PC:Covox DAC Clone

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The Covox Speech Thing is an external 8-bit digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) that can be used as a sound device on PC-compatibles via the parallel/LPT port. The device is compatible with a wide range of games and is an ideal solution for laptops without a dedicated sound card/chipset or later desktop computers without ISA slots for adapting an AdLib or Sound Blaster card.

Over the years, the hardware has been extensively documented through BBS (bulletin board systems) and across. People have begun to create their own DIY variations because the parallel port connects with the DAC in a relatively simple manner and can be made using inexpensive components.

Since sound cards were very expensive to buy in the 1990s, the Covox was a popular device amongst demoscene groups for creating music and demos that utilized it.

Clones

Silly Sound Bastard by Necroware

Simple LPTsndby Retrokits.de/matze79

Covox Blaster by dion-b

CVX4 by Serdaco