Votrax
Encyclopedia
Votrax International, Inc. (originally the Vocal division of Federal Screw Works), or just Votrax, was a speech synthesis company located in the Detroit, Michigan
area from 1971 to about 1996 It began as a division of Federal Screw Works from 1971 to 1973. In 1974, it was given the Votrax name (taken from the name of its first commercial product, the model VS4 "Votrax") and moved to Troy
and in 1980 split off of its parent company entirely and became 'Votrax International, Inc.', which produced speech products up until 1984.
In 1984, the company declared bankruptcy and restructured itself as a commercial phone/speech auto-answering systems company after downsizing much of the staff. It was somewhat successful in this field, and merged with Vynet Corp., a voice-recognition prompt pioneer, in 1987. It remained Votrax inc. until about 1992, when it was renamed to or otherwise merged with Vysion, Inc., a maker of security cameras and other related devices. It remained 'Vysion Inc.' until the company declared bankruptcy in June 1994 following a court battle patent litigation loss against PATCO inc., and from the remains of the old company, restructured itself as 'Maxxar' inc in 1995. which exists to this day. Maxxar owns the rights to the Votrax name.
In 1984, Votrax either declared bankruptcy or came close to doing so, and restructured itself as a commercial phone-interface provider, and hence produced no new consumer products. The later commercial-only products are not listed on the below list because literature about these seems to have been of limited distribution and has not yet been found. During the restructuring, much of the existing staff was downsized off, including Tim Gargagliano and Kathryn F. Gargagliano, who along with two other former Votrax employees, Art Velthoven and Dale McDaniel, started Artic Techonologies in 1984. Tim and Kate had earlier written an article about the SC-01 for BYTE Magazine.
In 1987, Votrax merged with Vynet Corp and the product lines of both companies were combined.
phoneme
synthesizers. Votrax produced speech backend modules and cards for various personal computers, and worked with the United States Naval Research Laboratory
(NRL) to create an extensible speech frontend system. Votrax's speech technology was also used by 3rd parties in several arcade games, Gottlieb System 80 pinball machines, and talking terminals
.
During the 1970s, Votrax produced a series of discrete speech synthesizers, with epoxy-coated boards to thwart people copying their designs. In 1980, they designed and manufactured an integrated circuit
speech synthesizer called the SC-01. This IC proved very popular in the third party market, and was produced until at least 1984. It was succeeded by the somewhat more dynamic SC-02, also known as the SSI-263P. From the beginning of SC-02 production, Silicon Systems Inc. (now part of Texas Instruments
) manufactured the SC-02 chip under the product number SSI-263P, and this was apparently later adopted as the official name of the IC. Votrax continued to intermittently sell SC-01-A and SC-02 synthesis chips, and Personal Speech System text to speech units until at least October, 1990.
Since early in its life, Votrax specialized in making phoneme-based speech synthesizers and text-to-speech algorithms. The popular United States Naval Research Laboratory, or "NRL" text-to-phoneme algorithm
was developed by a collaboration between Votrax and the NRL in 1973. This algorithm and variants of it were used on a number of text-to-speech devices, such as the votrax type-n-talk, the votrax personal speech system, and the General Instruments CTS256A-AL2 text-to-allophone chip. A good rundown of the NRL algorithm can be found under reference.
Votrax also supplied the SC-02 speech chip used in the amateur radio
'DOVE-OSCAR 17' or 'DOVE' Microsatellite.
M. D. Mcilroy
used a "Votrax" branded "Federal Screw Works" synth, a single potted block, as the 'Screw Works' backend for the Unix
'speak
' command on Unix V1/2/3/4 in 1972/1973. Details of the algorithm were later (1974) described in his paper "Synthetic English speech by rule", Bell Telephone Laboratories Computer Science Technical Report #14, which is available on his personal site's publications page.
1972:
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1973-1975:
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1978
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1980:
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1983:
1984:
1985:
1980:
1981:
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1983:
1983:
1984-96:
2005:
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
area from 1971 to about 1996 It began as a division of Federal Screw Works from 1971 to 1973. In 1974, it was given the Votrax name (taken from the name of its first commercial product, the model VS4 "Votrax") and moved to Troy
Troy, Michigan
Troy is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan, and is a suburb of Detroit. The population was 80,980 at the 2010 census, making it the 11th-largest city in Michigan by population, and the largest city in Oakland County...
and in 1980 split off of its parent company entirely and became 'Votrax International, Inc.', which produced speech products up until 1984.
