_MODEL_ID when set);
-        with neither flag, speaker-capable entries use the built-in
-        config.SPEAKER and clone entries fail fast with a hint instead of
-        silently synthesizing with a random default voice.
+        family/task/id) plus the caller's --voice/--instructions pick the
+        mode. An explicit --voice on a speaker-capable (CustomVoice) entry
+        that names a built-in speaker selects speaker mode; every other
+        --voice is a server-side preset, validated against the server's
+        voice library (and rerouted to AUDIOCPP_CLONE_MODEL_ID when set).
+        With no --voice, design entries require --instructions, speaker-
+        capable entries use the built-in config.SPEAKER, and clone entries
+        fail fast with a hint instead of silently synthesizing with a
+        random default voice.
         """
         self._check_health()
         models = self._list_models()
         self._auto_pick_model_id(models)
-        if self.preset_mode:
-            self._select_model(models)
-        self._require_model_id(models)
-        self._resolve_family(models)
-        self._resolve_task(models)
-        if self.task not in AUDIOCPP_SYNTHESIS_TASKS:
-            available = ", ".join(model["id"] for model in models) or "none"
-            raise RuntimeError(
-                f"The audio.cpp model '{self.model_id}' has task "
-                f"'{self.task}'; audiobook.py can only synthesize with TTS "
-                f"model entries (tasks {', '.join(AUDIOCPP_SYNTHESIS_TASKS)}). "
-                f"Pick a synthesis entry with --model (available: {available})."
-            )
-        capability = audiocpp_entry_voice_capability(
-            self.family, self.task, self.model_id)
-        if self.design_mode:
-            if self.voice or self.speaker:
-                raise RuntimeError(
-                    f"--voice/--speaker cannot be used with the voice design "
-                    f"model '{self.model_id}': the voice is described by the "
-                    "--instructions text instead (see README).")
-            if not self.instructions:
-                raise RuntimeError(
-                    f"The audio.cpp model '{self.model_id}' (family "
-                    f"'{self.family}') is a voice design model: pass a "
-                    "description of the voice to synthesize with, e.g. "
-                    '--instructions "A warm adult female narrator with a '
-                    'British accent" (see README).')
-            print(f"[OK] Connected to audio.cpp server at {self.api_url} "
-                  f"(model '{self.model_id}', family '{self.family}', "
-                  "voice design)")
-            print(f"[INFO] Designing the voice from: {self.instructions}")
-        elif self.speaker is not None:
-            if capability != AUDIOCPP_VOICE_SPEAKER:
+        if self.voice is not None:
+            # Explicit --voice: decide between speaker mode and a server-side
+            # preset. A name matching a built-in CustomVoice speaker on a
+            # speaker-capable primary selects speaker mode; every other name
+            # (and any name when the primary entry is absent) is a preset,
+            # validated against the server's voice library and rerouted to
+            # AUDIOCPP_CLONE_MODEL_ID when configured.
+            primary = next((m for m in models if m["id"] == self.model_id),
+                           None)
+            if primary is not None:
+                self._resolve_family(models)
+                self._resolve_task(models)
+                capability = audiocpp_entry_voice_capability(
+                    self.family, self.task, self.model_id)
+                if capability == AUDIOCPP_VOICE_SPEAKER \
+                        and is_builtin_speaker(self.voice):
+                    self._require_synthesis_task(models)
+                    self.voice = speaker_display_name_for(self.voice)
+                    self.speaker_mode = True
+                    print(f"[OK] Connected to audio.cpp server at {self.api_url} "
+                          f"(model '{self.model_id}', family '{self.family}', "
+                          f"speaker '{self.voice}')")
+            if not self.speaker_mode:
+                # Server-side preset (--voice): validate it and route to
+                # the clone model entry when AUDIOCPP_CLONE_MODEL_ID is set.
+                self.preset_mode = True
+                self._select_model(models)
+                self._require_model_id(models)
+                self._resolve_family(models)
+                self._resolve_task(models)
+                self._require_synthesis_task(models)
+                if self.design_mode:
+                    raise RuntimeError(
+                        f"--voice cannot be used with the voice design model "
+                        f"'{self.model_id}': the voice is described by the "
+                        "--instructions text instead (see README).")
+                self._check_voice()
+                print(f"[OK] Connected to audio.cpp server at {self.api_url} "
+                      f"(model '{self.model_id}', family '{self.family}', "
+                      f"voice '{self.voice}')")
+        else:
+            # No flag: the entry's capability picks the default mode.
+            self._require_model_id(models)
