Richard H. Posted August 15, 2004 Share Posted August 15, 2004 Hi, you probably don't know me, but I build Vectrex hardware (speech synths, RAM / FLASH carts etc) - www.vectrex.biz My latest Vectrex speech synth, the VecVox, is based around the SpeakJet chip (go to www.speakjet.com for some sound examples). Anyway, Alex Herbert has written an Atari software driver to make it work on the 2600 / 7800. So I'm now thinking of making the Atari version. Anyone interested in such a device ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mitchell Posted August 15, 2004 Share Posted August 15, 2004 Hi Richard! Wow! So I imagine that this talking device will plug into the right joystick port while playing the game on the left and allow the Atari to speak while playing a game!? For those who don't know: it will be similar to the Intellivoice and your earlier VecVoice? Totally cool! The beauty of the speech chips is that they can reproduce all 59 allophones (parts of speech in the english language) as well as beeps and buzzes (like R2D2 sounds). As 2600/7800 programmers jump on board and include speech code in their games, this item will be a must have! Rob Mitchell (Programmer of the gregarious speaking Pythagorean Theorem Vectrex program which uses Richard's VecVoice thanks to Alex Herbert's programming wizardry.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herr professor Posted August 15, 2004 Share Posted August 15, 2004 Do you have any plans to support the "realtime synth" control features of the chip as well? That would be sweet.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard H. Posted August 15, 2004 Author Share Posted August 15, 2004 Do you have any plans to support the "realtime synth" control features of the chip as well? Like on the VecVox, the programmer will have full access to all the SpeakJet's speech / sound synth. Did you check out the synth sound on the SpeakJet page ? It's sounds straight out of a 50's sci-fi movie Also, take a look at the SpeakJet utility, it's got some cool features - http://www.lynxmotion.com/images/files/phraseal.zip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dav Posted August 15, 2004 Share Posted August 15, 2004 Did you check out the synth sound on the SpeakJet page ? No they have some kind of lame flash thing that keeps the page from loading. Makes me wonder about the company. I have heard the sound effects on other sites and it is pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-T Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 Count me in if you're going to build an Atari-compatible version. That thing has some really cool sounds. Of course, it'll be up to the game programmers to take full advantage of it, but I think it has great potential. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godzilla Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 Yea, I really hope this works out. It would be awesome! I'd support it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxglove9 Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 How brilliant! The star spangled banner reminds me a little of the Atari 800 Alien Voice Box hardware/software. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mos6507 Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 What exactly differs between the 2600 and the Vectrex version? They both use DB9 ports. If some signals differ, can't you offer an adapter so one board an be used for both platforms? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard H. Posted August 16, 2004 Author Share Posted August 16, 2004 can't you offer an adapter so one board an be used for both platforms? The circuits are too different + the AtariVox will have some on-board EEPROM for games saves etc So I imagine that this talking device will plug into the right joystick port You're correct Rob it'll be up to the game programmers to take full advantage of it There's aready one game in the pipeline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Player Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 it'll be up to the game programmers to take full advantage of it There's aready one game in the pipeline Hey' date=' is it [i']Man Goes Down[/i]? What Alex H. has posted so far of the game has been awesome. I'm completely addicted to the game. And I think I have the high score (88) right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Player Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 Let's try that again. me for not using the preview function. it'll be up to the game programmers to take full advantage of it There's aready one game in the pipeline Hey, is it Man Goes Down? What Alex H. has posted so far of the game has been awesome. I'm completely addicted to the game. And I believe I have the high score right now ( 88 ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mitchell Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 There's aready one game in the pipeline There you go. A game that demonstrates the capability of the programming and the hardware! I cannot wait! Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Slocum Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 Hmmm, I was going to have the Homestar RPG support saving using Jeff/Viso's save module. It would be nice if you could support the same protocol... http://home.hiwaay.net/~jeffj1/projects/amm/ Do you have an ETA on this project being available to the public? -paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard H. Posted August 17, 2004 Author Share Posted August 17, 2004 Do you have an ETA on this project being available to the public? 2 weeks to get a proto made + 2 weeks to get the main batch made 4 / 5 weeks max It would be nice if you could support the same protocol... Alex is doing the software driver stuff so you'd have to ask him. It's a serial 12C EEPROM which, AFAIK, go up to 32KB in size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Slocum Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 Alex is doing the software driver stuff so you'd have to ask him. It's a serial 12C EEPROM which, AFAIK, go up to 32KB in size. How can I contact him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Tomlin Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 It's a serial 12C EEPROM which, AFAIK, go up to 32KB in size. That's I2C. Whatever he does, he should document it. I can see how an I2C EEPROM hooked up to the right joystick port would make for a great 2600/7800 "memory stick", and it could be done without any other parts (aside from the plug and circuit board), and no need for anybody to invent a new protocol. ( I2C is very documented... there's even code for it in the Linux kernel source) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Slocum Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 But a way for many games to share blocks of data on an EEPROM is not part of the I2C protocol. That's part of what Jeff covered in his 2600 memory card design. -paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard H. Posted August 17, 2004 Author Share Posted August 17, 2004 and it could be done without any other parts It does need a couple of pull-up resistors on the SDA & SCL lines But still, that's only 3 components and a plug How can I contact him? www.herbs64.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nathan Strum Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 Those sounds are great! I'd love to hear a version of Gorf or Wizard of Wor on the 2600 with voices. I assume this is an external device, and requires it's own speaker... but... could it be set up with audio in/out ports so that for people with modded 2600's, the audio from the 2600 would pass through it, get mixed with the voice synth, then sent out to the TV as line-level audio? Maybe with a small trim pot on it so the volume level could be balanced? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard H. Posted August 18, 2004 Author Share Posted August 18, 2004 I assume this is an external device, and requires it's own speaker There's a small, low power amp on-board so you can use either active or small passive speakers. I went with a mono-wired, 3.5mm stereo jack socket as it seems to be a common connector for headphones, PC speaker etc the audio from the 2600 would pass through it, get mixed with the voice synth, then sent out to the TV as line-level audio? Yes, I'm sure it's possible to feed the output of the board in Maybe with a small trim pot on it so the volume level could be balanced? The board has a volume pot on it I'd love to hear a version of Gorf or Wizard of Wor on the 2600 with voices. Yeah me too ! I really hope programmers make use of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard H. Posted September 8, 2004 Author Share Posted September 8, 2004 Just a quick update - We've got the game save EEPROM working + I've sent in the PCB prototype layouts, which'll be back by the end of next week. I'll then check it over, and if it's OK put in the main order of boards. I'll put a post here when I have them ready to ship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mitchell Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 I'll put a post here when I have them ready to ship. Sounds good! Look forward to it! Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mos6507 Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 I'll put a post here when I have them ready to ship. Sounds good! Look forward to it! Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA Me too. I can see adding speech support to Death Derby (if I get back to DD). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mitchell Posted September 10, 2004 Share Posted September 10, 2004 I can see adding speech support to Death Derby (if I get back to DD). Back to work! Chop! Chop! Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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