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[[Dk'tronics]] Speech Synthesizer based on [[SPO256]] (-AL2, presumably?) chip.

The DKDk'tronics speech synthesizer came with the standard handbook which gave instructions for all DKDk'tronics add-ons. The speech synthesizer also had the classic DK'tronics casing as all their CPC products had, with the exception of a fly-lead which could be connected to the stereo output of the CPC. It also had two mono outputs for the supplied speakers, a volume control on the right hand side and the balance could be adjusted with a small screw-driver through a hole below the volume. Two versions of the synthesizer were available. One where the software was supplied on a cassette and a second version with the software on an internal ROM within the unit. When the ROM version was connected and working properly, it reported the message 'Speech ROM Ver. 1.1' on the screen.

DKThe speech synthesizer also had the classic Dk'tronics casing as all their CPC products had, with the exception of a fly-lead which could be connected to the stereo output of the CPC. It also had two mono outputs for the supplied speakers, a volume control on the right hand side and the balance could be adjusted with a small screw-driver through a hole below the volume. Two versions of the synthesizer were available. One where the software was supplied on a cassette and a second version with the software on an internal ROM within the unit. When the ROM version was connected and working properly, it reported the message 'Speech ROM Ver. 1.1' on the screen. Dk'tronics changed suppliers of the speakers more than once, so several different versions of the speakers exist, including one version with a swiveled bracket for wall or desk mounting.

either directly or using it's 'text to speech' ability (with questionable success). The commands available were: 

* |SPEAK - Loaded the ROM software, listed the The commands and said the sentence 'DK'tronics speech synthesizer' (badly) * |SPON - Used to turn on the read buffers interrupt* |SPOF - You can guess what that one did yourself* |FEED,n - Feed data directly into the speech buffer (up to 30 comma separated values between 5 and 63)* |FLUS - Cleared both the speech and text buffers* |SPED,n - Controls the speed of the text (n being a value between 0 and 15 where 0 is the fastest speed)* |OUTM,1 - Redirected the print command's output to the speech to text converter* |OUTM,2 - Redirect both the print and all other text (List etc.) to the converter* |OUTM,3 - Redirected all text (as with 2), but also printed to the screen in parallel* |LEFT,v - Reported the available memory left in the buffer (where v is a variable)* |SAY, "x" - Was the standard command to send text to the synthesizer (where x is the text to be spoken):

Another method of producing speech without loading the software, was to feed the buffer directly.  This could be done by polling the address &FBFE for it to drop below the value 128 and then feeding the buffer directly by outputting a value to the same address.  This loop had to be repeated for each value.

N/A Status 1 (none, SP0256.Pin8 is not connected) ;SBY Pin, Standby bit7 status Status 2 (10=busyReady to Receive Data, 01=ready/data requestBusy) (probably ;LRQ or maybe SBY)Pin, Load Request bit6-0 unknown/unusedNot used (garbage, probably usually high-z)

bit7-6 unknown/unused Not used (maybe SPED related?should be zero) bit5-0 Allophone number* A new allophone numbercan be send when Status.Bit7=0. * Only lower 6bit of databus are connected in the dk'tronics version.* The remaining upper 2bit are GNDed via a 0 Ohm resistor. For details on the speech chip, see:

The clock frequency (passed to the speech chip) is variable (can be changedvia |SPED command), the exact frequency values are unknown?interface does NOT contain an oscillator.

The I/O port/bits used Instead, OSC1 (SP0256 Pin27) is wired to change the CPC's 4MHz clock frequency is unknown signal (?Expansion port Pin50).

Note: Changing Thus producing shorter sounds with higher pitch as when using the clock frequency allows to change the intonationrecommended 3.12MHz oscillator.

== Software support ===== Games ===* Jumpjet [[Alex Higgens World Pool]]* [[Jump Jet]] (Anirog Software)* [[Roland in Space]]

== Other speech synthesisers for the CPC = Serious Software === * [[Amstrad SSA-1 Speech Synthesizer]]* [[TMPI speech synthesizerFutureOS]] (TechniMusiquelimited support)

<gallery caption="dk'tronics Speech Synthesizer(Boxed)"> 

On * Review on Page 11 in [[Amstradbladet 1985, Issue 3]] (Danish)* Advert/Announcement in [[:File:Amstrad Computer User8503 021.jpg|ACU March 1985]] ---- <gallery caption="dk'Tronics synth compared to the Amstrad SSA1">image:Amstrad Computer User8507 014.jpg|(1/3)image:Amstrad Computer User8507 015.jpg|(2/3)image:Amstrad Computer User8507 016.jpg|(3/3)</gallery> == Other speech synthesizers for the CPC == * [[Amstrad SSA-1 Speech Synthesizer]] (Amstrad)* [[MHT Speech Synthesizer]] (MHT Ingenieros)* [[TMPI speech synthesizer]] (TechniMusique) == Manual == * [[Media:Speech Programming - Edition 2 (Dk'Tronics) Manual.pdf|Speech Programming - Edition 2 (Dk'Tronics) Manual]] (pdf)* [[Media:DK'Tronics Peripheral - Technical Manual (Edition 1).pdf|DK'Tronics Peripheral - Technical Manual (Edition 1)]] (pdf)* [[Media:DKTronics_Speech_Synth_Docs.pdf|DKTronics Speech Synth Docs]] (pdf) == Downloads == * [[Media:Speech Synthesizer (tape) (Dk'Tronics).zip|Speech Synthesizer (tape) (Dk'Tronics).zip]] (CDT for Emulators)* [[Media:DKSPEECH.ROM‎|DK'Tronics Speech ROM]] (Amstrad BIOS Extension)* [[Media:Sp0256-al2-reversed-bit-order.zip|SP0256-AL2 ROM]] ('''caution''' - the bytes in the file are in reversed bit-order, ie. the "Target" values are unreversed, all other opcodes and parameters are reversed) ==Links== *{{CPCPower|4724}}

[[Category:HardwareFutureOS]] [[Category:PeripheralsManual]] [[Category:Music and sound]][[Category:StubPeripherals]]