+            self._resolve_family(models)
+            self._resolve_task(models)
+            self._require_synthesis_task(models)
+            capability = audiocpp_entry_voice_capability(
+                self.family, self.task, self.model_id)
+            if self.design_mode:
+                if not self.instructions:
+                    raise RuntimeError(
+                        f"The audio.cpp model '{self.model_id}' (family "
+                        f"'{self.family}') is a voice design model: pass a "
+                        "description of the voice to synthesize with, e.g. "
+                        '--instructions "A warm adult female narrator with a '
+                        'British accent" (see README).')
+                print(f"[OK] Connected to audio.cpp server at {self.api_url} "
+                      f"(model '{self.model_id}', family '{self.family}', "
+                      "voice design)")
+                print(f"[INFO] Designing the voice from: {self.instructions}")
+            elif capability == AUDIOCPP_VOICE_SPEAKER:
+                # No flag on a CustomVoice entry: the built-in config.SPEAKER.
+                self.voice = speaker_display_name()
+                self.speaker_mode = True
+                print(f"[OK] Connected to audio.cpp server at {self.api_url} "
+                      f"(model '{self.model_id}', family '{self.family}', "
+                      f"speaker '{self.voice}')")
+            elif self.instructions:
+                # Families without built-in speakers can still get their voice
+                # from the instruction alone (e.g. OmniVoice voice design).
+                self.instruction_voice = True
+                print(f"[OK] Connected to audio.cpp server at {self.api_url} "
+                      f"(model '{self.model_id}', family '{self.family}', "
+                      "instruction voice)")
+                print(f"[INFO] Designing the voice from: {self.instructions}")
+            else:
                 raise RuntimeError(
                     f"The audio.cpp model '{self.model_id}' (family "
-                    f"'{self.family}') has no built-in speakers; --speaker "
-                    "selects a CustomVoice speaker, so choose the "
-                    "CustomVoice model entry, or use --voice for a "
-                    "server-side preset (see README).")
-            self.voice = speaker_display_name_for(self.speaker)
-            print(f"[OK] Connected to audio.cpp server at {self.api_url} "
-                  f"(model '{self.model_id}', family '{self.family}', "
-                  f"speaker '{self.voice}')")
-        elif self.voice is not None:
-            # Explicit server-side preset (--voice): validate it and route
-            # to the clone model entry when AUDIOCPP_CLONE_MODEL_ID is set.
-            self._check_voice()
-            print(f"[OK] Connected to audio.cpp server at {self.api_url} "
-                  f"(model '{self.model_id}', family '{self.family}', "
-                  f"voice '{self.voice}')")
-        elif capability == AUDIOCPP_VOICE_SPEAKER:
-            # No flag on a CustomVoice entry: the built-in config.SPEAKER.
-            self.voice = speaker_display_name()
-            print(f"[OK] Connected to audio.cpp server at {self.api_url} "
-                  f"(model '{self.model_id}', family '{self.family}', "
-                  f"speaker '{self.voice}')")
-        elif self.instructions:
-            # Families without built-in speakers can still get their voice
-            # from the instruction alone (e.g. OmniVoice voice design).
-            self.instruction_voice = True
-            print(f"[OK] Connected to audio.cpp server at {self.api_url} "
-                  f"(model '{self.model_id}', family '{self.family}', "
-                  "instruction voice)")
-            print(f"[INFO] Designing the voice from: {self.instructions}")
-        else:
-            raise RuntimeError(
-                f"The audio.cpp model '{self.model_id}' (family "
-                f"'{self.family}') has no built-in speakers, so its voice "
-                "must come from the server: rerun with --voice NAME "
-                "matching a voice_preset or voice_dir entry in the server "
-                "config, or describe a voice with --instructions for "
-                "families that support it, or select the CustomVoice entry "
-                "for built-in speakers (see README).")
+                    f"'{self.family}') has no built-in speakers, so its voice "
+                    "must come from the server: rerun with --voice NAME "
+                    "matching a voice_preset or voice_dir entry in the server "
+                    "config, or describe a voice with --instructions for "
+                    "families that support it, or select the CustomVoice entry "
+                    "for built-in speakers (see README).")
         if self.instructions and not self.design_mode and not self.instruction_voice:
             print(f"[INFO] Sending instruction with every request: {self.instructions}")
             print("[INFO] Its effect (style, emotion, delivery) depends on the "
@@ -1072,6 +1097,18 @@ class AudioCppTTSClient(_BaseTTSClient):
         if config.AUDIOCPP_UNLOAD_MODELS:
             self._unload_server_models()
 
