Gauntlet 2: Speak to me!

Vongoosewink

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 7, 2011
Messages
2,337
Reaction score
60
Location
Indiana
Hey gang,

I've been working this week on my Gauntlet 2 machine. The speech is not working, though all the sound effects and music play properly. In fact, when the speech is supposed to happen (like when a new player enters the game), instead of hearing "Welcome, Elf" you hear a faint popping and crackle during the time it should be speaking.

I thought this would be an easy fix, so I just ordered the speech chip from acadecomponents.com, and it came today -- I installed it in place of the old chip. But the problem persists, still no speech!

Anyone out there familiar with this problem, or have any insight that might be helpful? Gauntlet is just not the same without the voice of the Dungeon Master!
 
I don't have a Gauntlet... but I want it one day, so I have a copy of the schems handy.

It looks to me like the output of the speech chip (TMS5220) is first amplified by the LM324 @ 13/14U before being mixed with the rest of the audio. LM324s are so common, even Radio Shack still stocks them... so I'd probably try that guy first.

There's also a bilateral switch (4066B) at 14/15U, that the voice goes through; as well as a coupling cap (C41). But I still think the LM324 is a likely culprit.
 
I don't have a Gauntlet... but I want it one day, so I have a copy of the schems handy.

It looks to me like the output of the speech chip (TMS5220) is first amplified by the LM324 @ 13/14U before being mixed with the rest of the audio. LM324s are so common, even Radio Shack still stocks them... so I'd probably try that guy first.

There's also a bilateral switch (4066B) at 14/15U, that the voice goes through; as well as a coupling cap (C41). But I still think the LM324 is a likely culprit.

Thanks Darren, I'll swing by a Radio Shack and try this tonight! For $1.99 it is certainly worth a try!
 
I don't know if you have good IC sockets (dual wipe or machine pin) or if Radio Shack stocks them (or if they do, whether they suck or not)...

...but I highly recommend socketing any time you remove an IC (as opposed to soldering new components directly onto the PCB). Doin so makes any future replacments a piece of cake, and minimizes repeated soldering cycles to those pads. It also prevents any potential heat damage to the new IC. Just be sure you install a high quality socket.
 
I don't know if you have good IC sockets (dual wipe or machine pin) or if Radio Shack stocks them (or if they do, whether they suck or not)...

...but I highly recommend socketing any time you remove an IC (as opposed to soldering new components directly onto the PCB). Doin so makes any future replacments a piece of cake, and minimizes repeated soldering cycles to those pads. It also prevents any potential heat damage to the new IC. Just be sure you install a high quality socket.

Hey Darren, I'm kind of a newbie at this, I'm afraid I didn't understand any of this!

Doesn't the chip just pull out/push in?
 
Far from all ICs (integrated circuits, fancy-talk for "chips") are socketed, and thus pull-out & push-in. Apparently the TMS5220 was. A socket is the thing that an IC goes into. One looks like this:
260581968425_0.jpg


Many (most) ICs are typically NOT socketed, but instead soldered directly to the PCB (printed circuit board) without a socket like this:
chip1.jpg


If you are very lucky, your LM324 may be socketed. I don't have a Gaunlet PCB, so I don't really know if they were from the factory, but my gut tells me... doubtful.

If it is soldered directly to the PCB, you'll need to remove the old IC, solder in a socket, then pop your new IC into the socket. Read up on how you might do this here: http://www.pinrepair.com/begin/index.htm#howdesold

You'll need some basic soldering and desoldering equipment:
http://www.pinrepair.com/begin/index.htm#station
http://www.pinrepair.com/begin/index.htm#desolder
 
OK, I got the chip, but I don't know which one to replace (the board has several LM324's). I could take a picture of the board, if that would help?

You were right, it will require soldering, they are on good!
 
Look on the PCB, around the edges. Are the letter and numbers indicating row and column? Usually one edge has A, B...etc and another edge as 1, 2.. etc. Together, they can point you to a "coordinate" on the PCB.
 
That LM324 not fix it for you? (saw in your other thread that you were looking for a new PCB)
 
I have the chip from Radio Shack, but it doesn't have a socket so I still need to get a solder/desoldering setup to try the swap... looking for a good deal on one in Indy now. I'm going to try it, I'm just preparing for the worst-case scenario (Headline: Indianapolis Man Burns Down House In Freak Soldering Accident ... "it looked so easy", he was heard to say, as they wheeled him away on the gurney.)
 
Yeah, if you've never soldered/desoldered before, probably better to learn on something other than a Gauntlet PCB.

Indy's a pretty big city, is the an arcade & pinball collector comminity locally you could tap into?
 
To be honest the TM speech synth chip is a far more likely candidate for the cause of the fault. That is socketed too!
 
To be honest the TM speech synth chip is a far more likely candidate for the cause of the fault. That is socketed too!

I understood the OP as having said he'd alread replaced that, and it didn't fix the problem.
 
Yeah, if you've never soldered/desoldered before, probably better to learn on something other than a Gauntlet PCB.

Indy's a pretty big city, is the an arcade & pinball collector comminity locally you could tap into?

I have an uncle who's put together a lot of computer boards back in the 'do-it-yourself' days of the early 1980s, and he's graciously agreed to supervise the chip replacement surgery this weekend. The patient is worried, but he has put all of his affairs in order, just in case. Thanks for everyone's concern and well-wishes. I'll let everyone know how the patient is doing as soon as we know something.
 
Far from all ICs (integrated circuits, fancy-talk for "chips") are socketed, and thus pull-out & push-in. Apparently the TMS5220 was. A socket is the thing that an IC goes into. One looks like this:
260581968425_0.jpg


Many (most) ICs are typically NOT socketed, but instead soldered directly to the PCB (printed circuit board) without a socket like this:
chip1.jpg


If you are very lucky, your LM324 may be socketed. I don't have a Gaunlet PCB, so I don't really know if they were from the factory, but my gut tells me... doubtful.

If it is soldered directly to the PCB, you'll need to remove the old IC, solder in a socket, then pop your new IC into the socket. Read up on how you might do this here: http://www.pinrepair.com/begin/index.htm#howdesold

You'll need some basic soldering and desoldering equipment:
http://www.pinrepair.com/begin/index.htm#station
http://www.pinrepair.com/begin/index.htm#desolder

So, I don't have to solder in a socket, right? I could just solder in the new chip in place of the old one?
 
Correct. You do not "have to" install a socket. It'll work just fine soldered directly to the PCB.

You may have seen the recent thread discussing the pros and cons of socketing. The board belongs to you. It is your decision. It really isn't a huge deal either way. Putting it in oriented properly is much more important. Not buring up the PCB and lifting a bunch of traces/pads is more important.




I'd socket it :p
 
Hey Darren,

Just need a clarification, I posted an image from the board here:



I think you mean the chip labeled "A", but I wanted to make sure -- chip "B" is about the same coordinates, and is also an LM324. So, A or B?

The picture is just the bottom right corner of the board.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
just a piece of advice on removing the old chip. Your uncle may or may not suggest this. Personally unless it's a must that I save the old chip I will cut the legs off the chip on the board that I'm about to desolder. That way you are only removing one leg at a time. Trying to remove the chip whole makes it pretty easy to accidentally lift the pads which you need to solder to to keep the new chips in place. It's not impossible to remove the chip whole but it can be a pain.
 
Ok, here's the update: I've replaced chip "A" in the image above, and there is still no speech.

We did a pretty clean job of it as well, so I don't think there was a problem with the transplant. Anyone have any other ideas?
 
Back
Top Bottom