Atarivox+ Speech Synthesizer Review | Gray Defender

Published on May 16, 2018 GRay Defender

via Atari Age

"The AtariVox+ is a self-contained speech/music synthesizer and memory card for the Atari 2600 and 7800, Vectrex, and other video game consoles with compatible controller ports.

The heart of the unit is the SpeakJet--an amazing chip with phonetic speech, preset sounds and a five channel music synthesizer. All of these are controlled by the console via a serial interface emulated through the driver software.

Similar to chips used in 80s speech synthesizers but with extended capabilities, the speech retains a nice retro quality, making it a perfect partner for classic consoles.

Also onboard the AtariVox+ is 32K of non-volatile memory which can be used as a memory card. The flash memory will retain data without power for 200+ years.

An allocation scheme has been devised so that no file is ever overwritten, allowing many different games to store data on just one unit.

Dip Switch Settings

The AtariVox+ contains a bank of dip switches that allow you to select which mode the AtariVox+ will operate in:

AtariVox - for the Atari 2600 and 7800 (default setting)
VecVoice - for compatibility with earlier Vectrex speech synthesis - mainly for the speech-hacked version of Berzerk (Verzerk) and Y.A.S.I.
VecVox - for the Vectrex."

The SpeakJet has been used in a number of synth projects including the Flame Talking Synth and the Polaxix Emy eurorack module. See the SpeakJet label below for more.

SpeakJetVox

Published on Apr 29, 2018 Jean-Luc Deladrière

"Testing the Speakjet chip on Emy. Just playing random phonemes while fiddling with speed/pitch/bend/duration."

Polaxix Emy.

Flame MIDI Talking Synth

via this auction

"The flame midi talking synth is a small-sized midi-controlled sound module based on the analogue speakjet chip, produced by the U.S. company Magnevation originally designed for basic artificially generated speech output in american english it was then refined and further developed as an 8-bit sound module with speech-like sounds and synthetic robot voices as well as beeps, alarms, noise and retro-style sci-fi sounds. Due to the structure of the speakjet(with its complex sound synthesizer, preset sounds and serial interface) it offers an impressive range of possibilities. It contains 72 speech elements (allophones), 43 sound effects, and 12 dtm touch tones. the idea was to create sounds, patterns and sequences in the 8-bit style of the 80s or other retro sounds for making music instead of just simulating speech. most allophones can be tuned and used tonally. the flame midi talking synth contains two speakjet ? chips to produce a richer and more complex tonal variety as well as generating a pseudo stereo effect.

Since the speakjet has not originally been laid out for the purpose of making music it is actually not fully controllable via midi input, i.e.: once sounds are triggered they cannot be directly stopped by note off messages from a midi keyboard or a sequencer. Thus a midi-controlled audio tremolo has been implemented in the flame midi talking synth virtually allowing midi control and enabling an easier integration into a midi setup. the flame midi talking synth lets you play back preset words in its expander mode via an external midi keyboard or a sequencer. in addition you can use the flame midi talking synth as a stand-alone midi controller since all controls and joysticks send midi control/change data to the midi-out connector."

Flame MIDI Talkin Synth

via this auction

"The FLAME MIDI TALKING SYNTH is a small-sized MIDI-controlled sound module based on the analogue Speakjet ™ chip, produced by the U.S. company Magnevation LLC. Originally designed for basic artificially generated speech output in American English tongue it was then refined and further developed as an 8-bit sound module with speech-like sounds and synthetic robot voices as well as beeps, alarms, noise and retro-style sci-fi sounds. Due to the structure of the Speakjet ™ (with its complex sound synthesizer, preset sounds and serial interface) it offers an impressive range of possibilities. It contains 72 speech elements (allophones), 43 sound effects, and 12 DTM touch tones. The idea was to create sounds, patterns and sequences in the 8-bit style of the 80s or other retro sounds for making music instead of just simulating speech. Most allophones can be tuned and used tonally. The FLAME MIDI TALKING SYNTH contains two Speakjet ™ chips to produce a richer and more complex tonal variety as well as generating a pseudo stereo effect.

Since the Speakjet ™ has not originally been laid out for the purpose of making music it is actually not fully controllable via MIDI input, i.e.: once sounds are triggered they cannot be directly stopped by Note Off messages from a MIDI keyboard or a sequencer. Thus a MIDI-controlled audio tremolo has been implemented in the FLAME MIDI TALKING SYNTH virtually allowing MIDI control and enabling an easier integration into a MIDI setup. The FLAME MIDI TALKING SYNTH lets you play back preset words in its EXPANDER mode via an external MIDI keyboard or a sequencer. In addition you can use the FLAME MIDI TALKING SYNTH as a stand-alone MIDI controller since all controls and joysticks send MIDI control/change data to the MIDI-OUT connector."

"Here's a video of it on my Youtube Channel when I just recieved it :"

For Sale on Ebay : Bent Matrix and Midi talking Synth take 2

YouTube via theau61

"second impro and getting deeper into editing thos two naughty objects live
More deaper resonating reverb used
Same crappy mono PA
Anyway thats lofi..."

Flame MIDI Talking Synth synthesizer

via this auction

"Very fun little box. Two joysticks and a bunch of knobs and toggle switches control two Speakjet synth engines. Records your joystick movements and plays them back while you tweak. Slap a nice analog delay on this thing and your grinning like a monkey.