+    def _require_synthesis_task(self, models: List[Dict[str, str]]) -> None:
+        """Reject model entries whose task is not a TTS synthesis task."""
+        if self.task in AUDIOCPP_SYNTHESIS_TASKS:
+            return
+        available = ", ".join(model["id"] for model in models) or "none"
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            f"The audio.cpp model '{self.model_id}' has task "
+            f"'{self.task}'; audiobook.py can only synthesize with TTS "
+            f"model entries (tasks {', '.join(AUDIOCPP_SYNTHESIS_TASKS)}). "
+            f"Pick a synthesis entry with --model (available: {available})."
+        )
+
     def _unload_server_models(self) -> None:
         """Ask the server to unload every loaded model before generating.
 
@@ -1181,7 +1218,8 @@ class AudioCppTTSClient(_BaseTTSClient):
 
         Speaker mode needs AUDIOCPP_MODEL_ID (the CustomVoice entry).
         Preset mode validates whichever id _select_model resolved, so a
-        server hosting only a cloning model works for --voice.
+        server hosting only a cloning model works for --voice. The default
+        error distinguishes the two so the fix is obvious.
         """
         model_ids = [model["id"] for model in models]
         if self.model_id and self.model_id in model_ids:
@@ -1207,10 +1245,9 @@ class AudioCppTTSClient(_BaseTTSClient):
             )
         raise RuntimeError(
             f"The audio.cpp server at {self.api_url} has no model id "
-            f"'{self.model_id}' (configured: {configured}). Speaker mode needs "
-            "the Qwen3-TTS CustomVoice model: add a qwen3_tts model entry to "
-            "the server config and match AUDIOCPP_MODEL_ID in app/converter/config.py to its "
-            "id (or pass --model), or rerun with --voice to use a voice preset "
+            f"'{self.model_id}' (configured: {configured}). Select the "
+            "Qwen3-TTS CustomVoice entry for built-in speakers, or rerun "
+            "with --voice NAME matching a voice_preset or voice_dir entry "
             "on any TTS model (see README)."
         )
 
diff --git a/app/docs/backend-audiocpp.md b/app/docs/backend-audiocpp.md
index 3323887..926dc6a 100644
--- a/app/docs/backend-audiocpp.md
+++ b/app/docs/backend-audiocpp.md
@@ -81,8 +81,8 @@ In a different terminal, run `audiobook.py`. Pick the TTS `--model` and `--voice
 # Higgs Audio (clone-only)
 python audiobook.py --backend audiocpp --model Higgs-Audio-v3-TTS-4B-GGUF --voice narrator
 
-# Qwen3-TTS built-in speaker
-python audiobook.py --backend audiocpp --model Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-CustomVoice-GGUF
+# Qwen3-TTS built-in speaker (pick one with --voice, or omit it for config.SPEAKER)
+python audiobook.py --backend audiocpp --model Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-CustomVoice-GGUF --voice Vivian
 
