How to run games from mp3 player to a real 48K machine?
Hi!
I would like to test the homebrew games that was "released" in 2013. As far as I know there haven't been made any real tapes for these games so I guess the only thing to play them is to download them and then convert them into mp3 files to load them from a mp3 to the real hardware.
I have tried some titles like Gem Chaser, Vampe and Mansion Kali and have converted them in a programme called winTZX.
The first thing that stuck me is that the files automatically get some text addition like 128k. Does that mean this files only can be run on a 128K Spectrum and not on a 48K machine?
I also tried the files that are listed for a 48K machine but the games won't load. I put the "mic in cable" into the mp3 and then type in LOAD "" and hit START on the mp3, the loading sounds begins but it seems like the Spectrum don't find the game because the games never shows up and you don't see any code or so.
What can be wrong? I have also seen that some of the files are in the format z80 and they can not be converted in the winTZX converter programme. How to convert these?
All advice and help is gratefully received!
Thanks!
/Niklas
I would like to test the homebrew games that was "released" in 2013. As far as I know there haven't been made any real tapes for these games so I guess the only thing to play them is to download them and then convert them into mp3 files to load them from a mp3 to the real hardware.
I have tried some titles like Gem Chaser, Vampe and Mansion Kali and have converted them in a programme called winTZX.
The first thing that stuck me is that the files automatically get some text addition like 128k. Does that mean this files only can be run on a 128K Spectrum and not on a 48K machine?
I also tried the files that are listed for a 48K machine but the games won't load. I put the "mic in cable" into the mp3 and then type in LOAD "" and hit START on the mp3, the loading sounds begins but it seems like the Spectrum don't find the game because the games never shows up and you don't see any code or so.
What can be wrong? I have also seen that some of the files are in the format z80 and they can not be converted in the winTZX converter programme. How to convert these?
All advice and help is gratefully received!
Thanks!
/Niklas
Post edited by NickArrow on
Comments
Yes, thats' right! I meant the ear socket, NOT the mick socket, my bad, sorry!
I use the EAR socket from the Spectrum and the other side of the cable into the mp3 player instead of the cassette player, correct me if I'm wrong but as I can see it it's the only way to transfer signals from mp3 into the ZX spectrum. Unfortunately the speccy don't recognize the signals from the Mp3 even if you can hear the loading sound through the TV.
Welcome to the forums. :)
Green Card! Thank you! I'm going to try it out! Does it matter if I convert the games into mp3 or wav when converting them in the winTSX programme?
Edit: I try to put a ZX spectrum converted wav file in a editing programme (Sound forge) but the signal seems to be as high as it can be, should I maximize the volyme anyway, because I can not see any difference in the wave signal?
Best regards,
Niklas :)
You're welcome. :-)
Personally, I like to keep them as wavs, in case the compression to mp3 messes them up or something. Not sure if it does or not though, but if your player can play wavs, I'd stick with those just in case.
But yes, I use Sound Forge too, just pump up the volume anyway. :)
I usually convert tap or tzx files to wav (using Tape2WAV, which can be found here: http://www.worldofspectrum.org/utilities.html), then boost the volume in Sound Forge, dump them in my Dropbox folder, and then download and play them from my iPhone (using one of those Dropbox apps, can't remember the name now though).
It's really bad my Mp3 player (sony walkman) don't support wav files! :(
Well, I put the converted mp3 files into sound forge to boost the volume around 200 % or so but my speccy 48k won't reckognize any signal any way. It's very strange...
/Niklas
Very strange! Maybe it is because they've been compressed?! Do you have a long audio cable that will reach from your PC to your Speccy? You could try them that way, and adjust the PCs volume accordingly. If they still don't work then I would say it's definitely down to them being mp3s.
I used to burn my wavs to a CD, which works fine as long as you insert a short silence at the end of each wav. I have no idea why that makes a difference, but it certainly did for me.
Perhaps. But I tried to load a wav file with an android phone and it still wasn't able to read the signals....Unfortunately I don't have such a long cable. :/
How come you have burned down the wav files into a CD? Do you reach the games from a CD player and then load it into a Speccy?
/Niklas
Try using a stereo (from mp3 player) to mono (to EAR Socket on Spectrum) cable. See if that works out.
As you have an Android phone then install an app called TeeZiX. No conversion needed! ;-) You might still have a low volume.. then it's time to get a small audio amplifier on ebay, as I did. Works great! :)
It's ok! :)
The cable I'm using is the same I use with the ordinary cassette player and also tried to load a cassette game with the exactly same cable into the speccy and that did work. Hmm, do I need to buy an expensive iphone to get this process to work?? :confused:
/Niklas
I have a small, portable CD player in my kitchen. :) It's seen better days, but it still works well enough to load Speccy games from CD.
From what you've posted, it sounds to me as though the Speccy doesn't like the compression of an mp3 file.
Hmm, then I have to get me a better mp3 player. I have heard that people have manage to load speccy files through a Ipod Nano player ca 2nd generation, maybe it would be a good idea to get me one of these....
Guess they support wav files as well..
So you load your speccy games from a portable CD player! That's really cool! :D
/Niklas
Give me a couple of days - when I get some time, I'll try to load a Speccy mp3 onto my 128K via my iPod (which is a Nano Touch 6th gen, in case you're wondering) and let you know how I get on.
I used to use CDs. I still use them occasionally for games I have on my PC that aren't in the archive, but for most things now I use Speccy Tape on the iPhone. Excellent little app. :)
Yes, absolutely! I'm looking forward what the result would be! :)
Oh, is it a difference between the 48K and the 128K when loading to a mp3 player/ipod/iphone? Unfortunately, I only have a 48K machine at the moment.
Thanks!
/Niklas
I will try to set the Speccy up tonight, but if I don't have time I will have a go tomorrow evening for sure. :)
No, I very highly doubt the model would make a difference.
Ok! Good luck with the procedure!
If it works I would be happy, otherwise I have to buy an Android phone + audio amplifier, I guess.
best wishes,
Niklas
You have a working tape player that loads, so perhaps the solution is the old skool tape adapter method:
http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Audio-Cassette-Adapter-Black/dp/B001F9DJOO/ref=sr_1_8?s=mp3&ie=UTF8&qid=1398365250&sr=1-8
Plug MP3 player into cassette, put cassette in tape player, then load as normal. You'll get the amplification of your MP3 audio from the tape player, so if volume is the issue this might resolve it.
This things looked really cool! Thank you! :D
/Niklas
So, it would seem that the Speccy isn't keen on mp3s, and even less keen on iPods. ;-)
Interestingly, I have never tried if saving is possible between Spectrum and a laptop... For sure you want to save some stuff here and there... no problem on regular cassettes but not sure about this modern stuff
For further information on how to do the above, please take a look here.
As for the saving option, I never tried it, but technically speaking I believe it is possible. Will have to investigate in it when (if) I have time to do so.