TTS Speech Synthesiser Option for Blind Access (Votrax Emulation)

[oneswitch]

Emulated MAME Votrax and BBC Micro

Pernod at StarDot shared a proof of concept where an emulated BBC Micro could output screen text (via *FX3,1) at 9600 baud to an emulated Votrax speech synthesiser. This gives a period correct emulation of one if not the first speech synthesiser people would have had access to on the BBC Micro.

His demo is of the text adventure Lords of Time speaking in the classic Gorf/Berzerk voice heard around arcades, but also commonly in use for early electronic assistive technology. He is using MAME's emulation of the Votrax SC-01 chip, with the Beebenabling serial VDU output with *FX3,1 to send all screen text to it at 9600 baud.

A bit more info here: 1983 BBC Micro with Votrax info

MAME Votrax repository - Pernod will know more

Some Blind Accessible Titles to test with - marked with an asterisk

[Pernod70]

The emulation of the Votrax Type 'N Talk is at /src/devices/machine/votraxtnt.cpp.

It'll be alot of work as you'll need to emulate not only the Votrax SC-01A at /src/devices/sound/votrax.cpp but also the M6802 at /src/devices/cpu/m6800/m6800.cpp, obviously you'll already have the 6850 ACIA emulated.

[oneswitch]

Thanks Pernod70. Alternatively, the next best thing, and in some ways, better, would be if the screen text could be output to the in-built speech synth available. That's a far clearer voice, although not period correct.

There's definitely an audience out there for text access, plus it's a fun thing for people generally: AudioGames.net forum with people enjoying a modified version of Pontoon from 1983

Woud be amazing to be able to give people a link and they're straight in with all the BBC Micro games made blind accessible.

Also realise, all this is done for free and for the love it in free time, so no expectation for anything. Cheers for all that's done so far.