Here's more details from the very excellent Shawn Cleary at Analogue Haven: [note the following is of course the product description from Flame]: 'The FLAME MIDI TALKING SYNTH is a small-sized MIDI-controlled sound module based on the analogue Speakjet chip, produced by the U.S. company Magnevation LLC. Originally designed for basic artificially generated speech output in American English tongue it was then refined and further developed as an 8-bit sound module with speech-like sounds and synthetic robot voices as well as beeps, alarms, noise and retro-style sci-fi sounds. Due to the structure of the Speakjet (with its complex sound synthesizer, preset sounds and serial interface) it offers an impressive range of possibilities. It contains 72 speech elements (allophones), 43 sound effects, and 12 DTM touch tones. The idea was to create sounds, patterns and sequences in the 8-bit style of the 80s or other retro sounds for making music instead of just simulating speech. Most allophones can be tuned and used tonally. The FLAME MIDI TALKING SYNTH contains two Speakjet chips to produce a richer and more complex tonal variety as well as generating a pseudo stereo effect.

Since the Speakjet has not originally been laid out for the purpose of making music it is actually not fully controllable via MIDI input, i.e.: once sounds are triggered they cannot be directly stopped by Note Off messages from a MIDI keyboard or a sequencer. Thus a MIDI-controlled audio tremolo has been implemented in the FLAME MIDI TALKING SYNTH virtually allowing MIDI control and enabling an easier integration into a MIDI setup. The FLAME MIDI TALKING SYNTH lets you play back preset words in its EXPANDER mode via an external MIDI keyboard or a sequencer. In addition you can use the FLAME MIDI TALKING SYNTH as a stand-alone MIDI controller since all controls and joysticks send MIDI control/change data to the MIDI-OUT connector.'"

Sold For: US $475.00

Flame MIDI Talking Synth

via this auction

Note this is a Noisebug listing.

"the flame midi talking synth is a small-sized midi-controlled sound module based on the analogue speakjet ? chip, produced by the u.s. company magnevation llc. originally designed for basic artificially generated speech output in american english tongue it was then refined and further developed as an 8-bit sound module with speech-like sounds and synthetic robot voices as well as beeps, alarms, noise and retro-style sci-fi sounds. due to the structure of the speakjet ? (with its complex sound synthesizer, preset sounds and serial interface) it offers an impressive range of possibilities. it contains 72 speech elements (allophones), 43 sound effects, and 12 dtm touch tones. the idea was to create sounds, patterns and sequences in the 8-bit style of the 80s or other retro sounds for making music instead of just simulating speech. most allophones can be tuned and used tonally. the flame midi talking synth contains two speakjet ? chips to produce a richer and more complex tonal variety as well as generating a pseudo stereo effect.

since the speakjet ? has not originally been laid out for the purpose of making music it is actually not fully controllable via midi input, i.e.: once sounds are triggered they cannot be directly stopped by note off messages from a midi keyboard or a sequencer. thus a midi-controlled audio tremolo has been implemented in the flame midi talking synth virtually allowing midi control and enabling an easier integration into a midi setup. the flame midi talking synth lets you play back preset words in its expander mode via an external midi keyboard or a sequencer. in addition you can use the flame midi talking synth as a stand-alone midi controller since all controls and joysticks send midi control/change data to the midi-out connector."

kII HandTracker

YouTube via audiocommander.

Sent my way via insektgod.

"kII HandTracker is a sensory input device for the midibox speakjet application. It uses harmonisation, has a master/slave beat detection mode and a bunch of other cool features. Both applications (the driver for the SpeakJet as well as the sensor matrix) will be released as DIY-projects @midibox.org. For more informations see: link

Credits:
MBHP/MIOS (midibox.org hard- and software platform): T. Klose, uCapps.de
kII driver application for MIOS and sensorMatrix: Michael Markert, audiocommander.de"

At one point I thought it was going to break out with Daft Punk's, "Around The World".

FLAME

This link will take you to FLAME, home to a number of esoteric MIDI and audio projects. You can find the Google translated site here . Pictured is the FLAME-MIDI-SPEAKJET. Make sure to check out the samples (mirrored here) and videos when there.

Details on the FLAME-MIDI-SPEAKJET (Google translated from German):

"With the current project it concerns a small MIDI controllable sound module on basis of the similar language chip “SpeakJet” (TM) of the American company “Magnevation LLC”. Originally for simple artificially generated acoustic output (American discussion) conceived, it lay close one, an 8-bit 8-bit-artiges sound module with pseudo language to develop. The possibilities are quite due to the structure of the chip (complex Soundsynthesizer, Presetsounds, serial interface etc.) impressing. Are implemented 72 elements of speech (Allophone), 43 Soundeffecte and 12 DTM Touch of clay/tone. An 8-bit input and/or a serial input serve for control of the functions. Now possible a sound module is to be developed with an external CONTROLLER and the appropriate software, which the internal possibilities use depending upon need. It went simulating primarily not therefore language, but in music applicable sounds, Pattern, producing sequences in the 8-bit style of the 80iger among other things years. It is of advantage among other things that the sound elements are be correctable and tonally can be used. In the current project two SpeakJet chips are used, in order to produce larger more complex sound variety. The equipment is still in the development stage and vorraussichtlich at the end of of 2006 finished will become. With the development board of produced test sounds and sequences can be down belonged by MP3-Download."