MHT Speech Synthesizer

MHT Speech Synthesizer aka Sintetizador de voz (MHT Ingenieros)

Technical

It uses a SP0256(-AL2?) chip.

• The I/O address is &FBE0. (only A10,A7,A6,A5 and A4 are decoded)
• The clock frequency is unknown (as shown on the photo, it uses an oscillator, ie. NOT the 4MHz signal on the expansion port).

Port FBE0h READ:

 bit 6   Status 1 (0=Speech Busy, 1=Ready/Halted)   (SBY Pin, Speech Busy)
 bit 7,D5-D0 Not used (garbage, probably usually highz)

Port FBE0h WRITE:

 bit7-6 Ignored
 bit5-0 Allophone number               ;data can be send when Status.Bit?=0

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

Now, thanks to Jose Leandro, the hardware specialist of the spectrum, with his famous page :

http://trastero.speccy.org/cosas/JL/JL.htm

We can know more about this hardware.

Pictures

• MHT Speech
• 

  Outside

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  Inside

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  Component Side

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  Solder Side

• MHT Speech Synthesizer Layout, thanks to Jose Leandro
• 

  Top

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  Bottom

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  Components

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  Tracks

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  PCB Back

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  PCB Front

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  PCB Chips

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  PCB Complete

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  Components

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  Tracks

• 

  Layout

The part numbers on the chips seem to be scratched-off (or covered by paint, or is it just old glue from stickers?).

The "GI" logo on the large chip implies that it is the popular General Instrument SP0256 speech chip, probably the standard -AL2 version (the ending L2 may be still visible? not sure there - on the photo it vanishes under the pot axis).

The clock frequency of the oscillator isn't visible (from the perspective from where the photos were taken).

The GNDed pins somewhat confirm that it is a SP0256 (Pin1=Supply GND, Pin10,11=A8,A9, ie. only 6bit allophone numbers used).

Caution - There are two files, Image:MHT-sintetizdor_de_voz-005.jpg and Image:MHT-sintetizdor_de_voz-008.jpg circulated in internet.

Despite of their filesnames, they do NOT show a MHT speech synthesizer - please do not add these files to this page!

The hardware shown on those pics is an ARA Video Digitizer, nothing to do with MHT Speech.

Software Covertape

• Software Covertape
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  Front Covertape

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  Back Covertape

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  Tape - Side B

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  Tape - Side A

Downloads

• Software of Sintetizador de voz (MHT Ingenieros).zip (CDT for Emulators)
• MHT Speech Synthesizer (Eagle).zip (MHT Speech Synthesizer files for Eagle)
• 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)

Other CPC Speech Synthesizers

• Amstrad SSA-1 Speech Synthesizer (SP0256 based)
• Dk'tronics Speech Synthesizer (SP0256 based)
• TMPI speech synthetizer (MEA8000 based)
• Software Speech Synthesizers (Software based)

Weblinks

• MHT Speech Synthesizer from CPC-Power
• MHT Speech Synthesizer from CPCrulez
• MHT Speech Synthesizer from hardware.speccy.org