The Speaker - Revision history

Evenmore: /* Download */

2026-05-20T15:27:21Z

Download

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:27, 20 May 2026
Line 42:		Line 42:

	* [[Media:SpeakerROM.zip\|Speaker ROM]] - The Speaker Speech Synthesizer in ROM format		* [[Media:SpeakerROM.zip\|Speaker ROM]] - The Speaker Speech Synthesizer in ROM format
			* [https://www.mimosquest.com/downloads/CreatingTheSpeakerROM.pdf Creating The Speaker ROM] - How I disassembled The Speaker for conversion to ROM

	Source code for Speaker ROM can be downloaded from [https://github.com/chrisperver/speakerrom GitHub]		Source code for Speaker ROM can be downloaded from [https://github.com/chrisperver/speakerrom GitHub]

Evenmore: /* The Speaker */

2026-05-19T08:39:49Z

The Speaker

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:39, 19 May 2026
Line 5:		Line 5:
	The Speaker is a software speech synthesizer for the Amstrad.		The Speaker is a software speech synthesizer for the Amstrad.

	It was originally written by [https://rk.nvg.ntnu.no/bbc/doc/Speech.html ~~Dave~~ Hoskins] ~~for the BBC microcomputer~~. ~~Dave Hoskins~~ describes how he developed the original program. This was then published as "Speech!" for the Amstrad and Spectrum computers by Superior Software in 1986.		It was originally written by [https://rk.nvg.ntnu.no/bbc/doc/Speech.html David J. Hoskins]. David describes how he developed the original program for the BBC microcomputer. This was then published as "Speech!" for the Amstrad and Spectrum computers by Superior Software in 1986.

	It was then republished under the name "The Speaker" in a BASIC listing in French Magazine [https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_music-the_speaker__CNFO.htm CPC Infos] by Xavier Grossetete in 1991.		It was then republished under the name "The Speaker" in a BASIC listing in French Magazine [https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_music-the_speaker__CNFO.htm CPC Infos] by Xavier Grossetete in 1991.

Evenmore: /* The Speaker */

2026-05-18T16:35:52Z

The Speaker

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:35, 18 May 2026
Line 5:		Line 5:
	The Speaker is a software speech synthesizer for the Amstrad.		The Speaker is a software speech synthesizer for the Amstrad.

	It was originally written by [[https://rk.nvg.ntnu.no/bbc/doc/Speech.html\|Dave Hoskins]] for the BBC microcomputer. Dave Hoskins describes how he developed the original program. This was then published as "Speech!" for the Amstrad and Spectrum computers by Superior Software in 1986.		It was originally written by [https://rk.nvg.ntnu.no/bbc/doc/Speech.html Dave Hoskins] for the BBC microcomputer. Dave Hoskins describes how he developed the original program. This was then published as "Speech!" for the Amstrad and Spectrum computers by Superior Software in 1986.

	It was then republished under the name "The Speaker" in a BASIC listing in French Magazine [https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_music-the_speaker__CNFO.htm CPC Infos] by Xavier Grossetete in 1991.		It was then republished under the name "The Speaker" in a BASIC listing in French Magazine [https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_music-the_speaker__CNFO.htm CPC Infos] by Xavier Grossetete in 1991.

Evenmore: /* The Speaker */

2026-05-18T16:35:16Z

The Speaker

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:35, 18 May 2026
Line 5:		Line 5:
	The Speaker is a software speech synthesizer for the Amstrad.		The Speaker is a software speech synthesizer for the Amstrad.

	It was originally written by [[~~Dave Hoskins\|~~https://rk.nvg.ntnu.no/bbc/doc/Speech.html]] for the BBC microcomputer. Dave Hoskins describes how he developed the original program. This was then published as "Speech!" for the Amstrad and Spectrum computers by Superior Software in 1986.		It was originally written by [[https://rk.nvg.ntnu.no/bbc/doc/Speech.html\|Dave Hoskins]] for the BBC microcomputer. Dave Hoskins describes how he developed the original program. This was then published as "Speech!" for the Amstrad and Spectrum computers by Superior Software in 1986.

	It was then republished under the name "The Speaker" in a BASIC listing in French Magazine [https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_music-the_speaker__CNFO.htm CPC Infos] by Xavier Grossetete in 1991.		It was then republished under the name "The Speaker" in a BASIC listing in French Magazine [https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_music-the_speaker__CNFO.htm CPC Infos] by Xavier Grossetete in 1991.

Evenmore: /* The Speaker */

2026-05-18T16:34:41Z

The Speaker

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:34, 18 May 2026
Line 3:		Line 3:
	== The Speaker ==		== The Speaker ==

	The Speaker is a software speech synthesizer for the Amstrad. It was published as a BASIC listing in French Magazine CPC Infos by Xavier Grossetete in 1991. This was based on a port of the Spectrum Speech program by Superior Software, published in 1986. The Speaker was then retyped by [https://norecess464.weebly.com/news/the-speaker-an-impressive-text-to-speech-program-for-the-amstrad-cpc NoRecess] in 2011 and distributed as a DSK file called -SAY.dsk.		The Speaker is a software speech synthesizer for the Amstrad.

