diff --git a/plugins/beep/README.md b/plugins/beep/README.md
index 09047709..3c969ae3 100644
--- a/plugins/beep/README.md
+++ b/plugins/beep/README.md
@@ -1,12 +1,75 @@
-ceedling-beep
-=============
+# Ceedling Plugin: Beep
 
-This is a simple plugin that just beeps at the end of a build and/or test sequence. Are you getting too distracted surfing
-the internet, chatting with coworkers, or swordfighting while it's building or testing? The friendly beep will let you know
+# Overview
+
+This plugin simply beeps at the end of a build.
+
+Are you getting too distracted surfing the internet, chatting with coworkers, or swordfighting while a long build runs? A friendly beep will let you know
 it's time to pay attention again.
 
-This plugin has very few configuration options. At this time it can beep on completion of a task and/or on an error condition.
-For each of these, you can configure the method that it should beep.
+# Configuration
+
+Beep includes a default configuration. By just enabling the plugin, the simplest cross-platform sound mechanism (`:bell` below) is automatically enabled for both
+build completion and build error events.
+
+If you would like to customize your beeps, the following explains your options.
+
+## Events
+
+When this plugin is enabled, a beep is sounded when:
+
+* A test build or release build finish successfully.
+* An error condition breaks a build.
+
+To change the default sound for each event, define `:on_done` and `:on_error` beneath a top-level `:beep` entry in your configuration file. See example below.
+
+## Sound options
+
+The following options are fixed. At present, this plugin does not expose customization settings.
+
+* `:bell`
+
+  `:bell` is the simplest and most widely available option for beeping. This option simply `echo`s the unprintable [ASCII bell character][ascii-bel-character] to a command terminal. This option is generally available on all platforms, including Windows.
+
+  [ascii-bel-character]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_character
+
+* `:tput`
+
+  [`tput`][tput] is a command line utility widely availble among Unix derivatives, including Linux and macOS. The `tput` utility uses the terminfo database to make the values of terminal-dependent capabilities (including the [ASCII bell character][ascii-bel-character]) and terminal information available to the shell.
+
+  If the `echo`-based method used by the `:bell` option is not successful, `:tput` is a good backup option (except on Windows).
+
+  [tput]: https://linux.die.net/man/1/tput
+
+* `:beep`
+
+  [`beep`][beep] is an old but widely available Linux package for tone generation using the PC speaker.
+
+  `beep` requires isntallation and the possibility of a complementary kernel module.
+
+  The original audio device in a PC before sound cards was a simple and limited speaker directly wired to a motherboard. Rarely, modern systems still have this device. More commonly, its functions are routed to a default mode of modern audio hardware. `beep` may not work on modern Linux systems. If it is a viable option, this utility is typically dependent on a PC speaker kernel module and related configuration.
+
+  [beep]: https://linux.die.net/man/1/beep
+
+* `:speaker_test`
+
+  [`speaker-test`][speaker-test] is a Linux package commonly available for tone generation using a system's audio features.
+
+  `speaker-test` requires installation as well as audio subsystem configuration.
+
+  _Note:_ `speaker-test` typically mandates a 4 second minimum run, even if the configured sound plays for less than this minimum. Options to limit `speaker-test`'s minimum time are likely possible but would require combining advanced Ceedling features.
+
+  [speaker-test]: https://linux.die.net/man/1/speaker-test
+
+* `:say`
+
+  macOS includes a built-in text-to-speech command line application, [`say`][say]. When Ceedling is running on macOS and this beep option is selected, Ceedling events will be verbally announced.
+
+  [say]: https://ss64.com/mac/say.html
+
+## Example beep configurations in YAML
+
+In fact, this is the default configuration (and need not be duplicated in your project file).
 
 ```yaml
 :beep:
@@ -14,9 +77,7 @@ For each of these, you can configure the method that it should beep.
   :on_error: :bell
 ```
 
-Each of these have the following options:
+# Notes
 
-  - :bell - this option uses the ASCII bell character out stdout
-  - :speaker_test - this uses the linux speaker-test command if installed
+* Some terminal emulators intercept and/or silence beeps. Remote terminal sessions can add further complication. Be sure to check relevant configuration options to accomplish what you want.
 
-Very likely, we'll be adding to this list if people find this to be useful.
diff --git a/plugins/beep/lib/beep.rb b/plugins/beep/lib/beep.rb
index 2a9217b7..f91cc92a 100755
--- a/plugins/beep/lib/beep.rb
+++ b/plugins/beep/lib/beep.rb
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 require 'ceedling/plugin'
+require 'ceedling/exceptions'
 require 'beep_tools'
 
