Software:Software Automatic Mouth
 Atari cover for Software Automatic Mouth | |
| Original author(s) | Mark Barton[1] |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Don’t Ask Software |
| Initial release | 1982 |
| Platform | Apple II, Lisa, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64. |
| Type | Speech synthesis |
File:C64 Software Automatic Mouth demo.flac
Don't Ask Software also sold PokerSAM, a poker game with speech,[2] and also licensed out the S.A.M. engine for use with other games, such as Tales of the Arabian Nights for the Commodore 64.
Technology
The Apple version uses an included expansion card which contains an 8-bit DAC, although hackers created a modified version of S.A.M. which can instead use the computer's one-bit audio output (with the addition of much distortion) if the card is not present. The Atari version makes use of the embedded POKEY audio chip. Speech playback on the Atari normally disables interrupt requests and shuts down the ANTIC chip during vocal output. The audible output is extremely distorted speech when graphic and text display is turned on. The Commodore 64 makes use of the 64's embedded SID audio chip's 4-bit volume DAC, reducing its quality significantly vs the Apple and Atari versions.{{Citation needed|date=December 2019} 64 version blanks the screen as the program accesses memory, although a "light" mode can be activated that leaves the screen active, producing a "gravelly" voice. Active sprites also cause a deterioration in the quality of voice output.[3]
Phonetic Mode
Software Automatic Mouth has phonetic mode. This mode bypasses the phonetic parser and instead accepts phoneme strings directly as input using the International Phonetic Alphabet. This mode facilitates more precise control over pronunciation, and allows fine control over inflection.[4]
Legacy
S.A.M. was used as the basis for the original MacInTalk speech synthesis software.[1]
The technology was recreated for the voice of the character of "SAM" in the software Chipspeech.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 It Sure Is Great To Get Out Of That Bag!, Author: Andy Hertzfeld, Date: January 1984, Folklore.org
- ↑ "PokerSAM". http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-pokersam_4036.html.
- ↑ Conway, Barbara (2 June 1984). "SAM speaks out". Personal Computer News: 36. https://archive.org/details/mag_PersonalComputerNews063-02Jun1984/page/n37/mode/1up. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ↑ "S.A.M. The Software Automatic Mouth OWNER'S MANUAL". http://www.apple-iigs.info/newdoc/sam.pdf.
- ↑ link
External links
- Speech Synthesizers for Atari and Apple magazine review
- Spelling.SAM an Atari BASIC spelling program
- SAM manual reproduction of the Atari version manual
- Analysis of SAM translated version to C and executable for Windows
- Run SAM in the Browser translated version to native JavaScript
- [1] SAM as JAVA class file for the JVM
- 2020 Interview with Mark Barton about S.A.M.
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