Overview
The SPO256 is a Speech Synthesizer chip used in many hardware Speech Synthesizers of the 8bit era. The SP0256 contains a Voice Generator, a small microprocessor, and a built-in ROM which contains 16Kbit (2Kbyte) of program code.
A number of different version of the SP0256 exist. The most common is the SP0256-AL2, where -AL2 means that the built-in ROM contains preprogrammed english allophones.
CPC Speech Synthesizers
- 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)
SP0256 on Printer Port (DIY)
SP0256 Speech ROM
- 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)
Datasheets (English)
- Media:Sp0256al2 datasheet.pdf - includes AL2 allophone list
- SP0256B datasheet - includes info on TEST pin (but lacks the AL2 list)
- SP0250 Applications Manual - includes info on Voice Generator (or the older SP0250 chip, not the SP0256, but it works similar)
- SPR016 datasheet - external 16Kbit ROM - includes info on stack (which seems to be part of the internal/external ROM, not of the CPU)
- SPR-032 datasheet - external 32Kbit ROM
- SPR-128 datasheet (older) - external 128Kbit ROM preliminary 28pin package with undefined pinouts
- SPR-128 datasheet (newer) - external 128Kbit ROM preliminary 24pin package with defined pinouts
- SPB640 - external speech fifo