 # Qwen3-TTS voice cloning
 python audiobook.py --backend audiocpp --model Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base-GGUF --voice narrator
diff --git a/app/tests/test_converter.py b/app/tests/test_converter.py
index 317e772..7aa9c69 100644
--- a/app/tests/test_converter.py
+++ b/app/tests/test_converter.py
@@ -131,7 +131,6 @@ class NarratorTagTests(unittest.TestCase):
         converter.voice_clone_ref_audio = ref_audio
         converter.backend = tts.BACKEND_QWEN
         converter.voice = None
-        converter.speaker = None
         converter.instructions = instructions
         return converter
 
@@ -160,12 +159,11 @@ class NarratorTagTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(self._converter(tts.VOICE_MODE_CLONE, "/x/???.wav")._narrator_tag(),
                          "narrator")
 
-    def _audiocpp_converter(self, voice=None, instructions=None, speaker=None):
+    def _audiocpp_converter(self, voice=None, instructions=None):
         converter = self._converter(tts.VOICE_MODE_CUSTOM,
                                     instructions=instructions)
         converter.backend = tts.BACKEND_AUDIOCPP
         converter.voice = voice
-        converter.speaker = speaker
         return converter
 
     def test_audiocpp_design_run_uses_designed_tag(self):
@@ -185,11 +183,11 @@ class NarratorTagTests(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test_audiocpp_explicit_speaker_uses_speaker_tag(self):
         # A chosen CustomVoice speaker names the output, not config.SPEAKER.
-        converter = self._audiocpp_converter(speaker="Ryan")
+        converter = self._audiocpp_converter(voice="Ryan")
         self.assertEqual(converter._narrator_tag(), "Ryan")
 
     def test_audiocpp_explicit_speaker_normalizes_display_name(self):
-        converter = self._audiocpp_converter(speaker="Uncle_Fu")
+        converter = self._audiocpp_converter(voice="Uncle_Fu")
         self.assertEqual(converter._narrator_tag(), "Uncle_Fu")
 
     def test_preflight_design_run_uses_designed_tag(self):
@@ -558,7 +556,6 @@ class RunOverwritePromptTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.converter.voice_clone_ref_audio = None
         self.converter.backend = tts.BACKEND_QWEN
         self.converter.voice = None
-        self.converter.speaker = None
         self.converter.instructions = None
         self.converter.speed = 1.0
         self.converter.single_file = False
diff --git a/app/tests/test_hub.py b/app/tests/test_hub.py
index c5ca346..965cbaa 100644
--- a/app/tests/test_hub.py
+++ b/app/tests/test_hub.py
@@ -754,7 +754,8 @@ class ConvertFlowTests(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test_audiocpp_customvoice_entry_lists_builtin_speakers(self):
         # A CustomVoice entry populates the Voice menu with the Qwen3-TTS
-        # built-in speakers and maps the pick to --speaker.
+        # built-in speakers and maps the pick to --voice (which the client
+        # resolves as speaker mode).
         self._patch_remote(
             [{"id": "Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-CustomVoice-GGUF",
               "family": "qwen3_tts", "task": "tts"}])
@@ -765,9 +766,9 @@ class ConvertFlowTests(unittest.TestCase):
                 audiocpp_voice="Ryan", instructions="")
             cmd = self._convert(
                 None, [self._remote("audiocpp", "audio.cpp")])
-        # The speaker is passed as --speaker, not --voice.
-        self.assertIsNone(cmd[2]["voice"])
-        self.assertEqual(cmd[2]["speaker"], "Ryan")
+        # The picked speaker is passed as --voice; no separate speaker kwarg.
+        self.assertEqual(cmd[2]["voice"], "Ryan")
+        self.assertNotIn("speaker", cmd[2])
         fields = self.tui.forms_seen[0][1]
         voice_field = self._field("audiocpp_voice")
         self.assertEqual(voice_field["choices"](fields),
@@ -792,7 +793,7 @@ class ConvertFlowTests(unittest.TestCase):
             cmd = self._convert(
                 None, [self._remote("audiocpp", "audio.cpp")])
         self.assertEqual(cmd[2]["voice"], "narrator")
-        self.assertIsNone(cmd[2]["speaker"])
+        self.assertNotIn("speaker", cmd[2])
         self.assertIsNone(cmd[2]["instructions"])
         fields = self.tui.forms_seen[0][1]
         voice_field = self._field("audiocpp_voice")
@@ -815,7 +816,7 @@ class ConvertFlowTests(unittest.TestCase):
                 None, [self._remote("audiocpp", "audio.cpp")])
         self.assertIsNotNone(cmd)
         self.assertIsNone(cmd[2]["voice"])
-        self.assertIsNone(cmd[2]["speaker"])
+        self.assertNotIn("speaker", cmd[2])
         voice_field = self._field("audiocpp_voice")
         # Clone-only: an empty voice is refused (no built-in speaker option).
         self.assertIsNotNone(voice_field["validate"](""))
@@ -948,8 +949,7 @@ class ConvertFlowTests(unittest.TestCase):
                               return_value=root), \
                     patch.object(hub.config, "AUDIOCPP_INSTRUCTIONS", ""):
                 self._answer_form(backend="audiocpp", model_id="qwen",
-                                  audiocpp_voice="(built-in speaker)",
-                                  instructions="")
+                                  audiocpp_voice="", instructions="")
                 cmd = self._convert(None, [
                     self._ready("audiocpp", "audio.cpp"),
                     self._remote("audiocpp", "audio.cpp")])
diff --git a/app/tests/test_tts.py b/app/tests/test_tts.py
index 0e35f78..c17609b 100644
--- a/app/tests/test_tts.py
+++ b/app/tests/test_tts.py
@@ -512,12 +512,11 @@ class AudioCppTTSClientHealthTests(unittest.TestCase):
             raise AssertionError(f"unexpected URL: {url}")
         return _dispatch
 
