PJH wrote:

> I've been looking at the ISD 33000 voice player chip. It's OK but
> needs a 3V supply & 3V regs are awkward to get ahold of.

  Eh?  I don't believe it!  LM317s are cheap as chips.  Unless you want
really really low power regs.

> Anybody know how critical the 3V limit is? ...  Just wondering if
> using 3 diodes to drop the Vcc would be OK?  It's just that Vcc then
> becomes a little uncertain for different diodes.  Would that upset
> things?

  I imagine it's OK, I suggest give it a go.  Variation between diodes
will be quite small actually.  I'll bet you get very close to 3V if
starting from 5V.  But really, why not use an LM317?
--
  Cheers,
        Paul B.