In 1984, the company declared bankruptcy and restructured itself as a commercial phone/speech auto-answering systems company after downsizing much of the staff. It was somewhat successful in this field, and merged with Vynet Corp., a voice-recognition prompt pioneer, in 1987. It remained Votrax inc. until about 1992, when it was renamed to or otherwise merged with Vysion, Inc., a maker of security cameras and other related devices. It remained 'Vysion Inc.' until the company declared bankruptcy in June 1994 following a court battle patent litigation loss against PATCO inc., and from the remains of the old company, restructured itself as 'Maxxar' inc in 1995. which exists to this day. Maxxar owns the rights to the Votrax name.
History
All the Votrax speech synthesizers owe their existence to the speech synthesizer design created in 1970 by Richard T. Gagnon. After coming up with a viable design scheme in his basement laboratory, Gagnon licensed it to Federal Screw Works, whom he was working for at the time, and they continued development of his original design. This became the "Vocal division of Federal Screw Works."In 1984, Votrax either declared bankruptcy or came close to doing so, and restructured itself as a commercial phone-interface provider, and hence produced no new consumer products. The later commercial-only products are not listed on the below list because literature about these seems to have been of limited distribution and has not yet been found. During the restructuring, much of the existing staff was downsized off, including Tim Gargagliano and Kathryn F. Gargagliano, who along with two other former Votrax employees, Art Velthoven and Dale McDaniel, started Artic Techonologies in 1984. Tim and Kate had earlier written an article about the SC-01 for BYTE Magazine.
In 1987, Votrax merged with Vynet Corp and the product lines of both companies were combined.
Products
Votrax was responsible for designing and manufacturing several important early speech synthesizer back-ends, and several widely used integrated circuitIntegrated circuit
An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit is an electronic circuit manufactured by the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material...
phoneme
Phoneme
In a language or dialect, a phoneme is the smallest segmental unit of sound employed to form meaningful contrasts between utterances....
synthesizers. Votrax produced speech backend modules and cards for various personal computers, and worked with the United States Naval Research Laboratory
United States Naval Research Laboratory
The United States Naval Research Laboratory is the corporate research laboratory for the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps and conducts a program of scientific research and development. NRL opened in 1923 at the instigation of Thomas Edison...
(NRL) to create an extensible speech frontend system. Votrax's speech technology was also used by 3rd parties in several arcade games, Gottlieb System 80 pinball machines, and talking terminals
Computer terminal
A computer terminal is an electronic or electromechanical hardware device that is used for entering data into, and displaying data from, a computer or a computing system...
.
During the 1970s, Votrax produced a series of discrete speech synthesizers, with epoxy-coated boards to thwart people copying their designs. In 1980, they designed and manufactured an integrated circuit
Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit is an electronic circuit manufactured by the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material...
speech synthesizer called the SC-01. This IC proved very popular in the third party market, and was produced until at least 1984. It was succeeded by the somewhat more dynamic SC-02, also known as the SSI-263P. From the beginning of SC-02 production, Silicon Systems Inc. (now part of Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments Inc. , widely known as TI, is an American company based in Dallas, Texas, United States, which develops and commercializes semiconductor and computer technology...
) manufactured the SC-02 chip under the product number SSI-263P, and this was apparently later adopted as the official name of the IC. Votrax continued to intermittently sell SC-01-A and SC-02 synthesis chips, and Personal Speech System text to speech units until at least October, 1990.
Since early in its life, Votrax specialized in making phoneme-based speech synthesizers and text-to-speech algorithms. The popular United States Naval Research Laboratory, or "NRL" text-to-phoneme algorithm
Algorithm
In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm is an effective method expressed as a finite list of well-defined instructions for calculating a function. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing, and automated reasoning...
was developed by a collaboration between Votrax and the NRL in 1973. This algorithm and variants of it were used on a number of text-to-speech devices, such as the votrax type-n-talk, the votrax personal speech system, and the General Instruments CTS256A-AL2 text-to-allophone chip. A good rundown of the NRL algorithm can be found under reference.
Votrax also supplied the SC-02 speech chip used in the amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
'DOVE-OSCAR 17' or 'DOVE' Microsatellite.
M. D. Mcilroy
Douglas McIlroy
Malcolm Douglas McIlroy is a mathematician, engineer, and programmer. As of 2007 he is an Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at Dartmouth College. Dr...
used a "Votrax" branded "Federal Screw Works" synth, a single potted block, as the 'Screw Works' backend for the Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
'speak
Speak (Unix)
speak was a Unix utility that used a predefined set of rules to turn a file of English text into phoneme data compatible with a Federal Screw Works model VS4 "Votrax" Speech Synthesizer. It was first included in Unix v3 and possibly later ones, with the OS-end support files and help files...
' command on Unix V1/2/3/4 in 1972/1973. Details of the algorithm were later (1974) described in his paper "Synthetic English speech by rule", Bell Telephone Laboratories Computer Science Technical Report #14, which is available on his personal site's publications page.