-    def _client(self, voice=None, language=None, model_id=None, speaker=None,
-                **kwargs):
+    def _client(self, voice=None, language=None, model_id=None, **kwargs):
         with patch("converter.tts.urllib.request.urlopen",
                    side_effect=self._get_responses(**kwargs)):
             return AudioCppTTSClient(voice=voice, language=language,
-                                     model_id=model_id, speaker=speaker)
+                                     model_id=model_id)
 
     def test_unreachable_server_raises_with_readme_pointer(self):
         import urllib.error
@@ -549,34 +548,51 @@ class AudioCppTTSClientHealthTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(client.language, config.LANGUAGE)
         self.assertEqual(client.voice, "Vivian")
         self.assertFalse(client.preset_mode)
+        self.assertTrue(client.speaker_mode)
 
     def test_speaker_mode_uses_configured_speaker(self):
         with patch.object(config, "SPEAKER", "uncle_fu"):
             client = self._client()
         self.assertEqual(client.voice, "Uncle Fu")
+        self.assertTrue(client.speaker_mode)
 
-    def test_explicit_speaker_selects_speaker_mode(self):
-        # --speaker picks a CustomVoice speaker; the name is normalized to
-        # its wire (display) form and no preset validation runs.
-        client = self._client(speaker="Uncle_Fu")
+    def test_voice_speaker_name_selects_speaker_mode(self):
+        # --voice naming a built-in CustomVoice speaker selects speaker
+        # mode; the name is normalized to its wire (display) form and no
+        # preset validation runs.
+        client = self._client(voice="Uncle_Fu")
         self.assertEqual(client.voice, "Uncle Fu")
         self.assertFalse(client.preset_mode)
+        self.assertTrue(client.speaker_mode)
 
-    def test_explicit_speaker_on_clone_entry_raises(self):
-        # --speaker is meaningless on a clone-only (Base) entry.
+    def test_voice_speaker_name_on_clone_entry_is_a_preset(self):
+        # --voice on a clone-only (Base) entry is a server-side preset,
+        # not a built-in speaker, so the name is validated against the
+        # server's voice library.
         with self.assertRaises(RuntimeError) as ctx:
-            self._client(speaker="Ryan", model_id="Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base-GGUF",
+            self._client(voice="Ryan", model_id="Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base-GGUF",
                          models={"data": [
                              {"id": "Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base-GGUF",
                               "family": "qwen3_tts"}]})
         message = str(ctx.exception)
-        self.assertIn("no built-in speakers", message)
+        self.assertIn("'Ryan'", message)
         self.assertIn("--voice", message)
 
