General Instrument · Text-to-speech controller
CTS256A-AL2 / CTS256-AL2
General Instrument’s text-to-allophone controller turns English text into commands for the SP0256-AL2.
Overview
The CTS256A-AL2 is the text-processing companion to the SP0256-AL2. It converts English ASCII text into allophone commands; the SP0256-AL2 generates the audio. The two parts therefore perform different jobs in a complete text-to-speech system.
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Look for General Instrument’s text-to-speech controller and related chipsets.
Search eBayWords into speech sounds
The controller applies letter-to-sound rules to incoming text and sends the resulting allophone addresses to the SP0256-AL2. It is not a second audio synthesizer. Its rule-based approach allows new sentences without storing a recording of every word.
Building a complete system
General Instrument’s application note describes serial or parallel input, optional external RAM for buffering, and an exception-word EPROM for pronunciation corrections and user programs. The SP0256-AL2 output still requires filtering and amplification. Modern builders continue to use this chip pair and have recreated its text-to-allophone processing in emulators.
Machines using this chip
B.G. Micro
B.G. Micro Computalker Speech Board
An RS-232 text-to-speech board pairing CTS256A-AL2 with SP0256-AL2; its ISA connector supplies power.
Explore B.G. Micro Computalker Speech Board