Editing Software Automatic Mouth

{{Short description|1982 speech synthesis program}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox software
| name                   = Software Automatic Mouth
| logo                   = <!-- Image name is enough -->
| logo alt               = 
| screenshot             = Samcover.jpg
| caption                = Atari cover for Software Automatic Mouth
| screenshot alt         = 
| collapsible            = 
| author                 = Mark Barton<ref name=intodemo>[http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?project=Macintosh&story=Intro_Demo.txt It Sure Is Great To Get Out Of That Bag!], Author: Andy Hertzfeld, Date: January 1984, Folklore.org</ref>
| developer              = Don’t Ask Software
| released               = {{Start date and age|1982}}
| discontinued           = 
| latest release version = 
| latest release date    = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| latest preview version = 
| latest preview date    = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| programming language   = 
| operating system       = 
| platform               = [[Apple II]], [[Apple Lisa|Lisa]], [[Atari 8-bit]], [[Commodore 64]].
| size                   = 
| language               = 
| language count         = <!-- Number only -->
| language footnote      = 
| genre                  = [[Speech synthesis]]
| license                = 
| alexa                  = 
| website                = <!--{{URL|example.org}}-->
| standard               = 
| AsOf                   = 
}}
[[File:C64 Software Automatic Mouth demo.flac|thumb|A demo of SAM on the C64]]

'''Software Automatic Mouth''', or S.A.M. (sometimes abbreviated as SAM), is a [[speech synthesis]] program developed by Mark Barton and sold by Don't Ask Software. The program was released for the [[Atari 8-bit computers]], [[Apple II]], and [[Commodore 64]]. Released in 1982, it was one of the first commercial all-software voice-synthesis programs.{{Citation needed|date=December 2019}}

Don't Ask Software also sold ''PokerSAM'', a poker game with speech,<ref>{{cite web |title=PokerSAM |url=http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-pokersam_4036.html |website=Atari Mania}}</ref> and also licensed out the S.A.M. engine for use with other games, such as ''Tales of the Arabian Nights'' for the [[Commodore 64]].

==Technology  ==
The Apple version uses an included expansion card which contains an 8-bit [[Digital-to-analog converter|DAC]], although hackers created a modified version of S.A.M. which can instead use the computer's one-bit audio output (with the addition of much distortion) if the card is not present.{{Citation needed|date=December 2019}} The Atari version makes use of the embedded [[POKEY]] audio chip. Speech playback on the Atari normally disables interrupt requests and shuts down the [[ANTIC]] chip during vocal output. The audible output is extremely distorted speech when graphic and text display is turned on. The Commodore 64 makes use of the 64's embedded [[MOS Technology SID|SID]] audio chip's 4-bit volume [[Digital-to-analog converter|DAC]], reducing its quality significantly vs the Apple and Atari versions.{{Citation needed|date=December 2019}} When producing speech, the Commodore 64 version blanks the screen as the program accesses memory, although a "light" mode can be activated that leaves the screen active, producing a "gravelly" voice. Active sprites also cause a deterioration in the quality of voice output.<ref name="personalcomputernews19840602_sam">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/mag_PersonalComputerNews063-02Jun1984/page/n37/mode/1up | title=SAM speaks out | magazine=Personal Computer News | last1=Conway | first1=Barbara | date=2 June 1984 | access-date=20 December 2024 | pages=36 }}</ref>

==Legacy==
S.A.M. was used as the basis for the original [[PlainTalk#Original MacinTalk|MacInTalk]] speech synthesis software.<ref name="intodemo" />

The technology was recreated for the voice of the character of "SAM" in the software [[Chipspeech]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/chipspeech/status/885160064402763776 link]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040716073728/http://web.inter.nl.net/hcc/davies/mvatappl.html Speech Synthesizers for Atari and Apple] magazine review
* [http://www.cyberroach.com/analog/an22/spelling_sam.htm Spelling.SAM] an [[Atari BASIC]] spelling program
* [http://www.retrobits.net/atari/sam.shtml SAM manual] reproduction of the Atari version manual<!--Note: link is now updated and working with new URL)-->
* [http://simulationcorner.net/index.php?page=sam Analysis of SAM] translated version to C and executable for Windows
* [https://discordier.github.io/sam/ Run SAM in the Browser] translated version to native [[JavaScript]]
* [https://github.com/nietoperz809/JavaSam/tree/master] SAM as JAVA class file for the JVM
* [https://archive.org/details/Mark-Barton-Software-Automatic-Mouth/Mark+Barton+320.mp3 2020 Interview with Mark Barton about S.A.M.]

{{Speech synthesis}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1982 software]]
[[Category:Apple II software]]
[[Category:Atari 8-bit computer software]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 software]]
[[Category:Speech synthesis software]]