-    def test_voice_and_speaker_are_mutually_exclusive(self):
-        with self.assertRaises(ValueError) as ctx:
-            AudioCppTTSClient(voice="narrator", speaker="Ryan")
-        self.assertIn("mutually exclusive", str(ctx.exception))
+    def test_voice_speaker_name_does_not_reroute_to_clone_model(self):
+        # A built-in speaker name on a CustomVoice primary selects speaker
+        # mode without the AUDIOCPP_CLONE_MODEL_ID reroute.
+        with patch.object(config, "AUDIOCPP_MODEL_ID",
+                          "Qwen3-TTS-CustomVoice"), \
+                patch.object(config, "AUDIOCPP_CLONE_MODEL_ID", "qwen3-tts-clone"):
+            client = self._client(
+                voice="Ryan",
+                models={"data": [{"id": "Qwen3-TTS-CustomVoice",
+                                  "family": "qwen3_tts"},
+                                 {"id": "qwen3-tts-clone",
+                                  "family": "qwen3_tts"}]})
+        self.assertEqual(client.model_id, "Qwen3-TTS-CustomVoice")
+        self.assertTrue(client.speaker_mode)
+        self.assertFalse(client.preset_mode)
 
     def test_no_voice_on_base_entry_raises_instead_of_silent_speaker(self):
         # The Base model has no built-in speakers: without --voice the run
@@ -1063,7 +1079,6 @@ class AudioCppTTSClientRequestTests(unittest.TestCase):
         client.model_id = config.AUDIOCPP_MODEL_ID
         client.preset_mode = preset_mode
         client.voice = voice
-        client.speaker = None
         client.language = language
         client._seed = seed
         client.family = family
@@ -1518,8 +1533,8 @@ class AudioCppUnloadModelsTests(unittest.TestCase):
         client.profile = tts.AUDIOCPP_FAMILY_PROFILES["qwen3_tts"]
         client.design_mode = False
         client.instruction_voice = False
+        client.speaker_mode = False
         client.instructions = ""
-        client.speaker = None
         with patch.object(client, "_check_health"), \
                 patch.object(client, "_list_models",
                              return_value=[{"id": client.model_id,
@@ -1548,8 +1563,8 @@ class AudioCppUnloadModelsTests(unittest.TestCase):
         client.profile = tts.AUDIOCPP_FAMILY_PROFILES["qwen3_tts"]
         client.design_mode = False
         client.instruction_voice = False
+        client.speaker_mode = False
         client.instructions = ""
-        client.speaker = None
         with patch.object(client, "_check_health"), \
                 patch.object(client, "_list_models",
                              return_value=[{"id": client.model_id,
@@ -1591,8 +1606,7 @@ class BackendWiringTests(unittest.TestCase):
                                               model_id=None,
                                               instructions=None,
                                               request_options={},
-                                              api_url=None,
-                                              speaker=None)
+                                              api_url=None)
         mock_faster.assert_not_called()
         mock_qwen.assert_not_called()
 
@@ -1604,8 +1618,7 @@ class BackendWiringTests(unittest.TestCase):
                                               model_id=None,
                                               instructions=None,
                                               request_options={},
-                                              api_url=None,
-                                              speaker=None)
+                                              api_url=None)
 
     def test_audiocpp_backend_model_id_is_wired_through(self):
         with patch("converter.converter.AudioCppTTSClient") as mock_audiocpp:
@@ -1615,7 +1628,7 @@ class BackendWiringTests(unittest.TestCase):
         mock_audiocpp.assert_called_once_with(
             voice="narrator", language=config.LANGUAGE,
             model_id="higgs", instructions=None,
-            request_options={}, api_url=None, speaker=None)
+            request_options={}, api_url=None)
 
     def test_audiocpp_backend_instructions_and_options_are_wired_through(self):
         with patch("converter.converter.AudioCppTTSClient") as mock_audiocpp:
@@ -1629,7 +1642,7 @@ class BackendWiringTests(unittest.TestCase):
             model_id=None,
             instructions="A warm adult narrator",
             request_options={"emotion": "neutral", "speed": "1.1"},
-            api_url=None, speaker=None)
+            api_url=None)
 
