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Darth Vader needs a voice help!!!!!! — Parallax Forums

Darth Vader needs a voice help!!!!!!

ydeardorffydeardorff Posts: 38
edited 2006-02-04 00:39 in BASIC Stamp
Hello to all,
I am an unoffical star wars geek, and on a budget. I have purchased a collectors edition Darth Vader Costume. This costume is absolutley awesome however it has one short fall,...no voice.

I need a fairly inexpensive alternative to create a real time (VOX·with speaker noise cancellation) voice changer that is portable and can run on say 9v batteries.
This unit can either be loaded with pots (potentiometers) to be adjusted manually, or be programmable through a serial or USB interface to a computer via programs like sony sound forge, or cooledit.

Even components that can be splice together to recreate james earl jones voice from mine is acceptable. Ive been to ITT so soldering is cake for me I just need to know how and where to solder the connections, and where to get the parts I need.
Can anyone help? The voice doesnt have to be perfect, but as close as possible would be preferred!

I have found one company already doing this, but Im not paying 500 USD for it. I have some money to spend but not that much!

Please send me all your ideas! I really need some help here!!!

Comments

  • Steve JoblinSteve Joblin Posts: 784
    edited 2006-02-03 21:14
    I would go with a sound clip approach...·check out these for starters...
    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=31308
    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=27967
    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30074

    Then add a BS2, an amp and a speaker
  • ydeardorffydeardorff Posts: 38
    edited 2006-02-03 21:28
    Well I called customer service on the items you listed and they tech is familiar with what I am trying to do. He said the controller board and add on chip are for text to speech. Pre-recording is an option but the last option after all others have been exhausted, as I would like to be able to be able to actually talk in the costume, that way conversations are easier lol.

    Thanks for the input, please keep the ideas coming!
  • Steve JoblinSteve Joblin Posts: 784
    edited 2006-02-03 21:39
    Back in 2003, James Earl Jones spoke at University Union for a fee of $32,200. The article indicates that it was not hard to arrange this... the Events Coordinator simply contacted Jones' agent. You could simply have him stand behind you and talk.

    Here is the article... http://www.dailyorange.com/media/paper522/news/2003/10/17/News/James.Earl.Jones.To.Lecture.About.Cultures.Interaction.With.Individuals-531718.shtml?norewrite&sourcedomain=www.dailyorange.com

    Although this is a valid idea, my sense is that it might be about $32,150 over your budget... I'll think on it some more...
  • Ryan ClarkeRyan Clarke Posts: 738
    edited 2006-02-03 22:30
    Have you considered looking at modifications to some of the toy voice changers already on the market?

    Ryan

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    Ryan Clarke
    Parallax Tech Support

    RClarke@Parallax.com
  • KenLemKenLem Posts: 94
    edited 2006-02-03 22:34
    Grasshopper, seek toy store.· You're not the only one that wants to sound like Vader.

    Hasbro makes nice Darth Vader Voice Changer mask for $29.99.· You can find it at any walmart or toy 'r us.· As you can see in the picture, the helmet has a lower button panel where all the action takes place.· You could with wear this mask in place of the one you have or if you don't like the looks of the mask compared to the one you already have, you could rip out the electronics from the Hasbro mask cobble it into your costume.

    http://www.hasbro.com/pl/page.viewproduct/product_id.15397/dn/starwars/default.cfm

    You'll have more fun if you can speak and have Darth's voice come out.

    Oh yea, depending on where you live you might want to get the english version of the mask.· Not sure why a voice change comes in different languages but it might have pre-recorded sounds of the real thing.

    Be sure take pictures if you do rip it apart. We all love a good show!

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    www.speechchips.com

    Speech & Video IC's for BasicStamps
  • ydeardorffydeardorff Posts: 38
    edited 2006-02-03 22:48
    I have one of these and the voice change function really suck for what Im looking for
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2006-02-03 23:05
    Seriously --·I'm biting my tongue.

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    When you get 1st Place in the "Darwin Awards", you're a Winner & a Loser.
  • T&E EngineerT&E Engineer Posts: 1,396
    edited 2006-02-03 23:12
    Look at the "Customer Applications" 1/2 way down at http://www.sxvm.com/

    I interfaced an ISD25120 (2 minute voice chip - "own voice") with a BS2 for a Real Time Clock and Video display application. If you have a recording of Darth Vader or want to record your own rendition, this approach will allow you to create 1 or many voice clips up to 2 minutes in length.

    Thanks.
  • Ryan ClarkeRyan Clarke Posts: 738
    edited 2006-02-03 23:17
    Yes, but if pre-recorded solutions are what the final decision is, the AP-8 is perfect.
    www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=31308

    Ryan

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    Ryan Clarke
    Parallax Tech Support

    RClarke@Parallax.com
  • T&E EngineerT&E Engineer Posts: 1,396
    edited 2006-02-03 23:37
    I agree Ryan.

    Both approaches uses a similar ISD chip (mine 2 minutes - AP8 1 minute).

    However, Parallax provides a simple 1 stop shop approach with their AP8.

    Good call.
  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2006-02-04 00:39
    And if you can tolerate the reduced audio quality of the 25120, you can pop it into the AP-8 (swap it for the 2560).

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
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