Itโd be better if we got direct exports from the sound chips.
Yeah, but good luck trying to do that with the DMC-1 given how much security Siemens has apparently put on it.
Actually, a little while ago, Hybrid Bell from the Railroad Crossing community managed to extract General Signals Bell sounds from the Type 2 and Type 3, because the EEPROM in those are also protected.
Here is the the video and its description:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDwda6KaOmc
The remaining bell audio (Type 2, 2L, 3) was obtained by tapping into the audio at the digital to analogue converter (DAC) before any amplification, to eliminate artefacts. This feed was then directly connected via a jack into the microphone input of a ZOOM H1n recorder.
Unfortunately the EPROM chips in the later generation bells is protected, meaning the code is encrypted and cannot be accessed by a reader unlike the Type 1.
In this form, the method used ensures it is the rawest analogue signal obtainable without being able to rip data off the EPROM.
This might potentially work for a DMC-1, and even an ACM-1.
For late 90โs hardware, there shouldnโt be any โstrongโ security on those chips, just like an electronic railroad crossing bell.
Maybe, but given how much more complex the DMC-1 is in both design & operation Iโm sure itโd be much more difficult to use that method on one.
I suppose thatโs the case, the sad reality is that those phrases will remain a mystery until someone in the community extracts them using that method, or they are eventually filmed and recorded. (which is unlikely because most MXL-V panels use the default phrases, or the more unique but common ones like โAnโ + โEmergencyโ/โAlarmโ + โHas been reported.โ + โInโ + โTheโ + โBuildingโ)
Even if someone in the community were to own an MXL-V, the CSG-M software is lost media, so there would be no way to trigger those phrases without dumping the contents of the chip.
Hopefully those phrases will be freed one day. ![]()
One dayโฆ
Well, sort of: we at least known all the ones that supposedly exist thanks to that phrase list, we just havenโt heard them all yet.
Yeah.
Yeah (for now at least: given long-lost media has been found before thereโs always a chance a copy might turn up somewhere though).
Well, some friends of mine have already tried, but last I heard they were apparently not able to get through the DMC-1โs heavy security, so dead-end there I guess (which is why I warned those here about said heavy security).
Why donโt they try โThe General Signals Bell Methodโ? (what I like to call Hybrid Bellโs method)
Maybe, but keep in mind that unlike with that electronic railroad crossing bell itโs not as simple as just powering the DMC-1: weโd have to find a way of getting it to output every single sound file on it (which I for one would have no idea how to do).
I understand, looks like those phrases will likely not be freed for a very, long time.
That is until someone in the community assembles a functional MXL-V to get it to at least play the standard phrases, and tap into the DMC-1 to speak every phrase.
However, even if the CSG-M software turns up someday, it usually requires a โpassword of the dayโ to operate.
A former Siemens tech on Reddit was asking about the software back in June:
https://www.reddit.com/r/firealarms/comments/1lf7s09/anybody_here_still_have_access_to_siemens_mxl/
Maybe.
Yeah. One of the friends of mine involved with attempting to crack the DMC-1 open is actually looking to build an MXL-V (because of this he tried to make sure he was as gentle with his DMC-1 as possible while doing the former so as not to damage it), so perhaps that might provide an โopeningโ (though who knows about programming it since Siemens obviously has that locked down too).
Typical Siemensโฆ
Oh? Huh. Hope such a copy can be found for everyoneโs sake then (especially with the MXL having not been made by Siemens for over 10 years now, meaning they might not care if someone has such (or at least I would hope they wouldnโt anyway).
Back then, had someone extracted the phrases, they would have gone โNintendo Modeโ like that remark I made that other day with EVAX.
Wouldnโt surprise me honestly: some companies think they can get away with anything these days (even though they obviously shouldnโt).
I surprisingly know the guy who did the Siemens MXL-V voice message.
You do? Who & how? (if you can of course)
I did get permission to share a last name only. It was Tomlin.
Oh, alright. Thatโs better than โOld Simplex Guyโ at least, who another enthusiast said they got to meet but did not disclose anything about him at all (though I still hope that someday his identity & those of other life safety voice actors are known: sure people obviously have a right to personal privacy, but just the same it would be nice to have faces to go with the nicknames (& actual names for that matter, heh).
Yeah. How I know is because, Shocker.. Iโm related to him.
He is currently is in the hospital due to some heart issues,
Really? Wowโฆ
Best wishes that he gets better soon.
Thanks, he says he appreciates it! and he loves all of yโall who have supported his life!
Youโre welcome, & glad to hear that!
Itโs things like this that really not only remind you that these voice actors are technically just human beings like everyone else despite how famous they might be, but also make you think about what they might be up to today: for instance, I do wonder how โOld Simplex Guyโ is doing, especially since going by his voice it seems like he was already fairly up in age at the time of recording what were probably Simplexโs earliest messages (which does sorta make you wonder if heโs been dead for some years now (though Simplex might have replaced him with โNew Simplex Guyโ due to โOld Simplex Guyโ getting too old to do voice work anymore).