TEXTASSIST NOTES:

NOTE:  If you have a Creative Labs CD16 Sound Blaster Value 
Edition with TextAssist, this driver will not work with Atlas 
Speaks version 1.0.  We hope to have an improved driver
available shortly.  Contact your dealer for details.

This driver is for the TextAssist speech synthesizer software that
comes with some Creative Labs Sound Blaster cards. There are
many different models of Sound Blasters sold by Creative Labs
and not all have TextAssist. This driver does not work with
Sound Blaster clones, it only works with Sound Blasters from
Creative Labs that are shipped with TextAssist.

TextAssist is the tradename for Creative Labs text-to-speech
software, which runs on certain models of the Sound Blaster sound
card.

The TextAssist software is based on the DECtalk technology licensed
from Digital Equipment Corporation, but is provided under a
different tradename.  To users familiar with the DECtalk PC or
DECtalk Express, it will be quite difficult to distinguish any
differences between DECtalk and TextAssist.

It is recommended that you use TextAssist only on 80486 66 MHz or 
faster personal computers. TextAssist is dependent upon the 
processor in your PC to do most of the speech
synthesis. On slower PCs you may experience unacceptable
pauses in the speech or slow speech and possible compatibility
problems with scanners and modems. DECtalk PC and DECtalk Express each come
with a fast 80186 processor and 1 Mega Byte of dedicated memory. This is
why their performance is very good.

TextAssist has been shipping since March of 1994.  However, adaptive
equipment makers have not been able to use it, because of problems
with differences in the programming interface compared to standard
DECtalks.

The models that work are:

     Sound Blaster 16 MCD with ASP
     Sound Blaster 16 SCSI-2 with ASP
     Sound Blaster 16 Value Edition with Text Assist
     Sound Blaster AWE32 with Text Assist

If you have a 16 MCD, 16 SCSI-2 or other Sound Blaster 16,
without ASP (Advanced Signal Processor) and TextAssist,
Creative Labs sells ASP upgrades for $69.95.  

Note: Arkenstone does not sell this upgrade, contact your dealer.

There are many different models of Sound Blasters.
Creative Labs sells the same hardware bundled with different software.
Many OEM Sound Blasters (where the Sound Blaster is bundled
with the PC at the time of purchase) do not have Text Assist. The
only sure way to tell if you have Text Assist is if you received the
Text Assist program disks with your Sound Blaster.
