I just got my first speak and spell in good working condition from a charity shop, and I'm working on it at the moment, I think I have found the right points for pitch control but I'm having some problems
I'm using a 470k pot, when the pot is at 0 (no resistance) it already kills the pitch noticeably - is there anyway to prevent this? I would like to add a I/O switch for the pitch control
when I turn the pot i get a nice desirable change in pitch, but when the pot nears its peak resistance it tends to kill the circuit.
I have been trying to attach other fixed resistors in parallel with the pot but this has failed to produce decent results so far and it's becoming frustrating
I understand that there are tons of different pcb's for the speak and spell series - from what I can work out, I'm working with the british 1986 modal (as described on the datamath site) - if it helps I'm connecting one point to a solder point connected to the 4th strip from the right hand side of the cartridge slot contacts and the other point to this strip of 5 connected solder points slightly above it
yeah, you need to add a resistor in series, not parallel.
I think it's about 47k you need but a trim pot is probably preferable for fine tuning.
Have a look here: http://www.casperelectronics.com/finished-pieces/speak-n-spell/speakspell-bending/ (http://www.casperelectronics.com/finished-pieces/speak-n-spell/speakspell-bending/)
Quote from: the_zombiest on March 04, 2009, 06:11:39 PM
yeah, you need to add a resistor in series, not parallel.
I think it's about 47k you need but a trim pot is probably preferable for fine tuning.
Have a look here: http://www.casperelectronics.com/finished-pieces/speak-n-spell/speakspell-bending/ (http://www.casperelectronics.com/finished-pieces/speak-n-spell/speakspell-bending/)
I love the Casper Electronics site! wow, the speak and spell LFO looks amazing! I drilled holes in mine earlier, I hope I can doctor it to try this!
Wonder if it's Kenneth Kendall? IIRC he recorded a ROM set for the BBC Micro speech synth, which (again IIRC) used the same TI chipset.
it is amazing, the LFO circuit works in most toys too. I've got one hooked up to my speak & maths and 1 for my talking teacher. they're the business.
Quote from: Gordonjcp on March 04, 2009, 11:27:16 PM
Wonder if it's Kenneth Kendall? IIRC he recorded a ROM set for the BBC Micro speech synth, which (again IIRC) used the same TI chipset.
Brian Cant did the voice for the UK Super Speak & Spell... I think. I remember reading that somewhere but can't verify it at the mo.... solder fumes affecting memory....
What a shame we will never be able to make a set of Oliver Postgate Speak'n'Spell samples...
Psssssh-ti-kuff, psssh-ti-kuff, psssh-ti-kuff psssh-ti-kuff psssh-ti-kuff....
Quote from: the_zombiest on March 04, 2009, 11:34:01 PM
Brian Cant did the voice for the UK Super Speak & Spell... I think. I remember reading that somewhere but can't verify it at the mo.... solder fumes affecting memory....
It was the same guy who did the voice for Postman Pat, i know that much, or at least i think i know that much. Maybe that was a dream i had.
Quote from: Circuitbenders on March 05, 2009, 07:58:16 AM
It was the same guy who did the voice for Postman Pat, i know that much, or at least i think i know that much. Maybe that was a dream i had.
That would be (iirc) Ken Barrie. I suppose it's possible, particularly if the British samples were introduced with the facelifted models. Postman Pat started in 1981, so don't think he would have been as well-known as Brian Cant who had worked on children's TV for the BBC since the 1960s.
Given a recording I could probably tell you who it is. If it's a really serious BBC "received pronunciation" accent then it probably is Kenneth Kendall - after all, who are you going to get to be the voice of the BBC Micro but a BBC newsreader?