Amstrad SSA-1 Speech Synthesizer

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.

In the SSA-1, the SP0256-AL2 speech chip is clocked by a 3.12MHz ceramic resonator (unlike the similar dk'tronics device, where it is clocked at 4MHz).

The SSA-1 uses I/O port: #FBEE, of which (according to the manual) only A10,A4,A0 are decoded.

Port FBEEh READ - SP0256-AL2 Status:

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

Port FBEEh WRITE - SP0256-AL2 Allophone:

 bit7-0 Allophone number               

Port FAEEh WRITE - Accidently used in the included RSX driver cassette (the driver sets BC=FBEEh and executes OUTI, which pre-decrements B, so the OUT accidently goes to FAEEh - the driver works despite of that bug since FBEEh is mirrored to that address).

• A new allophone number can be send when Status.Bit6=0.
• The allophone number should/must be in range of 00h..3Fh (6bit).
• However, the whole 8bit databus is connected in the SSA-1.

For details on the speech chip, see:

• SP0256
• SP0256 Voice Generator
• SP0256 Instruction Set
• SP0256 Allophones
• SP0256 Pin-Outs

Software Support

Games

• 3D Boxing
• 3D Stunt Rider
• Alex Higgins World Pool
• Alex Higgins World Snooker
• Darkwurlde
• Glen Hoddle Soccer
• Roland in Space
• Tubaruba

Serious Software

• FutureOS (limited)

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, possibly for PDS development system - but, 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

• Amstrad SSA1
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  Frontpage

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  Inside

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  Box (open)

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  Box (side)

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  Interface and Speakers

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  Manual and Tape

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  Box (front)

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  Schematic

• Amstrad SSA1 (300dpi scans by Robcfg)
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  Front

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  Back

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  PCB Top

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  PCB Bottom

Reviews

• 

  The SSA1 compared to the dk'Tronics synth

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Examples of the Amstrad synth in use

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Downloads

• Media:Amstrad SSA-1 (Main Program).zip (cassette)
• Media:Amstrad SSA-1 (Programas Basic).zip (cassette)
• Amstrad SSA-1 drivers (English) [1] (DSK for Emulators)
• 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 (pdf)
• Manual of the Amstrad SSA-1 Speech Synthesizer (jpg's)

Other Speech Synthesizers

• Dk'tronics Speech Synthesizer
• MHT Speech Synthesizer (MHT Ingenieros)
• TMPI speech synthetizer (TechniMusique)