Talko 2 Eurorack

Description

Talko2 is a compact, DIY-friendly Eurorack speech module built on the same proven engine used across the Polaxis lineup.

In homage to Error Instruments, the glitch button is named Error, unlocking wild and unpredictable textures.

It speaks numbers, alphabets, phonemes, and classic phrase banks, all with real-time control over pitch, speed, and effects.

A 7-segment display shows the active bank or the selected effect.

Designed for experimental voices and robotic sound design, Talko2 is both a classic speech engine and a versatile creative tool.

Technical details

Firmware update: UF2 drag-and-drop over USB-C data cable.
Current consumption: ~20 mA.
Power: Eurorack 10-pin power header (standard ±12 V)
Protected Inputs: Protected with resistors and clamping diodes.
Eurorack width: 91 mm (≈ 18 HP).

Quick Start

Connect the audio output to your mixer or modular system.
Patch a gate signal into the Gate input (or press the Gate button)
Turn the Encoder to select a speech bank (shown on the 7-segment display).
Use the Sound knob to pick the item (digit, letter, word, phoneme).
Adjust Speed and Pitch to taste.
Push the encoder and turn it to select an effect, and use the FX knob to adjust its depth

Talko 2 user manual

Talko 2 assembly manual

Media

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6 way jack connector

Passive 6-Way Signal Distributor for Mono signals

Usb to jack 2.1 power cable

0.5m power cable to power the Bricky modules from a USB bank or a power supply

Talko 2 Bricky

Description

This module directly benefits from all these developments: a compact, DIY-friendly design, available both as a Eurorack module and as a standalone “Bricky” format inspired by Error Instruments. In homage, the glitch button has been renamed Error.

It speaks numbers, alphabets, phonemes, and classic phrase banks, with real-time pitch, speed, and effect controls.

A 7-segment display shows the active bank or the effect applied.
Designed for experimental voices and robotic textures,
Talko2 is both a classic speech engine and a sound-design tool.

Technical details

Firmware update: UF2 drag-and-drop over USB-C data cable.
Current consumption: ~20 mA.
Power: 2.1 mm power jack (5-12V, positive at the center
Protected Inputs: Protected with resistors and clamping diodes.
Eurorack width: 91 mm (≈ 18 HP).

Quick Start

Connect the audio output to your mixer or modular system.
Patch a gate signal into the Gate input (or press the Gate button)
Turn the Encoder to select a speech bank (shown on the 7-segment display).
Use the Sound knob to pick the item (digit, letter, word, phoneme).
Adjust Speed and Pitch to taste.
Push the encoder and turn it to select an effect, and use the FX knob to adjust its depth

Talko 2 user manual

Talko 2 assembly manual

Talko Alternative firmwares

Media

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jean-Luc Deladrière (@polaxis)

Kraftor Performer

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Kraftor Performer product specifications

Standalone speech-synthesis instrument: Nexus Old-school voice synthesis with NFC “diskette” loading, USB keyboard entry, and optional MIDI control. No computer is required on stage for the full standalone workflow.

What it does

Real-time text-to-speech, standalone – Type on a connected USB keyboard and press Enter to speak, or load prewritten lines from an NFC tag and trigger them from the front panel.
Live performance controls – Pitch and speed are adjustable in real time, including while a phrase is playing. A bank selector and five buttons give 20 sentence slots: 5 buttons across 4 banks. Button presses are ignored while the unit is already speaking for cleaner live behavior.
NFC as set-list media – Place a tag on the reader. Reads can take up to a few seconds. Line 1 is the title shown on the display; the following lines become the loaded phrases for buttons and MIDI mapping.
Multiple voices – Select voices with keyboard function keys F1-F10, including voices such as Perfect Paul, Vader, Big Bob, and others. See the user manual for the full list. Voice changes can be issued even while speaking.

Hardware interface, typical stage build

NFC reader – Top or side placement depending on the enclosure.
Two potentiometers – Pitch and speed. At power-up, move each knob once so the device learns its position. Loading a new NFC tag does not reset pitch or speed.
Bank selector – Four positions.
Five tactile buttons – Sentence triggers across banks.

Configurable build options

Regarding the build, Kraftor Performer can be customized to fit different stages and installation needs:

- - Display – The size and type of display can be chosen to match the application, including a larger display for easier reading during concerts.
  - Front-panel controls – The number and type of controls can be configured, including knobs, buttons, bank selectors, and other performance controls depending on the desired workflow.
  - Materials and colour – The build can be adapted in terms of materials, finish, and colour.
  - Standalone vs. MIDI balance – The instrument can be configured as a more self-contained standalone unit, a more minimal MIDI-controlled unit, or a hybrid of both.
    - Display – The size and type of display can be chosen to match the application, including a larger display for easier reading during concerts.
    - Front-panel controls – The number and type of controls can be configured, including knobs, buttons, bank selectors, and other performance controls depending on the desired workflow.
    - Materials and colour – The build can be adapted in terms of materials, finish, and colour.
    - Standalone vs. MIDI balance – The instrument can be configured as a more self-contained standalone unit, a more minimal MIDI-controlled unit, or a hybrid of both.
    - Hardware design – The hardware can be built as an evolving modular tile system, inspired by Xavier Garcia at Hackin’Toys and by the reusable, interchangeable design principles of OpenStructures. Controls, labels, display area, blank plates, and utility modules can be arranged around the performer’s workflow, then adapted later for a new stage setup, repair, upgrade, or visual identity.

Nexus Vox

Features

Converts any ASCII text into speech automatically
Real-time control of speed, pitch, voice, reverb, volume

CV control

Voices (11)
Speed
Formant
Reverb
Expression
Pitch (in Phoneme and MIDI mode)

These controls can be applied in real time while speaking!

Inline commands

The text string can contain commands to adjust the voice on the fly

$1o $2s I am Vader and I speak slowly

Phonetic to speech

The speech can also be generated by stringing phonemes and prosody to control the pitch, speed, and volume.

k ax m p yy uw dx er 
Computer

//h aw -/d>/eh r +<\yy uw s p iy k t uw m iy dh ae t -w ey .+/
How dare you speak to me that way!

/ increase pitch. + inscrease speed > increase volume
 decrease pitch. - decrease speed < decrease volume

Phonemes mode

Allows for the easy selection of fundamental phoneme groups, such as “Vowels” and “Consonants,” and provides straightforward controls for pitch and speed adjustments.

While providing fundamental control over pitch and speed, it’s a straightforward function ideal for those just starting their journey in speech synthesis and sound exploration.

This requires just a gate signal to get started…

Latency

From the Gate signal to the start of the speech, the latency is relatively tiny: 30 ms to 80 ms.

MIDI

Full MIDI control over the voice characteristics.
Phonetic, Phoneme or Text to speech from MIDI notes.