Official
1971:- VS1 (prototype only, Gagnon's personal model)
- VS2 (prototype only)
- VS3 (prototype only)
1972:
- VS4 (first model sold by Federal Screw Works, was sold under the product name "Votrax")
- VS5
- VS6 (design prototypes only)
1973:
1973-1975:
- VS6.1
- VS6.2
- VS6.3
- VS6.G
1975:
- VS6.G2
1977:
- VS6.4
1978
- ML-1 (large rack-mount or standalone unit with four potted boards inside)
- ML-1ES (ML-1 with added Spanish-specific phonemes)
- ML-2ES
1978-1980:
- VSA
- SVA (first self-contained speech synthesizer, with a 6800 core running the NRL frontend)
- VSC
- VSK (smallish potted module, used on an unmarked rs-232 carrier board, among other places. runs on +-12VDC.)
- VSL (smallish potted module, used on an Ohio Scientific expansion board, Model 567 among other places. runs on +-8VDC; almost identical to and interface compatible with VSK)
1980:
- CDS1 (emulation of SC-01 running on a mainframe)
- VSB
- SC-01 (IC, very similar to VSL except all on one chip. Made at least as early as 49th week of '80, and at least as late as the 8th week of '81)
- VSM/1 (SC-01 based, has mc6800 running "voxOS")
- Votrax 'circuit cards' (SC-01 based)
- Speech PAC (SC-01 based) (also mentioned at )
- Type n' Talk
1981:
- SC-01-A (IC, internal ROM change of SC-01, Made at least as early as the 12th week of 1981, and at least as late as the 51st week of 1988)
- Type n' Talk (SC-01-A based later model)
1982:
- Personal Speech System (SC-01-A based)
1983:
- SC-02/SSI-263P (IC, Made at least as early as 3rd week of 1984, at least as late as 6th week of 1984)
1984:
- Votalker IB (IBM PCIBM PCThe IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...
ISA card, SC-02 based) - Votalker AP (Apple IIApple IIThe Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
card, SC-02 based) - Votalker C64 (Commodore 64Commodore 64The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
cartridge, SC-02 based)
1985:
- SSI-263AP (bugfix of SSI-263P, made at least as early as 45th week of 1985 until as late as 35th week 1995, was rebadged in various ways, such as 'Artic 263')
Third party
1979:- Enabling Technologies 'Audibraille' (Simple Microcomputer with 128k mem) (SVA speech core)
1980:
- TandyTandyTandy is the title of a short story by Sherwood Anderson.Tandy is also a name which can refer to:-Tandy Corporation:* Tandy Corporation - a leather supply company which subsequently became the RadioShack Corporation...
/Radio ShackRadio shackRadio shack is a slang term for a room or structure for housing radio equipment.-History:In the early days of radio, equipment was experimental and home-built. The first radio transmitters used a noisy spark to generate radio waves and were often housed in a garage or shed. When radio was first...
'TRS-80 Speech Module' (Slightly stripped down VSL, on a larger circuit board, transition filters are potted) - Maryland Computer Services 'Total Talk' (Modified HP-2621 Terminal) (VSB + McIlroyDouglas McIlroyMalcolm Douglas McIlroy is a mathematician, engineer, and programmer. As of 2007 he is an Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at Dartmouth College. Dr...
algorithm) - Automated Functions 'VERT' (VSB + McIlroyDouglas McIlroyMalcolm Douglas McIlroy is a mathematician, engineer, and programmer. As of 2007 he is an Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at Dartmouth College. Dr...
algorithm) - Triformatlon System 'FSST-3' (Modified Zenith Z-19 Terminal) (VSA + NRL algorithm)
- IBMIBMInternational Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
'Audio Typing unit' - GottliebGottliebGottlieb was an arcade game corporation based in Chicago, Illinois. The company was established by David Gottlieb in 1927, initially producing pinball machines while later expanding into various other games including pitch-and-bats, bowling games, and eventually video arcade games .Like other...
PinballPinballPinball is a type of arcade game, usually coin-operated, where a player attempts to score points by manipulating one or more metal balls on a playfield inside a glass-covered case called a pinball machine. The primary objective of the game is to score as many points as possible...
Machines (SC-01) - MidwayMidway GamesMidway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
Wizard Of WorWizard Of WorWizard of Wor is an arcade game from 1981 , developed by Midway. Other systems it was ported to include the Atari 800, Commodore 64, the Atari 2600, Atari 5200 and the Bally Astrocade as "The Incredible Wizard". The title of the game is often misspelled as "Wizard of War"...
Arcade machine (SC-01) - Phonic Mirror 'Handy Voice' (SC-01)
1981:
- Microvox/Intex Talker (SC-01-A)
- Alien Group Voice Synthesizer
- MidwayMidway GamesMidway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
GorfGorfGorf is an arcade game released in 1981 by Midway Mfg., whose name was advertised as an acronym for "Galactic Orbiting Robot Force". It is a multiple-mission fixed shooter with five distinct modes of play, essentially making it five games in one...