 BEEP_ROOT_NAME = 'beep'.freeze
@@ -15,24 +16,46 @@ def setup
     }
     
     if @tools[:beep_on_done].nil?
-      @ceedling[:streaminator].stderr_puts("Tool :beep_on_done is not defined.", verbosity=Verbosity::COMPLAIN)
+      raise CeedlingException.new("Option '#{@config[:on_done]}' for plugin :beep ↳ :on_done configuration did not map to a tool.")
     end
     
     if @tools[:beep_on_error].nil?
-      @ceedling[:streaminator].stderr_puts("Tool :beep_on_error is not defined.", verbosity=Verbosity::COMPLAIN)
+      raise CeedlingException.new("Option '#{@config[:on_done]}' for plugin :beep ↳ :on_error configuration did not map to a tool.")
     end
   end
   
   def post_build
-    return if @tools[:beep_on_done].nil?
-    command = @ceedling[:tool_executor].build_command_line(@tools[:beep_on_done], [])
-    system(command[:line])
+    if @tools[:beep_on_done].nil?
+      @ceedling[:streaminator].stderr_puts("Tool for :beep ↳ :on_done event handling is not available", Verbosity::COMPLAIN)
+      return
+    end
+
+    command = @ceedling[:tool_executor].build_command_line(
+      @tools[:beep_on_done],
+      [],
+      ["ceedling build done"]) # Only used by tools with `${1}` replacement arguments
+
+    @ceedling[:streaminator].stdout_puts("Command: #{command}", Verbosity::DEBUG)
+
+    # Verbosity is enabled to allow shell output (primarily for sake of the bell character)
+    @ceedling[:system_wrapper].shell_system( command: command[:line], verbose: true )
   end
   
   def post_error
-    return if @tools[:beep_on_error].nil?
-    command = @ceedling[:tool_executor].build_command_line(@tools[:beep_on_error], [])
-    system(command[:line])
+    if @tools[:beep_on_error].nil?
+      @ceedling[:streaminator].stderr_puts("Tool for :beep ↳ :on_error event handling is not available", Verbosity::COMPLAIN)
+      return
+    end
+
+    command = @ceedling[:tool_executor].build_command_line(
+      @tools[:beep_on_error],
+      [],
+      ["ceedling build error"]) # Only used by tools with `${1}` replacement arguments
+
+    @ceedling[:streaminator].stdout_puts("Command: #{command}", Verbosity::DEBUG)
+
+    # Verbosity is enabled to allow shell output (primarily for sake of the bell character)
+    @ceedling[:system_wrapper].shell_system( command: command[:line], verbose: true )
   end
   
 end
diff --git a/plugins/beep/lib/beep_tools.rb b/plugins/beep/lib/beep_tools.rb
index 51f54d7a..a3df00f4 100644
--- a/plugins/beep/lib/beep_tools.rb
+++ b/plugins/beep/lib/beep_tools.rb
@@ -1,23 +1,49 @@
 BEEP_TOOLS = {
+
+  # Most generic beep option across all platforms -- echo the ASCII bell character
   :bell => {
-    :executable => 'echo'.freeze,
+    :executable => 'echo'.freeze,                     # Using `echo` shell command / command line application
     :name => 'default_beep_bell'.freeze,
-    :stderr_redirect => StdErrRedirect::NONE.freeze,
-      :optional => false.freeze,
     :arguments => [
-      *('-ne'.freeze unless SystemWrapper.windows?),
-      "\x07".freeze
+      *('-n'.freeze unless SystemWrapper.windows?),   # No trailing newline for Unix-style echo (argument omitted on Windows)
+      "\x07".freeze                                   # Unprintable ASCII bell character, escaped in Ruby string
     ].freeze
   }.freeze,
+
+  # Terminal put the bell character on Unix-derived platforms
+  :tput => {
+    :executable => 'tput'.freeze,                     # `tput` command line application
+    :name => 'default_beep_tput'.freeze,
+    :arguments => [
+      "bel".freeze                                    # `tput` argument for bell character (named 'bel' in ASCII standard)
+    ].freeze
+  }.freeze,
+
+  # Old but widely available `beep` tone generator package for Unix-derived platforms (not macOS) 
+  :beep => {
+    :executable => 'beep'.freeze,                     # `beep` command line application
+    :name => 'default_beep_beep'.freeze,
+    :arguments => [].freeze                           # Default beep (no arguments)
+  }.freeze,
+  
+  # Widely available tone generator package for Unix-derived platforms (not macOS)
   :speaker_test => {
-    :executable => 'speaker-test'.freeze,
+    :executable => 'speaker-test'.freeze,             # `speaker-test` command line application
     :name => 'default_beep_speaker_test'.freeze,
-    :stderr_redirect => StdErrRedirect::NONE.freeze,
-      :optional => false.freeze,
+    :arguments => [                                   # 1000 hz sine wave frequency
+      '-t sine'.freeze,
+      '-f 1000'.freeze,
+      '-l 1'.freeze
+    ].freeze
+  }.freeze,
+
+  # macOS text to speech
+  :say => {
+    :executable => 'say'.freeze,                      # macOS `say` command line application
+    :name => 'default_beep_say'.freeze,
     :arguments => [
-      - '-t sine'.freeze,
-      - '-f 1000'.freeze,
-      - '-l 1'.freeze
+      "\"${1}\""                                      # Replacement argument for text
     ].freeze
-  }.freeze
+  }.freeze,
+
 }.freeze