Chih Han Lin has updated SpellSynth, available for $2.99. The update is FREE to existing users.
What’s new in version 1.1.7:
- The headline: there’s a new voice character called 1986 DECTALK STYLE, sitting next to the 1978 LPC voice that’s been here since launch. It’s a fixed-pitch, monotone formant synth — same family of tech that gave Hawking his iconic computer voice. Chunkier and more deliberate than the 1978 LPC’s buzzy texture, and it works on every word – bundled or live-typed – because it re- synthesises whatever the speech engine produces.
- The voice picker has moved into Settings where it makes more sense to live as a “set once” preference. Three-way row:
- DEFAULT – clean system speech, no extra processing.
- 1978 LPC – the original Speak & Spell character (TI TMS-style chirp),
- 1986 DECTALK STYLE – fixed-pitch monotone, computer-voice feel.
- The standalone LPC button on the keypad is gone; whichever voice you pick now shows up as a small caption above the function row so you always know what’s active.
- Other changes:
- First-launch tutorial – a quick four-page tour of the modes and the three voices. Page three lets you tap each voice card to preview it in place before committing. Reach it again any time from Settings –> REPLAY TUTORIAL.
- The “Rate SpellSynth” prompt now fires on app opens (third, tenth, thirtieth) instead of after a spell win – felt closer to “you keep coming back” than “you spelled CAT correctly”. The manual RATE row in Settings still works any time.
- Smaller layout polish across the Settings sheet and the What’s New sheet
Type a letter and hear it spoken. Spell the word guess the mystery, or just listen – in crisp retro voices that bring the 1978 spelling toy back to life SpellSynth is a playable love-letter to the 1978 spelling toy that taught a generation to read – rebuilt for iPhone anc iPad. with four game modes and a crunchy VFD display.
Tap a letter and it speaks. Type a word and SpellSynth reads it back.
No accounts, no ads, no internet – just a pocket- sized speech toy that your kids (and you) can pick up for thirty seconds or thirty minutes.
- FREE PLAY
- Type letters and words, hear every one spoken aloud,
- The retro segmented display animates every keystroke.
- SPELL
- SpellSynth says a word. You spell it. Three mistakes and you get the answer, then try a new one. Tap HINT to reveal a letter when vou’re stuck.
- MYSTERY WORD
- The classic “guess the hidder word” game. You get the category and the first letter free; pick letters until the word reveals itself. Six wrong quesses and it’s game over
- SAY IT
- Listen-and-repeat mode for pronunciation practice. SpellSynth spells the word letter by letter, then savs it whole. Tap
- REPEAT
- To hear it again, NEXT for a new word
- BUNDLED AUDIO UNIT (AUv3)
- SpellSynth ships with an AUv3 instrument extension, so the same voice engine loads inside GarageBand, Logic Pro, AUM, Cubasis, and any other AUv3 compatible host. MIDI notes trigger letters; onboard parameters let you pitch, stretch, and warp the voices into something new. Perfect for producers chasing that Kraftwerk / Stereolab / Broadcast sound
- BUILT FOR KIDS. SHAPED FOR PARENTS
- Completely offline. No sign-up, no account, no data
collection. - No ads. No in-app purchases. No external links.
- No camera, no microphone, no location access.
- Works on iPhone and iPad. No internet required after install.
- Completely offline. No sign-up, no account, no data
- WORD LIBRARY
- 90+ pre-recorded words with a clear retro voice
- Add your own vocabulary list – the app falls back to the iOS speech synthesiser for custom entries.
For more information on SpellSynth, click here:
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