moddict - Phonemer

Phonemer is a rather special Eurorack speech synthesizer that turns words, text and individual phonemes into playable sound. Inspired by the unmistakable voices of early text-to-speech computers [insert LFO's "We Are Back"…], it combines real-time formant synthesis with modern speech processing, a vocoder, polyphonic synthesis and a substantial effects section. It can sound like an old computer struggling to communicate, a synthetic choir, or something that has given up on language altogether…

There is certainly no shortage of things for Phonemer to say. Its built-in dictionary contains around 144,000 words, which can be spoken individually, selected randomly or arranged into custom lists. You can also connect a USB keyboard and type whatever comes to mind, let Markov chains generate sentence-like phrases, or use Lettrism mode to assemble wonderfully meaningless combinations of phonemes. Speech speed, intonation, accent and emotional character are adjustable, and there's even a Classic mode that recreates the familiar artificial delivery of 1980s speech computers. Four-voice polyphony, microtonal tuning and a vocoder with internal or external carrier signals take things further into synthesizer territory.

Moddict has also paid plenty of attention to modulation. Four CV inputs, three Macro controls and four internal LFOs can each address eight parameters, with individual attenuation settings. You can trigger whole words or step through individual phonemes, animate the voice with CV and process everything through several effects at once. Presets and reversible Live switches make complex changes manageable during a performance. Definitely one of the more elaborate approaches to speech synthesis we've come across in Eurorack!

Features:

• Real-time formant speech synthesizer for Eurorack
• Classic mode inspired by 1980s text-to-speech systems
• Built-in pronunciation dictionary with approximately 144,000 words
• USB keyboard input for entering words and text
• Random word generation, Markov-chain phrases and Lettrism mode
• Adjustable speech speed, brightness, prosody and emotional character
• Four-voice polyphonic mode with chord memories and microtonal tuning
• Vocoder and VoSinger modes
• Internal carrier oscillator with wavefolding and external carrier input
• Automatic, Trigger, Gate and individual phoneme triggering modes
• Four CV inputs, three Macro knobs and four internal LFOs
• Eight assignable modulation destinations per source
• Extensive simultaneous effects including delay, granular delay, reverb, modulation effects and distortion
• Freeze, Tape Stop, Reverse and Scratch performance effects
• Up to 100 presets and 99 custom word lists
• Reversible Live switches for instant parameter changes
• High-resolution grayscale OLED display
• USB host support for keyboards and memory sticks