Hello everyone,

Does anyone know DECtalkMini?
https://github.com/dectalk/DECtalkMini/tree/dectalk-develop
That's a really good-sounding voice output.

Here you will find a ready-made UF2 file with 9600bps via GPIO 0/1 and audio OUT on GPIO28. I haven't tried it yet, only the version for the Nintendo GBA, but it sounded pretty good!
https://forum.classic-computing.de/forum/index.php?thread/31185-dectalk/&postID=584586#post584586

Frank

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Back in the late 1980ies I thought of introducing the device in the manufacturing shopfloor I was responsible for as IT manager. The problem was that it did not speak german and the price was rather high (as all the DEC stuff we used) and so I abondoned the idea sooner or later. Had some demos at the local sales rep and was quite impressed but not suited for our usecases. And yes, it was nerdy at that time, so I liked it. But a handful of VT320 terminals did the job as well to deliver the information .... Interesting to see this is still in the minds of others.

Gerald

Toys...





THIS is a real Dectalk from the 80s

I did not power it on the last 30 years...
Need to check the PSU first

cheers
Guenter (with tons of real DEC HW - and no time to play...)

All DEC hw I still have is part of a VAX11/750 cpu chipset and a 16K words Unibus core memory from a PDP11/34. The core is really impressive when looked at through a microscope.

Here you can try out the DECtalkMini:

https://bytesizedfox.dev/

Frank

Last weekend, I set up an DECtalkMini with an Raspberry Pi Pico. I can really recommend it! It supports multiple voices, different speeds, and has a very good sound. It's the perfect thing for giving a µC a voice.

Frank

  Frank N. Furter said  

Last weekend, I set up an DECtalkMini with an Raspberry Pi Pico. I can really recommend it! It supports multiple voices, different speeds, and has a very good sound. It's the perfect thing for giving a µC a voice.

Frank

Hi Frank, I tried the link but it will not allow me to download. Just says - "Access denied. You’re not authorized to view this page."

Dave.

Oh, I forgot that you now have to be registered on the forum to download anything.
I've attached it here...

dectalk_mini_pico.zip

...and her a version for USB and GPIO:

DECtalk_Muni_dual_USB_serial_FIFO.zip

GPIO0: UART0 TX
GPIO1: UART0 RX
GPIO28: audio out (PWM)
baudrate: 9600,8,N,1

I tried the DUAL version, but only via USB. A filter like the one on our boards would be advisable. One of my active speakers sounded awful, but another (without modification and without any filter) sounded perfect!

Frank
Edited 2025-12-12 18:13 by Frank N. Furter

Thanks Frank.

There is now a new version for PWM and I2S:
DECtalk_Mini_Pico_Dual_I2S_PWM_13122025.zip

https://github.com/dectalk/DECtalkMini

Frank

If you know how to use the Phonemes System of the SAM-based Text to speech in. MMbasic, you can get Similarly Good output.  SAM curent page.
I can't seem to find the original manual listing for SAM. It was very helpful. I may have it in my Archives somewhere.
Edited 2025-12-14 08:52 by mclout999

@mclout999:

Are you familiar with our S.A.M text-to-speech chip?

https://www.thebackshed.com/forum/ViewTopic.php?TID=8202&P=8#127861

Frank