MEA8000
Contents
Overview
The MEA8000 is a Speech Synthesizer chip. It contains a Voice Generator similar to that used in the SP0256 speech chip. However, unlike the SP0256, it doesn't contain a built-in microprocessor, nor built-in ROM.
To output an allophone, one must send one (or usually more) 32bit packet(s) to the chip. This is making it more complicated to use than the SP0256 (which needs only one 8bit value per allophone). On the other hand, it's making the MEA8000 more flexible: The SP0256 contains predefined allophones (usually the -AL2 english allophone set), whilst the MEA8000 can be freely used with different allophone sets (english, french, other languages), different intonations (eg. raise the pitch to pronounce questions), or even as general purpose sound processor (ie. to produce music or sound effects).
Technical
CPC Speech Synthesisers
- Amstrad SSA-1 Speech Synthesizer (SP0256 based)
- Dk'tronics Speech Synthesizer (SP0256 based)
- MHT Speech Synthesizer (SP0256 based)
- TMPI speech synthetizer (MEA8000 based)
- Software Speech Synthesizers (Software based)
- LambdaSpeak covers all the others
Speech Examples
- Media:Parole_et_micros_-_TO8_-_Direct_recording.mp3 - Direct sound recording of a MEA8000 chip (mp3) (Recorded on a Thomson TO8)
- The French song Clair de la lune sung by a MEA8000 chip (mp3) (Recorded using the MEA8000 emulator from MESS?)
- Showing the TMPI speech synthesizer in action: {{#ev:youtube|oMa5ekqn06M}}
Misc
- MEA8000 on PC Printer Port - DIY (French) (for PCs) (does NOT work on CPCs)
Block Diagram
Datasheets
- Media:MEA8000 Mullard.pdf - MEA8000 Datasheet (Mullard)
- Media:MEA8000 Signetics.pdf - MEA8000 Datasheet (Signetics)
- MEA8000 Figures - Additional info on Filters and Parameter Translation (which aren't described in the normal MEA8000 datasheets)
- Media:Parole_et_Micros_-_Synthèse_vocale.zip - Parole et micros - Synthèse vocale (1985) Technical book about the MEA8000 and its usage (French) (Some chapters are missing)
- Media:Klatt-1980-JAS000971.pdf - MIT research paper describing the Klatt formant synthesizer. The MEA8000 is largely based on it. (1980)
- Manipulaties met spraakgeluid, Philips Technisch Tijdschrif 40 (Philips 1982) (Dutch) (this should contain technical details of the MEA8000 implementation) (there seems to be no copy in the internet yet)
- MEA8000 voice synthesizer: principles and interfacing, Philips Technical Publication 101 (Philips/Elcoma 1983) (this might contain additional info on the filters & voice generator)
- PCF8200 - newer chip, based on MEA8000 (isn't backwards-compatible, but works similarly)
Weblinks
- http://vesta.homelinux.free.fr/wiki/cpc6128_amstrad.html - TMPI Speech Details (French)
- http://vesta.homelinux.free.fr/wiki/le_synthetiseur_vocal_mea_8000.html - MEA8000 Chip Details (French)
