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Voice Modulator IC - HT8950

Replacement: None. We are no longer carrying these ICs in our catalog. This page is for reference only.

Want to sound like a robot? The HT8950 is a single chip CMOS LSI voice modulator ICs which provide seven steps to shift the frequency of an input voice, producing a dramatic change in the output.

The HT8950 provides two special effects: vibrato and robot. The vibrato effect is generated by alternating the frequency of an input signal up and down at a rate of 8Hz. The robot function, on the other hand, converts an input voice into a robot voice. Both effects can be selected depending on which pin is triggered, either ROB or VIB. For the output frequency level shifting, the chips provide seven steps which can be selected from the two groups of pins namely, SW0, SW1 and SW2 for electronic direct selection and ROB, TGD, TGU and VIB for push button selection.

The HT8950 include a built-in microphone amplifier with an internal bias, an 8-bit A/D converter, a built-in SRAM as well as a current output type 8-bit D/A converter. The 8-bit A/D and D/A converters with a sampling rate of 8kHz ensures a high quality and high S/N ratio output voice. The chips provide an LED indicator which flashes in accordance with the volume of the input voices.

  • Operating voltage: 2.4V~4.0V
  • On-chip SRAM
  • Robot function
  • Vibrato function
  • 8kHz sampling rate
  • 7-step level shifting
  • 8-bit A/D and D/A converters
  • LED indicator with voice level
  • Push button selection or electronic mode
  • Minimal external components

Voice Modulator IC - HT8950 Product Help and Resources

Core Skill: Soldering

This skill defines how difficult the soldering is on a particular product. It might be a couple simple solder joints, or require special reflow tools.

2 Soldering

Skill Level: Rookie - The number of pins increases, and you will have to determine polarity of components and some of the components might be a bit trickier or close together. You might need solder wick or flux.
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Core Skill: Programming

If a board needs code or communicates somehow, you're going to need to know how to program or interface with it. The programming skill is all about communication and code.

2 Programming

Skill Level: Rookie - You will need a better fundamental understand of what code is, and how it works. You will be using beginner-level software and development tools like Arduino. You will be dealing directly with code, but numerous examples and libraries are available. Sensors or shields will communicate with serial or TTL.
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Core Skill: Electrical Prototyping

If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.

3 Electrical Prototyping

Skill Level: Competent - You will be required to reference a datasheet or schematic to know how to use a component. Your knowledge of a datasheet will only require basic features like power requirements, pinouts, or communications type. Also, you may need a power supply that?s greater than 12V or more than 1A worth of current.
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Comments

Looking for answers to technical questions?

We welcome your comments and suggestions below. However, if you are looking for solutions to technical questions please see our Technical Assistance page.

  • We are working on a video for it as we speak (in robot voices of course). We'll show you what it can do.

    • So, you guys get around to making that video (in robot voices) yet? I searched Voice Modulator on your YouTube channel and came up empty!

  • BeerCannon / about 11 years ago * / 2

    Has anyone managed to get this IC to work in an actual project? I tried one of the sample circuits in the datasheet and got nowhere. Oddly, there's a "TS" pin that the datasheet says is "For IC Test Only", yet every one of their example circuits has a boatload of connections to this pin. From the description, I would think it was a "no connection" unless you were making some sort of test point on a board. In fact, on the example circuits, the only path from VCC to the chip's VDD pin is via all the stuff they have connected to the TS pin. Somebody please shed some light on this thing!

  • craque / about 13 years ago / 2

    i have this chip in a eurorack module prototype, modifying various things and working on filters, but i can report to y'all that it is an immensely fun chip with incredible possibilities - i'm working on controlling the momentary pins and audio range with CV. :)

  • Can we have BOTH FX AT 1NCE?!

  • devangel77b / about 14 years ago / 2

    Can it do Peter Frampton + Dalek?

    • Segphalt / about 13 years ago / 2

      AD633 with a 24-32hz sine or triangle wave fed into the the carrier (various chips for this) and a mic into the other inputs + a amp and a few passive components make a good ring modulator for the Dalek voice.

    • Pearce / about 14 years ago / 1

      Sadly, no.

      • doobie / about 13 years ago / 1

        Dang, I was about to order one until I read this comment :(

  • Member #4553 / about 12 years ago / 1

    Hey guys, if I already have the bob mic https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9964 and mono amp https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11044, do I just bypass all the stuff in the datasheet? Do I just go from the AUD pin on the mic to the Ain pin on the HT8950? And the same for the Audio pin on HT8950 to IN on the amp? Then just hook up regulated power, 2 pots for Frequency and Vibrato, and four switches?

  • PresidentOfAwesomeness / about 14 years ago / 1

    Aw man, sampling rate only 8kHz... so will the frequency output start folding down past 3999 kHz because of the Nyquist effect, or is there internal protection for that, to mute those sounds above 3999 kHz?

    • The mic amp feedback is brought out (pin A0) so you can create a low pass input filter (see the datasheet example circuits).
      This chip (or it's little 16 pin brother) is available in various kits that include the microphone, switches, audio output amplifier, etc. (e.g. the Vellman MK171 which is about $13).

  • DMKitsch / about 14 years ago / 1

    A few audio samples would be nice

  • EliTheIceMan / about 14 years ago / 1

    Really?...A couple weeks too late. Had to build a karaoke machine for school and for "signal processing" I had to use the PT2399 echo chip like everyone else...

  • Calif / about 14 years ago / 1

    Can't believe a vocoder actually comes in a through hole package. It really does have ROB & VIB pins in the datasheet. China must also have a late night talk show chip, with Bin Laden & Clinton pins to select the jokes.

  • Member #219969 / about 14 years ago / 1

    Fantastic! I was looking through a list of audio chips last month and this one was my favorite, and now you've got it! Most specific chip that isn't an ASIC ever?

  • Jeffhead / about 14 years ago * / 1

    "The robot function, on the other hand, converts an input voice into a robot voice." That's great, but is there a more technical explanation for the robot function? Does it use a pulse modulator or resonance or ... ? Are we talking Cylon or Dalek?
    EDIT I just RTFDS, and it appears there is NFI. Have any Sparkers had a chance to play with this?

    • dattaway2 / about 14 years ago / 1

      I did a youtube search on the part number. This is the chip to get. One guy made a guitar effects pedal with it.

    • Sir. MiDri / about 14 years ago / 1

      I bought one as soon as they listed them a few days ago, I'll post some stuff when they get in (hopefully monday or tuesday)

  • mbrown9412 / about 14 years ago / 1

    best chip ever?

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