The Serial Speech Synthesizer SAM module

[RobertBe]

At the October 2022 Netherlands Commodore Show, Jan Derogee, Commodore hardware hacker, demonstrated the Serial Speech Synthesizer SAM (Software Activated Mouth) module for the Commodore VIC-20, C64, C128, and Plus/4. To see SSSSAM in action, go to

Derogee and the Serial Speech Synthesizer SAM module
https://youtu.be/uaLZdEBkBhI

For more information and/or to purchase one, see

http://janderogee.com/

Happy New Year!
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
April 15-16 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2023 - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

[gamer-stu]

This reminds me of a video that you posted long ago, but I can’t find it. You played one of the Scott Adam’s text adventures with a speech synthesizer. Which synthesizer was that one? Do you have a link to that video?

[groepaz]

Sounds like it was the same project, it was released 2 years ago

[RobertBe]

This reminds me of a video that you posted long ago, but I can’t find it. You played one of the Scott Adam’s text adventures with a speech synthesizer. Which synthesizer was that one?

Good memory! That was the VIC-VODER which was created by R. Melick in 2013. It used a Raspberry Pi (whereas the SSSSAM module does not use a Pi).

Do you have a link to that video?

https://youtu.be/_GlnqiJWPgQ

Discussion on the VIC-VODER is at

http://sleepingelephant.com/ipw-web/bul ... php?t=6529

and there are other discussion threads on it, if you do a Search.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
April 15-16 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2023 - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

P.S. I find that Jan Derogee's SSSSAM module to be a much simpler solution, but of course R. Melick's VIC-VODER was 10 years ago!

[doug_in_nc]

I have one of Jan's SAM modules, and it sounds terrible - just like it should do . It seems to work flawlessly with the Scott Adams adventures, which was what I bought it for. If anyone is looking for a modern speech synth that sounds like it was designed 40 years ago, I would definitely recommend Jan's. I'm not sure if this was the way it was done originally, but integrating speech into your own BASIC programs is as easy as OPENing the user port, and then PRINTing to it. No pokes or peaks needed, which almost feels a bit too user-friendly for a VIC, but still has an authentic 1981 vibe.

[gamer-stu]

This reminds me of a video that you posted long ago, but I can’t find it. You played one of the Scott Adam’s text adventures with a speech synthesizer. Which synthesizer was that one?

Good memory! That was the VIC-VODER which was created by R. Melick in 2013. It used a Raspberry Pi (whereas the SSSSAM module does not use a Pi).

Do you have a link to that video?

https://youtu.be/_GlnqiJWPgQ

Discussion on the VIC-VODER is at

http://sleepingelephant.com/ipw-web/bul ... php?t=6529

and there are other discussion threads on it, if you do a Search.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
April 15-16 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2023 - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

P.S. I find that Jan Derogee's SSSSAM module to be a much simpler solution, but of course R. Melick's VIC-VODER was 10 years ago!

Thank you Robert! I’m going to be getting a SAM, and I hope to be able to show it off at the Indy Classic Computer Expo on April 29.

[RobertBe]

I’m going to be getting a SAM, and I hope to be able to show it off at the Indy Classic Computer Expo on April 29.

Sweet!

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
April 15-16 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2023 - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

[beamrider]

There is also a software only version of SAM. Download VicSAM7-sfx.zip

http://sleepingelephant.com/ipw-web/bul ... 6&start=15