	The original code has been disassembled by [[CPSoft]] and has been converted into a ROM extension format.		It was originally written by [[Dave Hoskins\|https://rk.nvg.ntnu.no/bbc/doc/Speech.html]] for the BBC microcomputer. Dave Hoskins describes how he developed the original program. This was then published as "Speech!" for the Amstrad and Spectrum computers by Superior Software in 1986.
	The Z80 assembly source code ~~will~~ also be available to download.
			It was then republished under the name "The Speaker" in a BASIC listing in French Magazine [https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_music-the_speaker__CNFO.htm CPC Infos] by Xavier Grossetete in 1991.

			This listing was retyped by [https://norecess464.weebly.com/news/the-speaker-an-impressive-text-to-speech-program-for-the-amstrad-cpc NoRecess] in 2011 and distributed as a DSK file called -SAY.dsk.

			This original code has been disassembled by [[CPSoft]] and has been converted into a ROM extension format. The Z80 assembly source code is also available to download.

	== Usage ==		== Usage ==

Polluks: /* Usage */

2026-05-09T20:49:05Z

Usage

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:49, 9 May 2026
Line 14:		Line 14:
	Type \|SPHELP to view the usage instructions.		Type \|SPHELP to view the usage instructions.

	\|SAY,"HELLO WORLD" - Say a phrase. The program converts the string into phonemes.		<code>\|SAY,"HELLO WORLD"</code> - Say a phrase. The program converts the string into phonemes.

	\|SPEAK,"/HEH4/HEH3/HEH2/HEH1/" - Say a phrase without the program converting phonemes.		<code>\|SPEAK,"/HEH4/HEH3/HEH2/HEH1/"</code> - Say a phrase without the program converting phonemes.

	\|SPEED,1-20 - Alter the speed of the speech		<code>\|SPEED,1-20</code> - Alter the speed of the speech

	\|CENTRE (or \|CENTER) - Output speech using channel B		<code>\|CENTRE</code> (or <code>\|CENTER</code>) - Output speech using channel B

	\|LEFT - Output speech using channel A		<code>\|LEFT</code> - Output speech using channel A

	\|RIGHT - Output speech using channel C		<code>\|RIGHT</code> - Output speech using channel C

	\|SPON - Turn on automatic text to speech output (&BB5A jumpblock patched)		<code>\|SPON</code> - Turn on automatic text to speech output (&BB5A jumpblock patched)

	\|SPOF - Turn off automatic text to speech output		<code>\|SPOF</code> - Turn off automatic text to speech output

	== Still to do ==		== Still to do ==

Evenmore: /* Usage */

2026-05-05T11:16:09Z

Usage

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:16, 5 May 2026
Line 26:		Line 26:
	\|RIGHT - Output speech using channel C		\|RIGHT - Output speech using channel C

	\|SPON - Turn on speech output		\|SPON - Turn on automatic text to speech output (&BB5A jumpblock patched)

	\|SPOF - Turn off speech output		\|SPOF - Turn off automatic text to speech output

	== Still to do ==		== Still to do ==

Evenmore: /* Still to do */

2026-05-05T08:22:50Z

Still to do

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:22, 5 May 2026
Line 32:		Line 32:
	== Still to do ==		== Still to do ==

	* Functions to screen read text should be developed.
	* Investigate if there is a way of outputting speech without disabling interrupts.		* Investigate if there is a way of outputting speech without disabling interrupts.

Evenmore: /* Usage */

2026-05-05T08:21:00Z

Usage

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:21, 5 May 2026
Line 12:		Line 12:
	Add SpeakerROM.rom to a ROM bank on your Amstrad emulator.		Add SpeakerROM.rom to a ROM bank on your Amstrad emulator.

	Type \|~~HELP~~ to view the usage instructions.		Type \|SPHELP to view the usage instructions.

	\|SAY,"HELLO WORLD" - Say a phrase. The program converts the string into phonemes.		\|SAY,"HELLO WORLD" - Say a phrase. The program converts the string into phonemes.
Line 25:		Line 25:

	\|RIGHT - Output speech using channel C		\|RIGHT - Output speech using channel C

			\|SPON - Turn on speech output

			\|SPOF - Turn off speech output

	== Still to do ==		== Still to do ==

Evenmore: /* Usage */

2026-04-25T16:49:50Z

Usage

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:49, 25 April 2026
Line 12:		Line 12:
	Add SpeakerROM.rom to a ROM bank on your Amstrad emulator.		Add SpeakerROM.rom to a ROM bank on your Amstrad emulator.

	Type \|~~SPEAK~~ to view the usage instructions.		Type \|HELP to view the usage instructions.

	\|SAY,"HELLO WORLD" - Say a phrase. The program converts the string into phonemes.		\|SAY,"HELLO WORLD" - Say a phrase. The program converts the string into phonemes.

	\|~~RAW~~,"/HEH4/HEH3/HEH2/HEH1/" - Say a phrase without the program converting phonemes.		\|SPEAK,"/HEH4/HEH3/HEH2/HEH1/" - Say a phrase without the program converting phonemes.

	\|SPEED,1-20 - Alter the speed of the speech		\|SPEED,1-20 - Alter the speed of the speech

	\|CENTRE - Output speech using channel B		\|CENTRE (or \|CENTER) - Output speech using channel B

	\|LEFT - Output speech using channel A		\|LEFT - Output speech using channel A