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Author Topic: Covox Speech Thing (1986) connects via parallel port  (Read 2905 times)

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Offline chrisNova777

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Covox Speech Thing (1986) connects via parallel port
« on: December 19, 2015, 01:39:11 PM »
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covox_Speech_Thing
http://nerdlypleasures.blogspot.ca/2014/09/the-mysterious-covox-pc-sound-devices.html


Quote
The Covox Speech Thing (also known as Covox plug) was an external audio device attached to the computer to output digital sound. It was composed of the most primitive 8-bit DAC using a resistor ladder and an analogue signal output, and plugged into the printer port of the PC.


One widely used variant
The circuit was marketed around 1986 by Covox, Inc of Eugene, Oregon, for about 70 USD[1] (79.95 USD as of 1989[2]), but as its parts were much cheaper than the complete plug, and as its design was fairly simple, people soon started to build their own variants. The plug was used long into the 1990s, as sound cards were still very expensive at that time. The plug was also quite popular in the demoscene.

An inherent problem of the design is that it requires very precise resistors. If normal parts are used, the values get shuffled, especially for quiet sounds, resulting in distortion. Nevertheless, the sound quality of the Covox plug is far superior compared to the PC speaker; even today, a self-built Covox plug is still an inexpensive way to give old computers sound capabilities

Quote
Music trackers   Edit
Popular DOS-based trackers used on demoscene included Covox support, for example:

Modplay by Mark J. Cox (also ModEdit, DMP, VP and other Mod Players from early 90's)
Galaxy Music Player (can play MODs even on a Intel 8088)  download it here: http://www.dcee.net/Files/Music/Player/ (glx212.arj)
Scream Tracker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scream_Tracker
Fast Tracker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FastTracker_2
Impulse Tracker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impulse_Tracker

Offline chrisNova777

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Re: Covox Speech Thing (1986) connects via parallel port
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2017, 12:45:58 PM »