Alien Voice Box II

[Level42]

I don't think that is possible because these kind of speech chips are (partly) analogue.....so I don't think an FPGA can fully "capture" a speech synth like that.

 

However it depends ons what the analogue parts are. If it's simply only a DAC or amplifier those could be done just outside the FPGA.

 

Somewhere above it was mentioned that they could emulate the SC-01-A very well because it was decapped. Decapping means that they removed the top of the chip (mechanically and/or chemically) to make lots of pictures of the chip through microscopes. That way, its becomes clear exactly how a chip was built-up.

 

Often manufacturers of course did not give away EXACTLY how their chips worked, mostly they only provided functional block diagrams (Atari was an exception, they actually included pictures of their dies (=chips) in the datasheets of f.i. ANTIC, GTIA and POKEY. Maybe they didn't provide the datasheets outside of the company or they didn't think anyone could reproduce them anyway (they also never thought any third parties would program for their 2600 in those early years).

The available copies of Atari's datasheets are so bad that you can't make anything of those pictures by the way.

 

Raspberry Pi would be emulation.

[Level42]

Uhh.... too late to edit but of course my first sentence should be:

 

I don't think that is POSSIBLE.....

[Mclaneinc]

mamedev.org says it is partially emulated:

 

"MAME 0.181 also marks the debut of Votrax SC-01 emulation in MAME, based on reverse-engineering die photographs. The digital section should be pretty much perfect, although there are still some issues in the analog section (plosives dont sound quite right). Overall, its a huge improvement in Votrax speech synthesis emulation, and a great leap forward in our understanding of how the hardware works. It also means speech samples are no longer required for a number of games."

 

 

AH, thank you for looking this up kind sir...

[ndary]

I got a VOICE BOX v1, and its not working on the ATARI 800, i replaced the SP chip from another working unit also check the SIO connection and voltages, 

 

did someone identify the logic chips used so i can try and replace them?

 

thanks

[lbaeza]

7 hours ago, ndary said:

did someone identify the logic chips used so i can try and replace them?

Hi Nir

 

Post #37 on this thread shows a board with the chips serial numbers intact.

 

Regards,

 

Luis.

 

Edit: D'oh...I just noticed your board is different that the one on post #37...sorry...

Edited June 3, 2020 by lbaeza

[_The Doctor__]

if not sand blasted acetone is revealing

[Mathy]

Hello guys

 

Sometimes a bit of spit works too.  Until the spit dries up again.

 

Sincerely

 

Mathy

[Kyle22]

2 hours ago, Mathy said:

Hello guys

 

Sometimes a bit of spit works too.  Until the spit dries up again.

 

Sincerely

 

Mathy

I have done that.

 

Edit: Be Very careful with Acetone. It attacks / melts many plastics.

 

 

Edited June 4, 2020 by Kyle22
Acetone

[_The Doctor__]

yes, it can hurt plastics, but not plastic chips... go figure... :) different material form

[Kyle22]

8 minutes ago, _The Doctor__ said:

yes, it can hurt plastics, but not plastic chips... go figure... different material form

Atari case plastics, Yes. Chips, not so much, but BE CAREFUL with it. That is my point.

 

It's the same reason you should NOT spill brake fluid on your car's paint when filling your master cylinder's tank.

 

Edited June 4, 2020 by Kyle22
brake fluid

[_The Doctor__]

don't get it on your hands, fingers or eyes either :)

[+Stephen]

Or drink it - sniffing is ok though.