Arcade machine (SC-01) - GottliebGottliebGottlieb was an arcade game corporation based in Chicago, Illinois. The company was established by David Gottlieb in 1927, initially producing pinball machines while later expanding into various other games including pitch-and-bats, bowling games, and eventually video arcade games .Like other...
ReactorReactor (arcade game)Reactor is a raster video arcade game released in 1982 by Gottlieb. The object of the game is to cool down the reactor core without being hurled by magnetism and repulsion by enemy swarms of nuclear particles...
Arcade machine
1982:
- GottliebGottliebGottlieb was an arcade game corporation based in Chicago, Illinois. The company was established by David Gottlieb in 1927, initially producing pinball machines while later expanding into various other games including pitch-and-bats, bowling games, and eventually video arcade games .Like other...
Q*bert Arcade machine - Alpha Products 'VS100' (for TRS-80TRS-80TRS-80 was Tandy Corporation's desktop microcomputer model line, sold through Tandy's Radio Shack stores in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The first units, ordered unseen, were delivered in November 1977, and rolled out to the stores the third week of December. The line won popularity with...
Model III) (SC-01-A) - Sweet Micro Systems 'MockingboardMockingboardThe Mockingboard is a sound card for the Apple II family of microcomputers built by Sweet Micro Systems. The standard Apple II machines never had particularly good sound, especially when compared to competitors like the SID chip-enabled Commodore 64...
Speech I' and 'Sound/Speech I' (SC-01-A)
1983:
- Sweet Micro Systems 'MockingboardMockingboardThe Mockingboard is a sound card for the Apple II family of microcomputers built by Sweet Micro Systems. The standard Apple II machines never had particularly good sound, especially when compared to competitors like the SID chip-enabled Commodore 64...
' B & C (SC-02/SSI-263P)
1983:
- TecmarTecmarTecmar was an American manufacturer of PC enhancement products based in Solon, OH. The company was founded in 1974 and their first products were data acquisition boards for the first generation of microcomputers. Popular products included the Scientific Solutions LabMaster series of boards for...
'PC-Mate Speech Master' ISA card (SC-01-A + National SemiconductorNational SemiconductorNational Semiconductor was an American semiconductor manufacturer, that specialized in analog devices and subsystems,formerly headquartered in Santa Clara, California, USA. The products of National Semiconductor included power management circuits, display drivers, audio and operational amplifiers,...
Digitalker)
1984-96:
- Artic technologies (several cards using SC-01-A and SC-02 and SSI-263AP, rebadged as "artic 263")
2005:
Patents
- US Patent 3,836,717 (32 phonemes, VS1/2 prototypes)
- US Patent 3,908,085 (64 phonemes, VS4/VS5/VS6)
- US Patent 4,128,737 (128 phonemes, ML-1 series)
- US Patent 4,130,730 (64 phonemes, VS6 series)
- US Patent 4,264,783 (64 phonemes, VS6 series)
- US Patent 4,301,328 (128 phonemes, ML-1 series)
- US Patent RE30,991 (reissue of 4,130,730)
- US Patent 4,532,495 (A speech encoding system, 4-bit DPCM Variant)
- US Patent 4,470,150 (64 phonemes, VS6 series)
- US Patent 4,433,210 (64 phonemes, SC-01)
- US Patent 4,829,573 (64 phonemes, SC-01 emulation using a 6511 microprocessor (a Rockwell derivative of the MOS Technology 6502MOS Technology 6502The MOS Technology 6502 is an 8-bit microprocessor that was designed by Chuck Peddle and Bill Mensch for MOS Technology in 1975. When it was introduced, it was the least expensive full-featured microprocessor on the market by a considerable margin, costing less than one-sixth the price of...
) - International Patents CA1124865, CA1124866, CA1171179, DE2840596, CH625900
External links
- Gagnon's IEEE paper describing the basics behind 'votrax speech'
- DEC PDP-11 impmenentation of NRL algorithm
- Intelligibility comparison of Votrax VS6 and ML-1 versus MITalk and an LPC algorithm
- Office voice response system using a Votrax SVA
- NASA/Sensory Aids Foundation Blind Programmable Calculator using Votrax VS-6, 1977
- Rueter's ACM paper on APL programming a "Votrax" (VS4) unit
- Votrax SC-01-A connected to the internet: send your own phoneme data and hear it spoken
- Votrax ML-1 Reverse-engineering
- Votrax SC-02 datasheet cover
- BYTE magazine article by two Votrax Employees who later married, left the company in 1983 and along with a few other former Votrax employees started ARTIC Technologies
- Alternate version of one of the sources
