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General Instrument SP0256

January 01, 1970

GI SP0256 refers to a family of closely related NMOS LSI chips manufactured by General Instrument in the early 1980s, able to model the human vocal tract by a software programmable digital filter, creating a digital output converted into an analog signal through an external low-pass filter. The SP0256 includes 2 KB of mask ROM. The various versions of SP0256 differ primarily in the voice data programmed into their mask ROMs.

SP0256-AL2 integrated circuit
SP0250 die

Architecture overview edit

The SP0256 (and its predecessor, the SP0250) implements a 12-pole, Linear Predictive Coding (aka LPC-12) all-pole Vocal Tract Model (VTM). The SP0256 generates speech with a 10 kHz sample rate. The SP0256 realizes its 12-pole filter with a series of cascaded 2-pole IIR filter sections. This is in contrast to its contemporaries, such as Texas Instruments LPC Speech Chips, which used an 8 kHz sample rate with a 10-pole model, and realized their VTM with a lattice filter.

The SP0256 combines the VTM with a simple controller that loads compressed coefficient data into the VTM, either from the on-chip ROM, external speech ROMs such as the SPR-128, or in the case of the Intellivoice, an SPB640 speech data FIFO.

SP0256 variants edit

General Instrument made several variants of the SP0256. These variants differed primarily in their mask ROM content. Listed below are some known variants. Others likely exist that aren't listed on this page.

SP0256-AL2 edit

Example of SP0256-AL2-based speech synthesis on an Amstrad CPC

The SP0256-AL2 is perhaps the most commonly encountered variant. It contains 59 allophones primarily intended for use with English language phrases and five pauses in its internal 16Kb (2KB) ROM.[1] The SP0256-AL2 needs the control of an external microprocessor to concatenate allophones into words.[2]

The SP0256-AL2 was available in home brew kits for speech synthesis published in specialized magazines for microcomputers such as the VIC-20,[3] and Atari 8-bit family.[4][5] Other companies produced add-ons for various 8-bit microcomputers, like Currah MicroSpeech[6] and the Tandy Speech/Sound Program Pak for the TRS-80. The chip was also sold under the Archer brand by RadioShack stores as the "Narrator Speech Processor" (part number 276-1784), where earlier documentation incorrectly identified it as the SPO256 (with the letter "O" instead of the numeral "0").[2]

The SP0256-AL2 has been most recently used in Rare Waves' MIDI Narrator. This device allows you to address the allophones through MIDI note information and adjust pitch information through pitch bend messages.[7]

SP0256-012 edit

Mattel's Intellivoice attachment for its Intellivision video game system uses the SP0256-012. This variant contains only Mattel-specific game phrases, including the energetic phrase "Mattel Electronics Presents," phrases for digits, and a couple of additional game phrases. It does not contain the allophones found in the SP0256-AL2 or SP0256-019. Mattel only released five games with support for this device.[8]

SP0256-017 edit

The SP0256-017 comes from a talking clock and contains phrases specific to the talking clock. The SP0256-017 was sold by Radio Shack under the Archer brand as part number 276-1783. The part set also contained the SPR016-117, an external serial speech ROM. The vocabulary included the numbers (in combination) through 59, appropriate for a spoken clock. The onboard memory also provided for synthesizing the following phrases: A.M., P.M., It is, Hour, Minute, Hundred Hour, Good Morning, Attention Please, Please Hurry, and three Melodies named A, B, and C.

SP0256-019 edit

The Magnavox Odyssey²'s "The Voice" attachment uses the SP0256-019. This variant included the same allophones as the SP0256-AL2 (but an external ROM IC is required for the allophones), along with some Odyssey²-specific game phrases.

SP0264-021 edit

Used in a prototype Fuzzbuster radar detector, the SP0264-021 has relevant phrases and is pin compatible to the SP0256 series.

FPGA emulation edit

An FPGA implementation of a classic eighties speech synthesizer SPO256, done for the Retro Challenge in October 2017 by Niels Moseley, is available on his GitHub account.[9]github

References edit

  1. ^ Joe Zbiciak. "SP0256-AL2 ROM Image".
  2. ^ a b RadioShack. "SP0256 Narrator Speech Processor" (PDF). Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  3. ^ . Retro Computers. Archived from the original on 2011-09-01. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  4. ^ Lee Brilliant, M.D. (1985-04-01). "Cheep Talk: Build your own speech synthesizer". Analog Computing, issue 29. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  5. ^ Bill Marquardt (1987-01-01). "Talking Typewriter: Atari spells it out". ANTIC, VOL 5 NO 9. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  6. ^ "World of Spectrum - Software".
  7. ^ "MIDI Narrator | Rare Waves". Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  8. ^ Steven A. Orth (2004-10-04). "IntelliVoice Software". Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  9. ^ "TRCWM/Speech256". GitHub. October 2021.

