SSL Scat-Talker Exploration #1

http://tinyurl.com/npdqhok Hurry and get 25%off at SSL
More info at http://steamsynth.com/shop/moog-unit-modules/scat-talker-mu-model-1420/ 0:00 - The Scat-Talker is a new limited edition module that contains a library of phonemes which can be selected by CV and Gate inputs with 1v/Octave pitch tracking. Words are formed by sequencing the phonemes. 0:21 - The SSL Scat-Talker is a single MU width 5U tall module for modular synthesizers 0:33 - Contained within the Scat-Talker is a lookup table of human speech 'phonemes', the smallest unit of speech that makes words sound different from each other. 0:47 - These phonemes can be selected under voltage control and be sequenced in an order that produces recognizable words or 'invented' and gibberish words 1:01 - The top of the module has a backlit display that shows which phoneme is currently selected including a usage example word and list number for handy reference. 1:12 - The PHONEME selection knob selects the phoneme but the output won't change until a gate input is received or 'HAL' button pushed. 1:25 - The PITCH knob sets the initial pitch/frequency and the PITCH AMT knob sets the amount of PITCH CV input. 1:37 - The HAL 9000 button activates the currently selected phoneme and flashes red when pushed or a Gate input is received if the selection has changed. 1:48 - This intro section has effects on it provided by Strymon DIG and BigSky pedals. While the dry output of the SSL Scat-Talker is interesting and fun, the module really shines with external processing. 2:03 - When first powered on and all controls counterclockwise, the output will sound like this. Most phonemes are constantly output except for certain short and more percussive ones. 2:12 - The pitch range is quite wide. The upper limit is reached a little past the 8 mark, normal sounding pitches are had somewhere between the 6 and 7 mark. 2:37 - There are 63 available phonemes including silence and the 64th position is the factory demo. 3:00 - The output won't change until the 'HAL' button gets pushed or a gate input is received and there is a new phoneme selected. 3:35 - Applying a control voltage to the PHON CV input selects phonemes. 4:04 - The display can't keep up with fast modulation sources. 4:24 - Although, chimpanzees could probably keep up! https://youtu.be/zsXP8qeFF6A 5:03 - Applying a wide range modulation CV to the 1V/OCT input probably isn't that useful since it will create out of range pitches. 5:45 - Using the PITCH CV input makes more sense with modulation sources since this input is attenuated by the PITCH AMT control pot. 6:03 - Nice 'singing' vibrato from a sine or triangle LFO. 6:37 - Here I'm taking the CV and Gate output from one 8 step row of a Moon 569 sequencer to get the Scat-Talker to say its own name. 6:59 - Fun and useful to shift recognizable phrases into something more interesting using the PHONEME control. 7:30 - The ACTIVE output is not a parallel output of the GATE input jack. A gate is only output when the phoneme selection has been changed since the last GATE input or button press. 7:52 - Using the ACTIVE output to fire an ADSR that is controlling a VCF that is filtering the Scat-Talker's audio output. 8:26 - Using the sequencer to 'speak' but using a keyboard to play the notes I want it to 'sing' using the 1V/OCT input. 9:04 - Disconnected the sequencer and using the CV and gate output of the keyboard to control the pitch and gating of the Scat-Talker set to a static phoneme. 9:19 - Scat-Talker responds nicely to pitch bend. 9:32 - Interesting to mult the keyboard CV to both the PHON CV and 1V/OCT inputs. 9:52 - Experimenting using a keyboard with arpeggiator to sequence some short words. Worked well for quickly finding recognizable or interesting phoneme groups. 10:08 - The COTK C951 arpeggiator module worked well to sound phonemes in the order played and also easily reverse the order. 10:24 - The Scat-Talker contains English language phonemes but there are many common phonemes shared between different languages. 10:37 - I didn't attempt other languages but many words may be possible? English spoken with various accents are doable. 10:55 - Shush, Hush? A moment of silence then! 11:31 - For the next minute and a half some singing with vibrato experiments. 12:38 - A high frequency artifact becomes apparent when the pitch is brought down to an unnatural range. 12:50 - This tone is interesting as part of the 'sound' but could be low pass filtered out. 13:07 - Picturing Popeye or other cartoon character being punched like a speed bag here! 13:17 - Mostly some sound effect experiments for the next minute or so. 14:32 - Some droning stuff with Scat-Talker processed through Strymon pedals again and random video clips for fun. 17:02 - This last section is the output of the Scat-Talker through a COTK C1660 Phase Processor 17:47 - The limited edition Synthetic Sound Labs Scat-Talker is available now!