     def test_qwen_backend_uses_qwen_client(self):
         with patch("converter.converter.FasterTTSClient") as mock_faster, \
@@ -1656,7 +1669,7 @@ class BackendWiringTests(unittest.TestCase):
         mock_audiocpp.assert_called_once_with(
             voice="narrator", language=config.LANGUAGE, model_id=None,
             instructions=None, request_options={},
-            api_url="http://10.0.0.5:8080", speaker=None)
+            api_url="http://10.0.0.5:8080")
         with patch("converter.converter.FasterTTSClient") as mock_faster:
             AudiobookConverter(voice_mode=tts.VOICE_MODE_CLONE,
                                backend=tts.BACKEND_FASTER, voice="narrator",
diff --git a/app/ui/hub.py b/app/ui/hub.py
index 84b4155..f937b84 100644
--- a/app/ui/hub.py
+++ b/app/ui/hub.py
@@ -741,7 +741,6 @@ def _preflight(stdscr, cmd: tuple) -> bool:
             voice_clone_ref_audio=kwargs.get("clone"),
             output_format=kwargs.get("output_format") or config.AUDIO_FORMAT,
             instructions=kwargs.get("instructions"),
-            speaker=kwargs.get("speaker"),
             confirm=confirm)
     if not book_files:
         tui.flash(stdscr, "No books to convert. Add a .txt, .pdf or .epub "
@@ -994,19 +993,15 @@ def _audiocpp_fields(stdscr, api_url: Optional[str] = None) -> Optional[tuple]:
         capability = audiocpp_entry_voice_capability(
             entry.get("family") or "", entry.get("task") or "tts",
             entry.get("id") or "")
-        picked = result["audiocpp_voice"]
-        voice = None
-        speaker = None
-        if capability == AUDIOCPP_VOICE_SPEAKER:
-            speaker = picked or None
-        elif capability == AUDIOCPP_VOICE_CLONE:
-            voice = picked or None
-        # design: neither — the voice comes from --instructions
+        # The picked voice (a built-in speaker name on a CustomVoice entry,
+        # a server-side preset otherwise); the client resolves which it is.
+        voice = result["audiocpp_voice"] or None
+        # design: the voice comes from --instructions
         instructions = None
         if capability in (AUDIOCPP_VOICE_DESIGN, AUDIOCPP_VOICE_SPEAKER):
             instructions = (result["instructions"] or "").strip() or None
         kwargs = {
-            "model_id": model_id, "voice": voice, "speaker": speaker,
+            "model_id": model_id, "voice": voice,
             "instructions": instructions,
             **_common_kwargs(result),
         }
diff --git a/audiobook.py b/audiobook.py
index b4cd89d..3882e7f 100755
--- a/audiobook.py
+++ b/audiobook.py
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@ def convert(backend: str = None, voice: str = None, clone: str = None,
             model_id: str = None, instructions: str = None,
             request_options: dict = None, input_dir: Path = None,
             output_dir: Path = None, api_url: str = None,
-            speaker: str = None,
             progress=None, cancel=None, confirm=None,
             book_files=None, planned=None) -> int:
     """Run one conversion pass with explicit options (used by the CLI and hub).
@@ -102,7 +101,7 @@ def convert(backend: str = None, voice: str = None, clone: str = None,
         book_files, planned = AudiobookConverter.preflight_overwrites(
             backend=backend, voice=voice, voice_mode=voice_mode,
             voice_clone_ref_audio=clone, output_format=output_format,
-            instructions=instructions, speaker=speaker, confirm=confirm,
+            instructions=instructions, confirm=confirm,
         )
     if not book_files:
         print("[INFO] Nothing to convert. Add a .txt, .pdf, or .epub file "
@@ -121,7 +120,6 @@ def convert(backend: str = None, voice: str = None, clone: str = None,
             language=language, backend=backend, voice=voice, debug=debug,
             model_id=model_id, instructions=instructions,
             request_options=request_options, api_url=api_url,
-            speaker=speaker,
             progress=progress, cancel=cancel,
         )
         converter._book_files = book_files
@@ -167,7 +165,10 @@ Examples:
   # No arguments, in a terminal: the full TUI (set up backends, convert).
   python audiobook.py
 
