Polaxis Talko 2 is a new desktop and Eurorack speech Synthesizer and is also the successor to the Talko 1, released 10 years ago.
Generating realistic-sounding voices in 2025 will take only a few seconds with various AI tools. In the Synthesizer world, this is also possible with speech synthesis. Devices like the Speak & Spell from 1979 were capable of this very early on.
One famous Eurorack module that retains this retro speech-synth sound is back in an all-new version. Polaxis, a Belgian company and the original developer, has now released Talko 2.
Polaxis Talko 2
Talko 2 is a new speech Synthesizer built on the original Eurorack module. Polaxis Talko 2 is available in two formats: desktop version and as an 18HP Eurorack module, both with the same feature set.
At its core is a speech synthesis engine that can generate and speak numbers, alphabets, phonemes, and entire phrases from built-in banks. You can trigger them with the yellow speak button or via CV gate input. The following banks are included:
- TI-99 Alphabet
- NATO Alphabet
- Speak & Spell (US) Numbers
- Speak & Spell (FR) Numbers
- Speak & Spell Sounds (beeps + phrases)
- Speak & Spell Vocabulary (US)
- Allophones (voiced)
- Allophones (unvoiced)
- Allophones (VCO-friendly)
- Electronic voice alert Chrysler phrases
- Star Wars quotes
- German Numbers
Craft Your Speech Sounds
You can tweak the sounds manually in real time with pitch, speed, and effects controls on the front panel. Alternatively, each parameter has its own CV control, allowing you to adjust it with control-voltage signals.
Speech synthesis is only one part of the engine. Next to this is a multi-FX processor playbale with a knob and a Error button designed to mimic a circuit-bent Speak & Spell.
It contains various real-time algorithms: filter, dialek/ring modulation, pitch bend/warble, grow & pitch, chord/harmonic interval, reverb, telephone, and tremolo.
This allows you to significantly enhance or distort speech sounds, making them sound either more polished or more experimental.
Further, a simple 7-segment display gives you feedback on the banks and FX. It also has a USB port for firmware updates.
On the connection side, you have an audio output, CV/gate input, and a CV for each parameter. The desktop version of the Polaxis Talko 2 also has a power supply input.
First Impression
True, the Talko was getting on in years. It’s great to see that there’s now a successor, the Talko 2. The desktop version looks really fun.
I could easily imagine it in experimental live setups. The new FX, in particular, make the synth significantly more versatile and unique than its predecessor.
Polaxis Talko 2 is available now as an assembled desktop unit or Eurorack module for 179€ or as a DIY kit for 129€. You can get it at the official website or via retailers like Thonk or Error Instruments.
More information here: Polaxis
can you sequence your own words? it needs some kind of midi -> key mapping
I think you are now limited to the internal banks
You would need my Emy to sequence phonemes or Kraftor that can do text to speech, (if you don’t need Eurorack). Talko has the vocabulary stored in Banks