Q*Bert no speech

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Hey all,

I'm trying to get my restored Q*Bert machine working 100% electronically. Right now I have zero speech from the game, but all other sounds seem to be there. From the info I've found online, my thought is to replace the SC01 speech chip, but being that it's hard to find and pricey for one chip, I was wondering if there is anything else I might want to check first. It would really suck if I had any kind of problem that would kill a working SC01 assuming that's the problem. Since the sound is working otherwise, hopefully that wouldn't be the case.
 
May be a silly question but did you try adjusting the two volume controls on the speech board?

Bill

Hey all,

I'm trying to get my restored Q*Bert machine working 100% electronically. Right now I have zero speech from the game, but all other sounds seem to be there. From the info I've found online, my thought is to replace the SC01 speech chip, but being that it's hard to find and pricey for one chip, I was wondering if there is anything else I might want to check first. It would really suck if I had any kind of problem that would kill a working SC01 assuming that's the problem. Since the sound is working otherwise, hopefully that wouldn't be the case.
 
You know I'll have to double check those to be sure. I think I may have messed with them at one point, but that was a while ago.
 
While we're on the subject, does anyone work on Q*Bert sound boards and/or cpu boards? I feel like I can fix the speech issue, but the main cpu has an issue and it may be more than I can troubleshoot.
 
Contact riptor and get a rebuilt soundboard, solved all my problems. he also recently had some main boards. Money well spent.
 
I read somewhere that the Votrax analog speech chip used to make the voice is hard to come by.
 
I read somewhere that the Votrax analog speech chip used to make the voice is hard to come by.
Yeah I've seen them for sale but at $50 a pop! I remember when mikesarcade.com had them for something like $20 and I kick myself for waiting to buy one. I guess I can't say for certain that my SC01 speech chip is bad. I think I'll PM riptor and see what he has. Maybe he'll do some kind of trade in of my non-working boards.
 
I have beet told by the person who repaired mine that the speech chips rarely go out and that several other components on the sound board are more likely to go bad. He fixed mine without replacing the speech chip, but did replace the amp and several other chips and now it works fine. He usually sells rebuilt sound boards for $80. i will have to look for his contact info if you want it as it was a while back.
Terry
 
Yeah I've seen them for sale but at $50 a pop! I remember when mikesarcade.com had them for something like $20 and I kick myself for waiting to buy one. I guess I can't say for certain that my SC01 speech chip is bad. I think I'll PM riptor and see what he has. Maybe he'll do some kind of trade in of my non-working boards.


Slightly cheaper here: http://mysite.verizon.net/res8aiig/ICparts/ICparts.htm#SC01A
Esp if you buy multiples. I think I paid $30-odd a pop a year or two ago.

Yeah, I wouldn't assume, or jump to the conclusion, that the SC01 is the problem. I have a Black Hole pin, but I bet the Q*Bert sound board is similar (also Gottlieb)... The BH unit has a 6502 and a RIOT (6532), which are much cheaper and (IMHO) more likely candidates (esp. the RIOT). Also suspect the output amp.

Whoa, I just found a TIFF of the Q*Bert board, and it looks identical to the System80 Sound/Speech board used in Black Hole. In that case, you might want to read over this: http://www.pinrepair.com/sys80/s80sound.htm
 
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