-  # Use the audio.cpp audiocpp_server (speaker mode - Vivian speaker, or a server-side voice)
+  # Use the audio.cpp audiocpp_server (a built-in speaker, or a server-side voice)
+  python audiobook.py --backend audiocpp --voice Vivian
+
+  # Use a server-side voice preset (cloning) on the audio.cpp server
   python audiobook.py --backend audiocpp --voice narrator
 
   # Use the audio.cpp audiocpp_server with a voice design model (task 'vdes')
@@ -245,25 +246,18 @@ Examples:
     )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--voice", type=str, default=None, metavar="NAME",
-        help=("Voice to request from a server-side voice configuration. faster: "
-              "a key in the server's voices.json ('default' when it was started "
-              "with --ref-audio). audiocpp: a voice_preset or voice_dir entry "
-              "(cloning); required for audio.cpp families without built-in "
-              "speakers (everything except Qwen3-TTS CustomVoice). When "
-              "AUDIOCPP_CLONE_MODEL_ID names a second server entry (typically "
-              "the Qwen Base model), --voice reroutes to it. Not used by "
-              "the qwen backend (use app/converter/config.py SPEAKER or --clone "
+        help=("Voice to request. faster: a key in the server's voices.json "
+              "('default' when it was started with --ref-audio). audiocpp: "
+              "the name of the voice for the selected model entry — for the "
+              "Qwen3-TTS CustomVoice entry a built-in speaker (e.g. Vivian, "
+              "Ryan, Uncle Fu), for every other family a voice_preset or "
+              "voice_dir entry (cloning). When AUDIOCPP_CLONE_MODEL_ID "
+              "names a second server entry (typically the Qwen Base model), "
+              "a non-speaker --voice reroutes to it. Not used by the qwen "
+              "backend (use app/converter/config.py SPEAKER or --clone "
               "there).")
     )
     parser.add_argument(
-        "--speaker", type=str, default=None, metavar="NAME",
-        help=("audiocpp only: a built-in Qwen3-TTS CustomVoice speaker name "
-              "(e.g. Vivian, Ryan, Uncle Fu). Selects speaker mode on the "
-              "CustomVoice model entry; mutually exclusive with --voice. "
-              "Without --voice/--speaker, a CustomVoice entry defaults to "
-              "the SPEAKER in app/converter/config.py.")
-    )
-    parser.add_argument(
         "--debug", action="store_true",
         help=("Troubleshooting mode: dump each chunk's raw audio and the exact text "
               "sent for it under the debug/ folder (organized per book and chapter), "
@@ -338,11 +332,6 @@ Examples:
                   "uses a voice configured on the server (voice_presets or "
                   "voice_dir in its config); select it with --voice (see README)")
             args.clone = None
-        if args.voice and args.speaker:
-            parser.error("--voice and --speaker are mutually exclusive with "
-                         "--backend audiocpp: --voice selects a server-side "
-                         "preset (cloning), --speaker a built-in CustomVoice "
-                         "speaker (see README)")
         if args.transcription or args.no_transcription:
             print("[WARNING] --transcription/--no-transcription are ignored with "
                   "--backend audiocpp: the reference transcript is configured on "
@@ -373,10 +362,6 @@ Examples:
         parser.error("--model requires --backend audiocpp; it selects an "
                      "audio.cpp server model entry id")
 
-    if args.speaker is not None and args.backend != BACKEND_AUDIOCPP:
-        parser.error("--speaker requires --backend audiocpp; it selects a "
-                     "built-in Qwen3-TTS CustomVoice speaker")
-
     if args.instructions is not None and args.backend != BACKEND_AUDIOCPP:
         parser.error("--instructions requires --backend audiocpp; it is "
                      "sent as the audio.cpp request's instructions field")
@@ -411,7 +396,6 @@ Examples:
         request_options=request_options,
         input_dir=args.input, output_dir=args.output,
         api_url=api_url,
-        speaker=args.speaker,
     ))