Success at recording WAVs to tape and them loading!
Hi
I thought i'd share my recent great experience of making reliably loadable cassette copies of games from TAP / TZX -> WAV -> audio cassette.
I used tap to wav to make the conversions. I then decided on the order of my compilation of games and imported them into windows media player, and made a CD.
I then played the CD back through my hi fi and each track would only play a second or so before jumping back to the start.
I used Audacity - a free audio editor - to reduce the volume of each WAV by 6dB. Made a new CD with media player.
The CD then successfully played back.
I used a normal position tape and recorded the compilation at an input level of '3' on my technics tape machine (how this would measure on other systems I don't know). I listened back to the tape in comparison with the CD and decided it was too low, so re recorded with the level at '4' - thinking that this was probably the highest input level cassette would be able to handle without producing distortion.
I did not use dolby - the reason is it would add more top end than needed as my shoebox tape recorded is set with the treble to high.
Loaded the games into my 48k with the volume at just under full.
The sound of the recordings are a near enough match, sonically speaking, with factory produced tapes of the 80s in terms of volume and detail (ie, bright, not muffled).
I haven't got as far as trying the fast loaders though (by that I mean speedlock etc; not games that have been sped up using any new software available - which will obviously present the biggest challenge! So far I've loaded 3D Startstrike and Manic Miner.
I'll report back on this when I get round to it. I'll post my choice of games too.
One thing I didn't do, which in practical terms hasn't mattered, is insert some silence between the games. Doesn't matter as my shoebox has a tape counter and I've been writing down the numbers as I go along.
I know a bit about analogue recording and maintain my tape players well.
Jim
I thought i'd share my recent great experience of making reliably loadable cassette copies of games from TAP / TZX -> WAV -> audio cassette.
I used tap to wav to make the conversions. I then decided on the order of my compilation of games and imported them into windows media player, and made a CD.
I then played the CD back through my hi fi and each track would only play a second or so before jumping back to the start.
I used Audacity - a free audio editor - to reduce the volume of each WAV by 6dB. Made a new CD with media player.
The CD then successfully played back.
I used a normal position tape and recorded the compilation at an input level of '3' on my technics tape machine (how this would measure on other systems I don't know). I listened back to the tape in comparison with the CD and decided it was too low, so re recorded with the level at '4' - thinking that this was probably the highest input level cassette would be able to handle without producing distortion.
I did not use dolby - the reason is it would add more top end than needed as my shoebox tape recorded is set with the treble to high.
Loaded the games into my 48k with the volume at just under full.
The sound of the recordings are a near enough match, sonically speaking, with factory produced tapes of the 80s in terms of volume and detail (ie, bright, not muffled).
I haven't got as far as trying the fast loaders though (by that I mean speedlock etc; not games that have been sped up using any new software available - which will obviously present the biggest challenge! So far I've loaded 3D Startstrike and Manic Miner.
I'll report back on this when I get round to it. I'll post my choice of games too.
One thing I didn't do, which in practical terms hasn't mattered, is insert some silence between the games. Doesn't matter as my shoebox has a tape counter and I've been writing down the numbers as I go along.
I know a bit about analogue recording and maintain my tape players well.
Jim
Comments
I did it myself a couple of years ago and publicly demonstrated it when I officially presented my book in my home city after its initial launch in Rome (see the first picture in particular, that's the +2A loading from an actual tape).
Judging from my experience, you can cut out the middle man, i.e. directly record the output from, say, Tapir without converting the files to WAV.
You can also feed the input to your Spectrum from your PC - again, via Tapir - or from a portable MP3 and/or CD reader. For MP3 conversions look no further than WinTZX. If you want to burn the files to an audio CD you must convert them to 44100 Hz, 16-bit stereo WAV first - stereo would be, of course, just a doubling of the mono track, an operation you can easily carry out with Audacity.
With the +2A in particular you can employ the trick of putting a car stereo tape adapter in the Datacorder and receive the signal without even pressing Play on the deck.
