TMPI speech synthesizer

A speech synthesizer. Made by TechniMusique et Parole Informatique (TMPI).

Technimusique sythesiseur vocal

The device appeared on the French market and was apparently a ported version from the ORIC one, Oric being a popular machine in France.

Not much is known about this device.

Technical Specs.

I/O ports (as used by the included disk software):

 FBFEh TMPI Speech MEA8000 Data Register
 FBFFh TMPI Speech MEA8000 Command/Status Register

• Caution - As seen in the schematic, only A0..A7 seem to be decoded, but A8..A15 aren't. If that is true, then the device can conflict with almost all other existing hardware, including important internal components: Gate Array, CRTC, ROM Bank, Printer Port, PIO and PSG (for these devices A0..A7 are don't care, so it's perfectly possible that some programs access them with FEh or FFh in lower address bits).

• Bugfix - Add some circuit that ensures A10=LOW (eg. ORing it with /IORQ should do it).

• Clock - There seem to be two versions of the device: One using the 4MHz signal from the CPC's expansion port. The other using an external unknown frequency (?) oscillator. The internal 3.84MHz oscillator (in the MEA8000 chip) isn't used by either version.

For details on the speech chip, see

• MEA8000
• MEA8000 I/O Ports and Pinouts
• MEA8000 Voice Generator

Supported Games

• 7 logiciels vocaux éducatifs & utilitaires (TMPI) (Box Cover)

Downloads

• TechniMusique Speech Disk (disk) speech driver with examples
• TechniMusique Speech Synthesizer software disk (2 sides)
• TechniMusique Speech Synthesizer software tape (2 sides)
• TechniMusique 7 logiciels vocaux éducatifs & utilitaires

Pictures (version without Oscillator)

• TMPI speech synthetizer (version without oscillator)
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  Front

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  Rear

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  Disassembling

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  Component Side

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  Solder Side

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  Schematic

• TMPI speech synthetizer (version without oscillator) 300dpi scans
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  Top

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  Side

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  Bottom

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  PCB Top

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  PCB Bottom

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  Software Disc Side A

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  Software Disc Side B

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  Software Tape Side A

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  Software Tape Side B

Pictures (version with Oscillator)

• TMPI speech synthetizer (version with oscillator)
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  Device Front/Back

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  Component Side, Solder Side

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  Part Number on Oscillator

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  Schematic

This version uses an external unknown frequency oscillator. According to the schematic, speech is not injected to the SOUND pin on expansion port. /RD and /IORQ are decoded differently as in the other version. /WR is not used (instead the chips /W pin is wired to GND).

Manual

• User Manual (French) (pdf)

• Manual for ORIC, the software codes are the same for CPC (French)
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  Page 1

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  Page 2

Other Speech Synthesizers

• Amstrad SSA-1 Speech Synthesizer (Amstrad)
• Dk'tronics Speech Synthesizer (Dk'tronics)
• MHT Speech Synthesizer (MHT Ingenieros)

Weblinks

• http://vesta.homelinux.net/site/wiki/cpc6128_amstrad.html - TMPI Speech Details (French)
• http://vesta.homelinux.net/site/wiki/le_synthetiseur_vocal_mea_8000.html - MEA8000 Chip Details (French)