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== Technical Specs. ==
== Technical Specs. ==


The clock frequency (passed to the speech chip) is fixed, the exact frequency is unknown (?)
In the SSA-1, the SP0256-AL2 speech chip is clocked by a 3.12MHz ceramic resonator (unlike the similar dk'tronics device, where it is clocked at 4MHz).


Uses I/O port: [[I/O_Port_Summary|#FBEE]], of which (according to the manual) only A10,A4,A0 are decoded.
The SSA-1 uses I/O port: [[I/O_Port_Summary|#FBEE]], of which (according to the manual) only A10,A4,A0 are decoded.


Port FBEEh READ:
Port FBEEh READ - SP0256-AL2 Status:
   bit7  Status 1 (0=Speech Busy, 1=Ready/Halted)  (SBY Pin, Speech Busy)
   bit7  Status 1 (0=Speech Busy, 1=Ready/Halted)  (SBY Pin, Standby)
   bit6  Status 2 (0=Ready to Receive Data, 1=Busy) (/LRQ Pin, Load Request)
   bit6  Status 2 (0=Ready to Receive Data, 1=Busy) (/LRQ Pin, Load Request)
   bit5-0 Not used (garbage, probably usually highz)
   bit5-0 Not used (garbage, probably usually highz)
Port FBEEh WRITE:
 
   bit7-6 Reserved (must be zero)
Port FBEEh WRITE - SP0256-AL2 Allophone:
  bit5-0 Allophone number              ;data can be send when Status.Bit6=0
   bit7-0 Allophone number               
 
* A new allophone number can be send when Status.Bit6=0.
* The allophone number should/must be in range of 00h..3Fh (6bit).
* However, the whole 8bit databus is connected in the SSA-1.
 
For details on the speech chip, see:


* [[SP0256]]
* [[SP0256]]

Revision as of 11:25, 13 January 2010

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Amstrad SSA1 box cover
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The bundle

A Speech Synthesizer from Amstrad based on the SPO256-AL2 Speech Synthesizer

Software

  • |SAY,@<string> - Converts a string af ASCII text to speech
  • |ECHO,<mode> - Activates text to speech conversion on text printed to the screen.
  • |APHONE,<allophone>[,<allophone>] - Send allophones directly to the interrupt driven allophone buffer.
  • |ROOM,@<value> - Find out how many free locations in the allophones buffer.
  • |QUIET - Clears the allophone buffer.
  • |SPON - Activates the speech interrrupt event.
  • |SPOFF - To prevent output of data from the allophone buffer.
  • |SPSTATUS,@<value> - Read the status of the speech processor.
  • |SPOUT,<allophone>[,<allophone>] - Sends allophones directly to the soundprocessor.

Technical Specs.

In the SSA-1, the SP0256-AL2 speech chip is clocked by a 3.12MHz ceramic resonator (unlike the similar dk'tronics device, where it is clocked at 4MHz).

The SSA-1 uses I/O port: #FBEE, of which (according to the manual) only A10,A4,A0 are decoded.

Port FBEEh READ - SP0256-AL2 Status: 

 bit7   Status 1 (0=Speech Busy, 1=Ready/Halted)   (SBY Pin, Standby)
 bit6   Status 2 (0=Ready to Receive Data, 1=Busy) (/LRQ Pin, Load Request)
 bit5-0 Not used (garbage, probably usually highz)

Port FBEEh WRITE - SP0256-AL2 Allophone: 

 bit7-0 Allophone number
  • A new allophone number can be send when Status.Bit6=0.
  • The allophone number should/must be in range of 00h..3Fh (6bit).
  • However, the whole 8bit databus is connected in the SSA-1.

For details on the speech chip, see:

Supported Games

  • 3D Boxing
  • 3D Stunt Rider
  • Alex Higgin's World Snooker / World Pool
  • Darkwurlde
  • Glen Hoddle Soccer
  • Roland In Space
  • Tubaruba

Caution - Some webpages do (incorrectly) list further games: Gremlins (spanish version), Seablood and Robin of Sherwood (these contain code for using Port FBEC & FBEF for some kind of data transfer - not for speech). Also, Dragon Gold is listed as speech game (not sure why, it doesn't seem to use any special I/O ports; unless different versions of that game exist?)

Pictures

Reviews


Examples of the Amstrad synth in use

{{#ev:youtube|fesVxipNaw8|300}} {{#ev:youtube|v8WKbKK3Apg|300}}

Downloads

Manual

File:Amstrad SSA-1 User Instruction Manual.pdf

Manual of the Amstrad SSA-1 Speech Synthesizer Individual pages

Other Speech Synthesizers

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