You will need to preamplify the signal first anyway, but a simple PC amplifier with an EAR socket will do. Sometimes this will not be necessary when loading off an audio CD, even with turbo loaders (tested with Cousin Horace, which comes with both Biturbo II and standard ROM loaders).
All of the above comes from my research and experimentations made on real hardware. You can take a look at this topic if you wish to know more.
Tapes are the only way I use my Spectrum. I am collecting games via ebay that I lost from the past and for me, there's nothing like having the tape, case and instructions to read while the game loads.
As I say, I do know analogue equipment and I very seldom have loading troubles.
I am genuinely excited by and impressed with the interfaces available nowadays but I think if I used one I might just flick through the contents of the SD card and not devote any time to any game in particular. I'd still like a divide though, if only just to have one and to support the product and the designer. I am also very interested in the Spectra interface - a decent picture and a joystick interface - wouldn't have said no to that in the 80s! There don't seem to be many posts about that interface on this forum.
Another thought - I could have plugged my shoebox into my laptop and recorded the games that way, but a) it would be hit and miss as to getting the volume right and b) I wanted to make the best recording I possibly could and using my set up as I described was the best method available to me. Plus, I now have a CD of the games if I need a duplicate tape.
Jim
Yes, it is a little pricey, but the big advantage is it just plugs into the expansion port. And it has a Kempston Joystick Interface. And it can have a Interface 2 like ROM cart slot added (or included).
And no, I'm not being paid for this.
Mark
Repair Guides. Spanish Hardware site.
WoS - can't download? Info here...
former Meulie Spectrum Archive but no longer available :-(
Spectranet: the TNFS directory thread
! Standby alert !
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb!
Looking forward to summer in Somerset later in the year :)
I know, I've been on the website loads of times and even read the manual!
I understand that maybe one would want to keep the setup authentic using just the RF lead (I'm of this mindset as you can tell from my previous post) but then again, if you're going to buy a joystick and interface, and you have some cash, then why not?!
The only thing that bothers me is it being pulled around while in use, but that's my problem, not the interface's.
Can I ask is the sound good? Which model Spectrum do you use it with?
Regards
Jim
Sound? I forget. As the Spectrum has an internal speaker, the sound on the TV is normally turned down...
The only problem I have found is I have a issue 4S that does not play nice, the SPECTRA picture wobbles side to side slightly on a line by line basis. But it works fine with my other 48k models. Mind, I have not tried it since he upgraded the CPLD logic, so this may have been improved.
Back when Paul first started producing them, I did some testing. If you want details, shout out again. I have pictures somewhere and a spreadsheet with the results.
Mark
Repair Guides. Spanish Hardware site.
WoS - can't download? Info here...
former Meulie Spectrum Archive but no longer available :-(
Spectranet: the TNFS directory thread
! Standby alert !
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb!
Looking forward to summer in Somerset later in the year :)
Yes, it may be possible to fit it in a case. It has PCB holes for supports that could be used to fix it into a case. But it has connectors on all four sides, plus a DIP switch and a 9 way connector on top. So it would be tricky unless extension cables are made-up.
Mark
Repair Guides. Spanish Hardware site.
WoS - can't download? Info here...
former Meulie Spectrum Archive but no longer available :-(
Spectranet: the TNFS directory thread
! Standby alert !
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb!
Looking forward to summer in Somerset later in the year :)
When you next get the opportunity to use your Spectra, would you mind reposting about the sound (quality of sound through the TV).
Jim
For some reason the internal deck doesn't read my Lunar Jetman. The tape is not bad, I was able to read it with a decent hifi deck. Some other tapes didn't last, the jitter is clearly audible on some of them! Most of my tapes can of course be found in the internet, but not my own home-made stuff.
Before the input mod, I also recorded some soft to cassettes, to be played on my Spectrum!
Now I also have the Interface 1bis, so most of the taping is over for now.