SP0256

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Overview

The SPO256 is a Speech Synthesizer chip used in many hardware Speech Synthesizers of the 8bit era. The SP0256 contains a Voice Generator, a small microprocessor, and a built-in ROM which contains 16Kbit (2Kbyte) of program code.

A number of different version of the SP0256 exist. The most common is the SP0256-AL2, where -AL2 means that the built-in ROM contains preprogrammed english allophones.

CPC Speech Synthesizers

SP0256 on Printer Port (DIY)

SP0256 Speech ROM

  • SP0256-AL2 ROM (caution - the bytes in the file are in reversed bit-order, ie. the "Target" values are unreversed, all other opcodes and parameters are reversed)

Datasheets (English)

  • Media:Sp0256al2 datasheet.pdf - includes AL2 allophone list
  • SP0256B datasheet - includes info on TEST pin (but lacks the AL2 list)
  • SP0250 Applications Manual - includes info on Voice Generator (or the older SP0250 chip, not the SP0256, but it works similar)
  • SPR016 datasheet - external 16Kbit ROM - includes info on stack (which seems to be part of the internal/external ROM, not of the CPU)
  • SPR-032 datasheet - external 32Kbit ROM
  • SPR-128 datasheet (older) - external 128Kbit ROM preliminary 28pin package with undefined pinouts
  • SPR-128 datasheet (newer) - external 128Kbit ROM preliminary 24pin package with defined pinouts
  • SPB640 - external speech fifo
  • US Patent 4,296,279 - might cover the SP0256 (not sure, it's in cryptic patent language)
  • http://spatula-city.org/~im14u2c/intv/tech/sp0256_instr_set.html - reverse engineered instruction set