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Texas Instruments created the TMS5220 voice synthesis processor as a means to add realistic speech output to home computers such as the BBC Micro, pinball machines, and children's toys. It acts as a model of the human vocal tract which allows the speech data to be parameterised and hence compressed considerably compared with just storing raw audio samples.
The speech processor can accept data either from a host microprocessor, or from a mask programmed serial ROM - the TMS6100 voice synthesis memory. However, the high cost and minimum order quantities associated with the setup of a mask means that comparatively few TMS6100s were created, and being mask programmed are fixed in operation.
The TMS6100 emulator solves both of these shortfalls by emulating the operation of the original device through the use of a modern 8 bit microcontroller with on board flash memory. When coupled with an original TMS5220 your system can speak once again.
Above info taken from www.sprow.co.uk/bbc/speechupgrade.htm
You can hear some of the speech produced at my blog post at www.retrocomputers.eu/?p=1124
Please take a look at www.retrocomputers.eu for more info about my retro computer collection.
MAXIM MAX232: THIS IS NOT a vintage component...sorry but I had only one single power supply rail (+5v) available...
Taken from the "Computer Answers" magazine from July 1983! Magazine cost 75p!
An Atari 800 with 48k RAM is more expensive than todays netbooks!
Dont forget to check out my website retrocomputers.wordpress.com
L'8 luglio 2015 è stato presentato ufficialmente a Highgate, Londra, la nuova console di videogiochi ZX Vega. Basato sull'architettura del Sinclair ZX Spectrum, il Vega è sviluppato e prodotto dalla Retro Computers Ltd (www.zxvega.co.uk), un'azienda fondata da Clive Sinclair, Chris Smith, David Levy e Paul Andrews ed è stato finanziato attraverso una campagna su Indiegogo che ha raccolto circa 150.000 sterline, il 50% in più del traguardo inizialmente fissato. Io sono stato invitato all'evento, unico italiano presente, in quanto nella dotazione iniziale di 1.000 giochi compare anche il mio Cousin Horace, uscito nell'ottobre 2014 (per saperne di più: www.alessandrogrussu.it/diario-2014-10-01.html).
Nella foto: il picnic a Parliament Hill, gentilmente offerto dagli organizzatori - comprendente persino una bottiglia di champagne a testa! - conclude degnamente l'evento. Il monumento è la Stone of Free Speech (Pietra della Libertà di Parola).
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On the 8th of July, 2015, the ZX Vega, a new videogame console, was officially presented in Highgate, London. Based on the Sinclair ZX Spectrum architecture, the Vega is developed and produced by Retro Computers Ltd (www.zxvega.co.uk), a company founded by Clive Sinclair, Chris Smith, David Levy and Paul Andrews, and it was funded through an Indiegogo campaign which raised about £150,000, 50% more than the initially set target. I was invited, the only one from Italy, because my Cousin Horace, released in October 2014, has been included in the initial set of 1,000 games coming with the console (more on this can be found at: www.alessandrogrussu.it/diario-2014-10-01.html).
Photo: the picnic at Parliament Hill, kindly offered by the organizing team - it even included a champagne bottle for each one of us! - was a worthy end to the event. The moument is the Stone of Free Speech.
My very first computer ever was a TRS-80 Model I. It was cookin' with the Level II Basic and 16k upgrade! Woot!
As such, I've always had a soft spot in my retro-computer heart for the TRS-80 line. Yes, they were pretty much the worst of the bunch for graphics (what, a "hires" pixel being a white square 1/8th inch square isn't GOOD enough for you?!?) even compared to the other dino's back then, but just like your first car, first girlfriend, etc....you never quite forget. :)
So, I never liked the fact that the "war posters" in those days called 'em "Trash eighties."
But, now of course, like all things retro, one must embrace the bad as well as the good...so, I took one of my old Model III's from the garage and converted into my very own "TRaSh-80."
(I really should put the real drives back in, just to add to the illusion, but they're too heavy and make the garbage can fall over. When I find a bigger can to mount it on, maybe...)
Please take a look at www.retrocomputers.eu for more info about my retro computers and Raspberry Pi collections.
Low Cost (<20$) UV Eprom Eraser
Lamp: SANKYO DENKI GERMICIDAL LAMP: G6T5 6W
Erase Time (Minutes) : 20
EPROM Distance (mm) : 15 (0,59 inch)
This is my Atari ST on Twitter. Its connecting via my Linux server over a serial terminal session. Its kinda cheating, but I dont have ethernet for my ST.
Dont forget to checkout www.retrocomputers.eu for more info about my retro computer collection.
Work in progress on the HEX keypad. The generic 6425 push buttons & keytops get BECC self-adhesive vinyl lettering used by modellers. The key switches are mounted on conventional copper strip veroboard, with the IC sockets installed on Protoboard-3U.
Picked this up today from a car boot sale. Came with one controller, RF cable (YUK! - Must make RGB scart cable ASAP!), power supply and 5 games.
Please take a look at www.retrocomputers.eu for more info about my retro computer collection.
I have replaced the original ROM in this 464 with the same ROM you would find in the 6128. This gives you a few extra BASIC commands.
Please take a look at www.retrocomputers.eu for more info about my retro computer collection.
You can find out more about the DataCenter at www.retroclinic.com/acorn/acorn.htm
Please check out my website www.retrocomputers.eu. You will find loads more stuff relating to old computers like the one above.