Difference between revisions of "Amstrad SSA-1 Speech Synthesizer"

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{{#ev:youtube|fesVxipNaw8|300}} {{#ev:youtube|v8WKbKK3Apg|300}}  
 
{{#ev:youtube|fesVxipNaw8|300}} {{#ev:youtube|v8WKbKK3Apg|300}}  
 
== Other Speech Synthesizers ==
 
 
* [[Dk'tronics Speech Synthesizer]]
 
* [[MHT Speech Synthesizer]] (MHT Ingenieros)
 
* [[TMPI speech synthetizer]] (TechniMusique)
 
  
 
== Downloads ==
 
== Downloads ==
  
 
* [[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)
 
* [[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)
 
== Weblinks ==
 
  
 
== Manual ==
 
== Manual ==
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[[Manual of the Amstrad SSA-1 Speech Synthesizer]] Individual pages
 
[[Manual of the Amstrad SSA-1 Speech Synthesizer]] Individual pages
 +
 +
== Other Speech Synthesizers ==
 +
 +
* [[Dk'tronics Speech Synthesizer]]
 +
* [[MHT Speech Synthesizer]] (MHT Ingenieros)
 +
* [[TMPI speech synthetizer]] (TechniMusique)
  
 
[[Category:Hardware]] [[Category:Peripherals]] [[Category:Music and sound]][[Category:Manual]]
 
[[Category:Hardware]] [[Category:Peripherals]] [[Category:Music and sound]][[Category:Manual]]

Revision as of 16:00, 12 January 2010

Amstrad SSA1 box cover
The bundle

A Speech Synthesizer from Amstrad based on the SPO256-AL2 Speech Synthesizer

Software

  • |SAY,@<string> - Converts a string af ASCII text to speech
  • |ECHO,<mode> - Activates text to speech conversion on text printed to the screen.
  • |APHONE,<allophone>[,<allophone>] - Send allophones directly to the interrupt driven allophone buffer.
  • |ROOM,@<value> - Find out how many free locations in the allophones buffer.
  • |QUIET - Clears the allophone buffer.
  • |SPON - Activates the speech interrrupt event.
  • |SPOFF - To prevent output of data from the allophone buffer.
  • |SPSTATUS,@<value> - Read the status of the speech processor.
  • |SPOUT,<allophone>[,<allophone>] - Sends allophones directly to the soundprocessor.

Technical Specs.

The clock frequency (passed to the speech chip) is fixed, the exact frequency is unknown (?)

Uses I/O port: #FBEE, of which (according to the manual) only A10,A4,A0 are decoded.

Port FBEEh READ:

 bit7   Status 1 (0=Speech Busy, 1=Ready/Halted)   (SBY Pin, Speech Busy)
 bit6   Status 2 (0=Ready to Receive Data, 1=Busy) (/LRQ Pin, Load Request)
 bit5-0 Not used (garbage, probably usually highz)

Port FBEEh WRITE:

 bit7-6 Reserved (must be zero)
 bit5-0 Allophone number               ;data can be send when Status.Bit6=0

Supported Games

  • 3D Boxing
  • 3D Stunt Rider
  • Alex Higgin's World Snooker / World Pool
  • Darkwurlde
  • Glen Hoddle Soccer
  • Roland In Space
  • Tubaruba

Caution - Some webpages do (incorrectly) list further games: Gremlins (spanish version), Seablood and Robin of Sherwood (these contain code for using Port FBEC & FBEF for some kind of data transfer - not for speech). Also, Dragon Gold is listed as speech game (not sure why, it doesn't seem to use any special I/O ports; unless different versions of that game exist?)

Pictures

Reviews


Examples of the Amstrad synth in use

{{#ev:youtube|fesVxipNaw8|300}} {{#ev:youtube|v8WKbKK3Apg|300}}

Downloads

  • 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)

Manual

File:Amstrad SSA-1 User Instruction Manual.pdf

Manual of the Amstrad SSA-1 Speech Synthesizer Individual pages

Other Speech Synthesizers