External links edit

  • SPO256B Datasheet
  • SPO256 Applications Manual
  • SPR-16 Speech ROM Data Sheet
  • SPR-32 Speech ROM Data Sheet
  • SPR-128 Speech ROM Data Sheet
  • US. Patent 4,296,279
  • Mask ROM Contents Summaries for various SPO256 Variants
  • FPGA Verilog implementation of the SPO256 by Niels Moseley

January 01, 1970
general, instrument, sp0256, sp0256, refers, family, closely, related, nmos, chips, manufactured, general, instrument, early, 1980s, able, model, human, vocal, tract, software, programmable, digital, filter, creating, digital, output, converted, into, analog, . GI SP0256 refers to a family of closely related NMOS LSI chips manufactured by General Instrument in the early 1980s able to model the human vocal tract by a software programmable digital filter creating a digital output converted into an analog signal through an external low pass filter The SP0256 includes 2 KB of mask ROM The various versions of SP0256 differ primarily in the voice data programmed into their mask ROMs SP0256 AL2 integrated circuit SP0250 die Contents 1 Architecture overview 2 SP0256 variants 2 1 SP0256 AL2 2 2 SP0256 012 2 3 SP0256 017 2 4 SP0256 019 2 5 SP0264 021 3 FPGA emulation 4 References 5 External linksArchitecture overview editThe SP0256 and its predecessor the SP0250 implements a 12 pole Linear Predictive Coding aka LPC 12 all pole Vocal Tract Model VTM The SP0256 generates speech with a 10 kHz sample rate The SP0256 realizes its 12 pole filter with a series of cascaded 2 pole IIR filter sections This is in contrast to its contemporaries such as Texas Instruments LPC Speech Chips which used an 8 kHz sample rate with a 10 pole model and realized their VTM with a lattice filter The SP0256 combines the VTM with a simple controller that loads compressed coefficient data into the VTM either from the on chip ROM external speech ROMs such as the SPR 128 or in the case of the Intellivoice an SPB640 speech data FIFO SP0256 variants editGeneral Instrument made several variants of the SP0256 These variants differed primarily in their mask ROM content Listed below are some known variants Others likely exist that aren t listed on this page SP0256 AL2 edit source source source track Example of SP0256 AL2 based speech synthesis on an Amstrad CPC The SP0256 AL2 is perhaps the most commonly encountered variant It contains 59 allophones primarily intended for use with English language phrases and five pauses in its internal 16Kb 2KB ROM 1 The SP0256 AL2 needs the control of an external microprocessor to concatenate allophones into words 2 The SP0256 AL2 was available in home brew kits for speech synthesis published in specialized magazines for microcomputers such as the VIC 20 3 and Atari 8 bit family 4 5 Other companies produced add ons for various 8 bit microcomputers like Currah MicroSpeech 6 and the Tandy Speech Sound Program Pak for the TRS 80 The chip was also sold under the Archer brand by RadioShack stores as the Narrator Speech Processor part number 276 1784 where earlier documentation incorrectly identified it as the SPO256 with the letter O instead of the numeral 0 2 The SP0256 AL2 has been most recently used in Rare Waves MIDI Narrator This device allows you to address the allophones through MIDI note information and adjust pitch information through pitch bend messages 7 SP0256 012 edit Mattel s Intellivoice attachment for its Intellivision video game system uses the SP0256 012 This variant contains only Mattel specific game phrases including the energetic phrase Mattel Electronics Presents phrases for digits and a couple of additional game phrases It does not contain the allophones found in the SP0256 AL2 or SP0256 019 Mattel only released five games with support for this device 8 SP0256 017 edit The SP0256 017 comes from a talking clock and contains phrases specific to the talking clock The SP0256 017 was sold by Radio Shack under the Archer brand as part number 276 1783 The part set also contained the SPR016 117 an external serial speech ROM The vocabulary included the numbers in combination through 59 appropriate for a spoken clock The onboard memory also provided for synthesizing the following phrases A M P M It is Hour Minute Hundred Hour Good Morning Attention Please Please Hurry and three Melodies named A B and C SP0256 019 edit The Magnavox Odyssey s The Voice attachment uses the SP0256 019 This variant included the same allophones as the SP0256 AL2 but an external ROM IC is required for the allophones along with some Odyssey specific game phrases SP0264 021 edit Used in a prototype Fuzzbuster radar detector the SP0264 021 has relevant phrases and is pin compatible to the SP0256 series FPGA emulation editAn FPGA implementation of a classic eighties speech synthesizer SPO256 done for the Retro Challenge in October 2017 by Niels Moseley is available on his GitHub account 9 githubReferences edit Joe Zbiciak SP0256 AL2 ROM Image a b RadioShack SP0256 Narrator Speech Processor PDF Retrieved 2020 04 23 VIC 20 Talk Back Maplin GB17T LK00A Retro Computers Archived from the original on 2011 09 01 Retrieved 2011 07 30 Lee Brilliant M D 1985 04 01 Cheep Talk Build your own speech synthesizer Analog Computing issue 29 Retrieved 2012 03 13 Bill Marquardt 1987 01 01 Talking Typewriter Atari spells it out ANTIC VOL 5 NO 9 Retrieved 2012 03 13 World of Spectrum Software MIDI Narrator Rare Waves Retrieved 2020 08 18 Steven A Orth 2004 10 04 IntelliVoice Software Retrieved 2011 07 30 TRCWM Speech256 GitHub October 2021 External links editSPO256B Datasheet SPO256 Applications Manual SPR 16 Speech ROM Data Sheet SPR 32 Speech ROM Data Sheet SPR 128 Speech ROM Data Sheet US Patent 4 296 279 Mask ROM Contents Summaries for various SPO256 Variants FPGA Verilog implementation of the SPO256 by Niels Moseley Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title General Instrument SP0256 amp oldid 1187588027, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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