Difference between revisions of "Speech Thing"

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{{Infobox Hardware
 
{{Infobox Hardware
| Title    = Speech Thing
+
| Title    = Speech Thing
| Image    = Covox Speech Thing.jpg
+
| Image    = Covox Speech Thing.jpg
| Developer = Covox, Inc.
+
| Developer = [[Covox|Covox, Inc.]]
| Released  = 1986-??-??
+
| Released  = 1986-??-??
| Type      = External Device
+
| Type      = External Device
 +
| Icon      = Speech Thing
 +
| Platforms = {{HardwarePlatform|DOS|DOS}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
The Covox '''''Speech Thing''''' is an external audio device that attaches to a computer and provides digital sound output. It connects through a parallel port and produces 8-bit mono sound through a [[Digital-to-Analog Converter|DAC]] that uses a resistor ladder and an analogue signal output. This is not as efficient as using DMA, so the Speech Thing is processor intensive. Though the Speech Thing is not capable of synthesizing music through [[FM synthesis]], it can play music as digital audio, but long digital tracks take up much more disk space, which was a premium at the time, so few games took advantage of this feature.
+
The [[Covox]] '''''Speech Thing''''' is an external audio device that attaches to a computer and provides digital sound output. It connects through a parallel port and produces 8-bit mono sound through a [[Digital-to-Analog Converter|DAC]] that uses a resistor ladder and an analogue signal output. This is not as efficient as using DMA, so the Speech Thing is processor intensive. Though the Speech Thing is not capable of synthesizing music through [[FM synthesis]], it can play music as digital audio, but long digital tracks take up much more disk space, which was a premium at the time, so few games took advantage of this feature.
  
 
The circuit was initially marketed around 1986 by Covox, Inc. of Eugene, Oregon, at a price of around $70. It remained in popular use well into the 1990s until the price of superior sound cards began to drop and overtook the market.
 
The circuit was initially marketed around 1986 by Covox, Inc. of Eugene, Oregon, at a price of around $70. It remained in popular use well into the 1990s until the price of superior sound cards began to drop and overtook the market.
  
 
Later sound cards like [[Sound Blaster]] could synthesize music as well as play back digital audio, and they used DMA to offset the necessary processing power needed for audio playback.
 
Later sound cards like [[Sound Blaster]] could synthesize music as well as play back digital audio, and they used DMA to offset the necessary processing power needed for audio playback.
 
DOSBox has the ability to emulate a Speech Thing through software.
 
 
  
 
==Games==
 
==Games==
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* [[:Category: Games That Use Speech Thing For Music|Games That Use Speech Thing For Music]].
 
* [[:Category: Games That Use Speech Thing For Music|Games That Use Speech Thing For Music]].
  
 
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==Picture Gallery==
==Media==
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<gallery>
<gallery perrow="5">
+
Covox Speech Thing.jpg|External view.
File:Covox Speech Thing.jpg|External view.
 
File:Covox Speech Thing Inside.jpg|Internal view.
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
 +
==Emulation Status==
 +
DOSBox has the ability to emulate a Speech Thing through software.
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covox_Speech_Thing en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covox_Speech_Thing] - Wikipedia.
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covox_Speech_Thing en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covox_Speech_Thing] - Wikipedia.

Revision as of 10:59, 23 September 2016

Speech Thing
Covox Speech Thing.jpg
Developer: Covox, Inc.
Released: 1986-??-??
Type: External Device
Icon:
Icon - Speech Thing.png
Platforms: Platform - DOS.png

The Covox Speech Thing is an external audio device that attaches to a computer and provides digital sound output. It connects through a parallel port and produces 8-bit mono sound through a DAC that uses a resistor ladder and an analogue signal output. This is not as efficient as using DMA, so the Speech Thing is processor intensive. Though the Speech Thing is not capable of synthesizing music through FM synthesis, it can play music as digital audio, but long digital tracks take up much more disk space, which was a premium at the time, so few games took advantage of this feature.

The circuit was initially marketed around 1986 by Covox, Inc. of Eugene, Oregon, at a price of around $70. It remained in popular use well into the 1990s until the price of superior sound cards began to drop and overtook the market.

Later sound cards like Sound Blaster could synthesize music as well as play back digital audio, and they used DMA to offset the necessary processing power needed for audio playback.

Games

Picture Gallery

Emulation Status

DOSBox has the ability to emulate a Speech Thing through software.

Links