AtariVox to USB?

[Cybearg]

I've been wanting to try my AtariVox's voice synthesis capabilities, but, needless to say, testing output by emulating through a Harmony for each attempt is very time-consuming. It would be great if I had a way to plug my AtariVox into my computer.

 

Are there any plans to create an AtariVox-to-USB adapter that I could use to quickly access the AtariVox through Stella?

Edited February 2, 2014 by Cybearg

[+Gemintronic]

I seem to remember something about using a serial to USB adapter. Maybe someone with actual knowledge can speak up

[iesposta]

I've been wanting to try my AtariVox's voice synthesis capabilities, but, needless to say, testing output by emulating through a Harmony for each attempt is very time-consuming. It would be great if I had a way to plug my AtariVox into my computer.

 

Are there any plans to create an AtariVox-to-USB adapter that I could use to quickly access the AtariVox through Stella?

It exists. I have one.

Richard H. made it.

"AtariVox USB Interface"

Maybe you can make one. I think I saw the schematic somewhere, I'll go look.

[iesposta]

Link:

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/177120-bb-atarivox-support-part-2-basic-voice-functionality/?p=2718060

[Cybearg]

Link:

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/177120-bb-atarivox-support-part-2-basic-voice-functionality/?p=2718060

I have nowhere near the knowledge to build and program my own. I have a solder gun that I've not used in 10 years, but no parts and no knowledge of how they may be acquired, let alone the knowledge to program a driver for it.

 

Any takers on someone who'd be willing to make or sell me one for a reasonable price?

 

And what about serial-to-usb adapters of the type I can find on ebay?

[Richard H.]

Using this is easy. Just solder to a DB9 socket.

 

Then program the chip with a USB cable, using these settings (see pic)

[Cybearg]

Using this is easy. Just solder to a DB9 socket.

How would one solder it? The board looks surface-mount. What would it be soldered to?

 

Also, is that USB plug positioned properly? I guess it would need some kind of USB extension to be plugged into anything, right?'

 

And those settings you mentioned--that will somehow allow Stella to detect that there is an AtariVox plugged in and output to it for voice emulation?

[Richard H.]

How would one solder it? The board looks surface-mount. What would it be soldered to?

 

The underside of the board has a 6 pin header socket. You'll need 4 connections here (5V, GND, TX and CTS)

 

You could either just insert wire into the sockets or solder directly onto the pads. Soldering onto the pads and the DB9 socket (for the AVox) is easy soldering. Really can't go wrong.

 

 

 

Also, is that USB plug positioned properly? I guess it would need some kind of USB extension to be plugged into anything, right?

 

No, you'll just need this sort of USB cable.

 

 

 

And those settings you mentioned--that will somehow allow Stella to detect that there is an AtariVox plugged in and output to it for voice emulation?

 

Those are the settings you need to program (using this software) into the FTDI chip (using the above cable) so it will work with the AVox. Then, you can tell Stella it's on the second joystick port, and which serial port (usually comport5).

[Cybearg]

Alright, thanks.

Now, with all that in mind... is there any reason to not just get a serial card and plug the AtariVox directly into that, instead? Wouldn't that work just as well?

[+Gemintronic]

I heard the voltages on real PCI serial ports are a no-no for the AtariVox. Thus the reference to USB. Again, this is a bit hazy for me.

[Richard H.]

No, because you need to both power the AVox and invert the CTS signal coming from it. There's no power in a standard serial port.

Edited February 2, 2014 by Richard H.

[RevEng]

Cybearg, rs-232 serial port voltages vary widely, depending on the manufacturer, and the pinouts wouldn't match the 2600 joystick port.

 

You'd need something that operates at TTL voltage levels and provides the right pinout.

 

I bought a cheapie USB to TTL serial like this one, soldered it to a RS-232 male, and it worked great.

[+Gemintronic]

Hmmn.. Stephen mentioned USB serial adapter could work with Stella:

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/139890-stella-ad-atarivox/?do=findComment&comment=1692297

 

I guess the difference is "your luck may vary" on which USB to serial adapters are compatible enough.

[iesposta]

Hmmn.. Stephen mentioned USB serial adapter could work with Stella:

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/139890-stella-ad-atarivox/?do=findComment&comment=1692297

 

I guess the difference is "your luck may vary" on which USB to serial adapters are compatible enough.

On my iMac Stella is sending the speech, but it doesn't talk until Mac Stella quits.

On the same Mac running a virtual Windows 7, Windows Stella speaks just fine thru the AtariVox USB Inrerface.

I mentioned this to Stephen A., and he says he doesn't have an AtariVox+ (and SpiceWare reports it works with his Mac).

Much does vary (on the Mac side at least).

[iesposta]

I assume this will not work.

Could it be hacked / "jumpers soldered" to put the TTL and Power to the male DB9 socket?

Then you would only have to cut traces and solder jumper wires?

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 230741898656

[RevEng]

Hmmn.. Stephen mentioned USB serial adapter could work with Stella

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/177120-bb-atarivox-support-part-2-basic-voice-functionality/?p=2715771

 

A standard port, even one thats USB based, is unlikely to work without extra interface circuitry and using some adapter to change the relevant pin positions. RS-232 uses +v for 0 and -v for 1, in addition to the voltage issue I mentioned previously.

 

Seeing as TTL serial adapters can be had for a pittance, it doesn't seem worth the hassle of trying to make a standard port work without releasing the magic smoke from the AtariVox.

[iesposta]

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/177120-bb-atarivox-support-part-2-basic-voice-functionality/?p=2715771A standard port, even one thats USB based, is unlikely to work without extra interface circuitry and using some adapter to change the relevant pin positions. RS-232 uses +v for 0 and -v for 1, in addition to the voltage issue I mentioned previously.Seeing as TTL serial adapters can be had for a pittance, it doesn't seem worth the hassle of trying to make a standard port work without releasing the magic smoke from the AtariVox.

RevEng, if I bought one of the USB to TTL adapters, what goes to pins 3 & 4 on the DB9 connector.

Shown in the circuit is +CBUS1 to pin 3 and CBUS0 to pin 4?

Thanks.

[RevEng]

Yeah, since 3 and 4 are just for eeprom I didn't connect anything to them. I should have qualified that the cheapie TTL serial is a developer solution, not a player solution.

 

TXD goes to pin 1, RXD goes to pin 2, +5 to pin 7, and 8 goes to GND.

 

Stella can be directed to the new serial port in the AtariVox config. IIRC, PhraseALator needs to be set to use 19,200 baud.

 

[Edit... looking at the USB Atarivox, my RXD to pin 2 looks incorrect. In my defense, the circuit diagram you linked to wasn't posted when I created my interface, so I just guessed and it worked out. IMO pin 2 isn't a big deal, as its pretty tough to stuff the vox buffer at 1 byte every 60Hz. Anyway, it didn't seem to be an issue in practice.]