This board host the vintage General Instruments SP0256-AL2 aka SPO256-AL2 Narrator. This  IC was very popular in the 1980s.

The SPO256-AL2 produces all 59 phonemes of the English language. They can be sustained to generate signing.

It has a very recognizable 8-bit metallic sound.

These phonemes are individually addressable and can be chained together to create words or small sentences.

Our board adds two absent functions on the chip: pitch or inflection control and volume control.

The chip allows looping the last phoneme to generate interesting noise or steady MIDI notes.

MIDI control

• MIDI note ON (first phoneme on note 36)
• MIDI note OFF
• Pitch Bend (can be used while the note is ON)
• Velocity
• Volume CC1 (can be used while the note is ON)

CV control 

• Phoneme
• Volume
• Pitch

 

Custom vocabulary

Build your own vocabulary by stringing allophones together in the following syntax :

(note the + marker to extend the duration of the allophone)

music: MM YY1 UW2 +600 ZZ IH +400 KK1 
ZERO: ZZ YR OW
ONE: WW AX AX NN1
technology: TT1 EH KK1 NN1 AA +100 LL AX +400 JH IY
electronic: IH IH LL EH KK1 TT1 RR2 AA +200 NN1 IH +200 KK1

 

Firmware

 

Vocabulary

135.000 words to get you started …

Ableton MIDI effect rack

Media

 

The casing allows adding any of the Vox modules inside just by removing four screws.
As with Emy, Terminal can be used in a CV-controlled environment or act as a MIDI instrument.

You can install the various firmware on the SD card before powering the device.

A pair of shunts allows the user to connect Terminal either as a MIDI USB unit or as a host for a USB keyboard for text entry.

On request, a serial TRS jack MIDI Type B connector can also be added.
(note: not all firmware are supporting MIDI yet. MIDI support is under development)

Please  check this page for more information: https://www.polaxis.be/

Features :

100 % Emy compatible, including adding additional voices
USB port for power or MIDI or USB connection
Optional TRS jack MIDI Type B connector
USB host connector for computer keyboard
Shunts (must be removed when connecting a keyboard, otherwise, they must be placed vertically)
Line in & out stereo jack 1/4″ (line in only used for the Robovox module)
Trimpot to adjust the audio level input (only used for the Robovox module)

Terminal in action