[DECtalk] new to the list

shaun everiss shaun.e at xtra.co.nz
Mon Feb 27 02:15:58 EST 2006


Well my one runs.
but there is some loose connection which means that the thing likes to die.
To fix it I bash it against a desk for 10 minutes and eventually it works but then dies again.
I am sure its busted, but I am sure its a connection.
The thing is I ask the techs here what to do and they say put it in the bin.
At 05:55 p.m. 27/02/2006, you wrote:
>Oh, what happens when the charging circuit has a problem? Would that cause 
>the broke unit I have to not function? I may need a hardware synth for 
>working eventually and sure don't want to leave my only functional one 
>somewhere. They could become quite useful if one wanted to record stuff or 
>use voice chat.
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Jayson Smith" <ratguy at bellsouth.net>
>To: "DECtalk Discussions" <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com>
>Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 10:12 PM
>Subject: Re: [DECtalk] new to the list
>
>
>> Hi,
>> I've been wondering about getting a broken Express fixed too.  We 
>> absolutely
>> love the DECtalk Express units, I think we have eight or nine of them. 
>> One
>> broke a few years ago.  Our local repair man was unable to fix it.  He was
>> able to fix the long-standing problem with the battery or charging circuit
>> but not the problem that keeps the unit from working.
>> I also don't understand how Fonix could have lost the code.  If the only
>> copy is on a dead hard drive obviously they could send the drive in to a
>> data recovery company if they still have it, but those places are 
>> expensive.
>> I mean, with the move from Digital to Force and then from Force to Fonix,
>> you'd think somebody somewhere would have something laying around.  I have
>> the firmware version 4.2CD for the Express as well as the DECtalk PC 
>> drivers
>> which as I understand it actually contain the DECtalk code which is loaded
>> onto the board at startup.  And of course the 4.3 demo is available at the
>> archive.  I don't know how to disassemble the software, but bet the right
>> person who knew what they were doing could do it and create machine code
>> from which new equivalent source code for the lost versions could be
>> recreated.
>> Jayson.
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Brent Harding" <bharding at doorpi.net>
>> To: "DECtalk Discussions" <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com>
>> Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 9:24 PM
>> Subject: Re: [DECtalk] new to the list
>>
>>
>> I wonder how hard it is to get a non-functional one fixed? I got an 
>> express
>> for free that someone sent me when I needed a new cable, they said I could
>> have it. Being able to have 2 working ones around could be a good thing
>> since I heard the USB models use the 5.0 sound that I don't like as well. 
>> I
>> just don't get how phonix could've lost the 4.4 code, I'm sure they could
>> get an idea if they had the hex files. I'm sure some programmer somewhere
>> could do something to help them get the old sound everyone wants back.
>>
>>  ----- Original Message -----
>>  From: Nick G
>>  To: DECtalk Discussions
>>  Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 6:43 PM
>>  Subject: Re: [DECtalk] new to the list
>>
>>
>>  Snoopy...
>>  For cryin' out loud, just release DECtalk 4.40 in a moddern program form
>> and I think You'll be fine for a long, long timee, no offence.
>>    ----- Original Message -----
>>    From: Dectalk at aol.com
>>    To: dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>    Cc: corine.bickley at gallaudet.edu
>>    Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 5:01 PM
>>    Subject: Re: [DECtalk] new to the list
>>
>>
>>    Hi Missy!  I'm Snoopi and welcom to the list.  Oh it's so strange that
>> you want to try to program songs.  I'm releasing software hopefully on 
>> March
>> 26 that teaches how to program songs.  It also teaches how to read music.
>> It comes with Dectalk, video illistrations, over 1000 pre-programmed 
>> files,
>> and much more.  I'm not trying to advertise, I'm just excited.  The 
>> project
>> has been a year behind due to bugs and I'm now on the home stretch of
>> getting it done and ready for orders.
>>
>>    Anyway, welcome.  I um, have been on this list since 2004 but I forgot 
>> I
>> was on here until a week ago.  Then I discovered I wasn't getting the 
>> list.
>> So I kind of feel new myself even though I'm not.
>>
>>    I work for both Fonix and Gallaudet University, so I have Dectalk
>> software coming out my ears!  I'm the Engineering Consultant, so I 
>> evaluate
>> all new changes in the software and I get to say what and how things 
>> should
>> sound.  It's a really fun job!  I've been working with Dectalk since 1989.
>>
>>    You ask a good question.  People ask me if I use midi to program 
>> Dectalk
>> and I have no idea how that woukd be done myself.  So I was about to ask a
>> question kind of like yours, so I'm interested in the answers.
>>
>>    I hope you enjoy this list.  I'm going to try and get people from
>> Gallaudet and Fonix to join this list because we actually have projects 
>> that
>> we could use feedback on.
>>
>>    My Colleague Corine just signed onto a list called Acolug.  I'm on it
>> but hate it to death, so I'm hoping she'll join this list.
>>
>>    Anyway, I guess we're the Dectalk geeks, so welcome.
>>
>>
>>    SNOOPI
>>
>>
>>
>>    In a message dated 2/26/2006 1:06:44 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
>> melissah at fuse.net writes:
>>      Hi! My name is Missy, and I just joined this list.
>>      Currently, I have a computer running windows 98 SE and I use 
>> eloquence
>> and
>>      JFW for screen access. I've also got the dectalk software synth
>> installed,
>>      and I use cakewalke home studio 5.0 for playing around with midis. I
>> know
>>      my computer system is probably quite out of date, but I'm hoping to 
>> do
>> some
>>      upgrading when finances permit.
>>      Unfortunately, I'm not particularly musicly inclined; love to listen
>> to
>>      music, but can't really play anything.
>>      Anyway, to get somewhat back on topic, I've enjoyed listening to
>> singing
>>      synthesizers for a few new years now, but stumbled across this list
>> quite
>>      by accident while web browsing earlier this afternoon.
>>      I'm not sure if I have either the know-how or the proper technology 
>> to
>>      create singing files, but I'd love to try and learn a little about 
>> how
>> to
>>      go about doing so. Also, if anyone takes requests, how might I go
>> about
>>      making them, and would I be able to send a midi or mp3 of a song for
>>      reference?
>>      Well, I guess that's enough of an introduction for now. I hope
>> everyone is
>>      having an awesome day, and I look forward to participating on this
>> list as
>>      much as possible.
>>      Missy
>>
>>      _______________________________________________
>>      DECtalk mailing list
>>      DECtalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>      http://jaybird.no-ip.info/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>  http://jaybird.no-ip.info/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
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>>
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