Texas Instruments Speak and Spell Modified 1980 Unit

See Canned Sound on soundcloud for the demo.
From 'Home Computer' to 'LFO', this early educational speech synthesiser is a cult feature of electronic music. The low resolution digitised voice chip provides numerous opportunities for sound processing and rhythmic phonetic experimentation in music production. This original 1980 unit has been customised with the following modifications:

- Button 1 instantaneously replays each of the unit's signature melodies (which can then be modulated with the other controls).
- Button 2 holds and loops the audio signal for granular modulation of the onboard sounds. When used in conjunction with the switches this generates a range of warped, phonetic, metallic and distorted loops. Additionally, when a game is activated or the various alphabetical buttons are pressed, individual elements of each vocalised letter can be held and looped until the button is released.
- Switch 1 generates a slower stream of words, half sentences and sounds which may then be modified with the other controls.
- Switch 2 generates a faster stream of phonemes, noise, letters and abstract garbled sounds.
- Body contact. This allows the user to alter the pitch of the unit's output through touch; eg. rapid tapping produces a vibrato effect.

Takes four C batteries or 6v PSU.