Editing Acorn Electron (section)

===Sound system expansions===
Despite the Electron having only limited sound generation capabilities, few expansions were offered to overcome the machine's limitations.

====Millsgrade Voxbox====
Advertised in late 1985, the Voxbox by Millsgrade Limited was an expansion connecting to the Electron's expansion connector that provided [[allophone]]-based [[speech synthesis]], with driver software provided on cassette.<ref name="electronuser198510">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/ElectronUserVolume3/Electron-User-03-01/page/n1/mode/1up | title=Speakout with the speech synthesiser for your Electron | magazine=Electron User | volume=3 | issue=1 | date=October 1985 | access-date=29 January 2021 | page=2 }}</ref> The supplied software supported the definition of spoken words built up from the allophones{{snd}} these allophones or sounds being stored in the expansion's own ROM{{snd}} and for catalogues of words to be created and saved. A program was supplied that extended BASIC to allow the use of the synthesiser in user programs.<ref name="aeworld_voxbox">{{ cite magazine | url=http://www.acornelectron.co.uk/eug/revs/millsgrade/Voxbox_000.html | title=Voxbox (Millsgrade) | magazine=Electron User Group | issue=66 | date=March 2006 | access-date=29 January 2021 | last1=Edwards | first1=Dave }}</ref> The expansion used the [[General Instrument SP0256|General Instrument SP0256A-AL2]] speech synthesis chip.<ref name="stardot_voxbox">{{ cite web | url=https://stardot.org.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?p=271982 | title=Voxbox Question | website=stardot.org.uk | date=4 June 2020 | access-date=21 February 2021 }}</ref>

====Sound Expansion cartridge====
Originally announced in 1987 by Project Expansions to be priced at around £40,<ref name="electronuser198710se">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/ElectronUserVolume5/Electron-User-05-01/page/n4/mode/1up | title=Electron gets Micro sound | magazine=Electron User | volume=5 | issue=1 | date=October 1987 | access-date=21 January 2021 | page=5 }}</ref> the Sound Expansion cartridge could be fitted in a Plus 1 (or compatible) slot and provide sound output equivalent to that of the BBC Micro, with Superior Software's Speech bundled as a "limited offer".<ref name="electronuser198801">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/ElectronUserVolume5/Electron-User-05-04/page/n53/mode/1up | title='2' New Products for the Electron | magazine=Electron User | volume=5 | issue=4 | date=January 1988 | access-date=22 January 2021 | page=54 }}</ref> A product of the same name and with similar functionality was subsequently sold by Complex Software for around £55, employing its own adjustable speaker in the cartridge unit.<ref name="electronuser199005">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/ElectronUserVolume7/Electron-User-07-08/page/n33/mode/2up | title=Eloquent Electron | magazine=Electron User | volume=7 | issue=8 | date=May 1990 | access-date=21 January 2021 | last1=Davidson | first1=Pete | pages=34–35 }}</ref> Superior Software had announced a version of Speech for the unexpanded Acorn Electron in 1986,<ref name="acornuser198604_electron_discounts">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser045-Apr86/page/n10/mode/1up | title=Electron discounts revitalise market | magazine=Acorn User | date=April 1986 | access-date=23 February 2023 | pages=9 }}</ref> but this was never released.

====Hybrid Music 5000====
Hybrid Technology's Music 5000 was adapted and released by PRES for use with the 1&nbsp;MHz bus of the Advanced Plus 5 expansion, with the Music 5000 itself priced at £113.85. The only functional differences between the Electron adaptation and the original BBC Micro unit involved the use of Mode 6 for the display and the reduced performance of the Electron imposing some limitations on processing in programs written for the system,<ref name="electronuser198810">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/ElectronUserVolume6/Electron-User-06-01/page/n7/mode/2up | title=They're playing your tune, Electron | magazine=Electron User | volume=6 | issue=1 | date=October 1988 | access-date=20 January 2021 | last1=Waugh | first1=Ian | pages=8–10 }}</ref> although this was not thought to prevent most programs for the system from working on the Electron version.<ref name="acornuser198806_hybrid">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser071-Jun88/page/n56/mode/1up | title=Know the Score | magazine=Acorn User | date=June 1988 | access-date=14 March 2022 | last1=Waugh | first1=Ian | pages=55, 57, 59, 61 }}</ref>