Recreating The Voder: Unraveling the Magic of Early Speech Synthesis

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Recreating The Voder: Unraveling the Magic of Early Speech Synthesis

Table of Contents:

  1. Introduction
  2. History of the Voter 2.1 The Creation of the Voter 2.2 The Importance of the Voter
  3. The Functionality of the Voter 3.1 The Speech Synthesis Process 3.2 The Vocoder System 3.3 The Practice Console
  4. The Components of the Voter 4.1 The Keys 4.2 The Wrist Bar 4.3 The Stop Constant Keys 4.4 The Source Board 4.5 The Filters 4.6 The Output Section 4.7 The Power Supply Board 4.8 Additional Features
  5. Demonstration of the Voter 5.1 The Sentence and Demonstrating Expressive Capabilities 5.2 Pitch Variation and Expression 5.3 The Vibrato Feature
  6. Conclusion

Introduction

The Voter is an electronic speech synthesizer that was created by Bell Labs for the 1939 New York World's Fair. This article explores the history, functionality, components, and demonstration of the Voter replica. It delves into the intricate details of its construction and operation, providing a comprehensive understanding of this groundbreaking technology.

History of the Voter

The Creation of the Voter The Voter was developed by Bell Labs as part of their work on the vocoder system, which was used to transmit speech over long distances during World War II. However, locating the information necessary for creating a replica of the Voter proved to be a challenging task, as many of the smaller details had been lost over time.

The Importance of the Voter The Voter played a pivotal role in the development of speech synthesis technology. It showcased the potential of electronic devices to reproduce human speech, paving the way for future advancements in the field.

The Functionality of the Voter

The Speech Synthesis Process The Voter operates through a combination of voiced and unvoiced noise sources. These are controlled by the operator using a series of keys and the wrist bar, which allows for the selection of different noise sources. The sound is then transmitted through a bank of filters, shaped by the input from the keys, and output through a loudspeaker.

The Vocoder System The Voter is half of a vocoder system, with the receiving end being the focus of this article. The transmitter, which was used to encode speech, is replaced by the hand controls operated by the player. This system broke down speech, transmitted it, and reassembled it at the other end, allowing for secure communication during World War II.

The Practice Console The Voter replica discussed in this article is based on the practice console used by operators to train for the performance at the New York World's Fair. It served as a training tool, allowing operators to familiarize themselves with the controls and functionality of the Voter.

The Components of the Voter

The Keys The keys on the Voter replica consist of potentiometers connected to wooden pieces for the key itself. They are operated by the player to produce different sounds and control the speech synthesis process.

The Wrist Bar Below the keys, there is a micro switch that switches between the voiced and unvoiced noise sources. The wrist bar allows the operator to select between these sources, influencing the sound produced by the Voter.

The Stop Constant Keys The stop constant keys were added to aid operators in producing certain difficult consonants. These keys provide assistance in generating sounds that are challenging to produce solely using the Voter.

The Source Board The source board is where the hiss and buzz noise sources are created. The pitch of the buzz can be adjusted using a pitch pedal connected to the Voter through a jack. This board is responsible for generating the initial sounds in the speech synthesis process.

The Filters The speech is shaped by a series of filters controlled by the keys on the keyboard. The filter board works in conjunction with the input from the keys to mimic the characteristics of the human vocal tract, resulting in intelligible speech output.

The Output Section After passing through the filter board, the speech is sent to the output jack and amplified. The power required for the Voter's operation is supplied by a power supply board, which converts the input voltage to the necessary levels.

Additional Features The Voter replica includes additional features such as the vibrato circuit, which adds a tremolo effect to the speech output, giving it a vintage or singing-like quality.

Demonstration of the Voter

The Sentence and Demonstrating Expressive Capabilities A demonstration of the Voter replica involves the playback of a sentence to showcase its expressive capabilities. The sentence, "She saw me," was used in the original demonstration at the World's Fair due to its simplicity and ability to highlight various aspects of the Voter's functionality.

Pitch Variation and Expression The foot pedal connected to the bus noise source can be used to change the pitch of the speech output. This feature allows for the addition of expression to the sentence, enabling variations in tone and emphasis during playback.

The Vibrato Feature The Voter replica includes a vibrato circuit that can be used to add a tremolo effect to the speech output. This feature gives the Voter a unique sound, reminiscent of older speech synthesis technologies or mimicking a singing-like quality.

Conclusion

The Voter replica is a testament to the technological ingenuity of Bell Labs and the advancements made in speech synthesis during the 1939 New York World's Fair. It showcases the intricacies of early electronic speech synthesizers and their impact on future developments in the field. The Voter serves as a historical milestone and a reminder of the continuous evolution of speech synthesis technology.

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