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Spectaculator Cassette Recorder

SpectorSpector
edited November 2004 in Emulators
On the misc section, someone asked about options to play back tzx files apart from TAPER. I gave him the answer that there aren't many. The best I have seen is the tape recorder option on Spectaculator, but as I mentioned on that topic, it's ?20 if you want to use it for more than 30 days. If you only want to use Spectaculator for the Cassette Recorder, then that isn't great value.
I admit that I would like to use it occasionally, but have no use for the rest of the emulator, so I wouldn't spend ?20 on it.
So here's my question directly to Jonathan Needle - would you not consider bringing out a standalone cassette recorder application based on the one in Spectaculator so that people who don't have DOS can use it? Because they don't really have many other reliable options for playing back tapes. You could still have it shareware, but at a reduced price. I personally still use TAPER, but it can be problematic, and the signal in Spectaculator is better. A tape-playback app without the emulator attached would be very useful.
What do you think Jon?
Post edited by Spector on
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Comments

  • Andrew BarkerAndrew Barker
    edited November 2004
    What's wrong with the free WinAMP plugin to play TZX files ?

    Or did you want something fancy where you can choose blocks etc.

    Ya know, I wish someone would make a Windows version of Taper...

    Jon doesn't have the time at present to do this due to obvious reasons that he mentioned... I also know what it's all about having a 11 month old daughter who just doesn't wanna sleep in her own cot :o... it can take it outta ya...

    Cheers

    Andy
  • b00mzi11ab00mzi11a
    edited November 2004
    Again, see my reply in the other thread,
    but I can roll you a Windows version of PlayTZX if
    you like. I might even muck about and make
    a GUI for it ;) It's very very simple to
    use anyway.
  • SpectorSpector
    edited November 2004
    On 2004-11-15 18:27, b00mzi11a wrote:
    Again, see my reply in the other thread,
    but I can roll you a Windows version of PlayTZX if
    you like. I might even muck about and make
    a GUI for it ;) It's very very simple to
    use anyway.

    Would you be able to do that? Make a windows version of playtzx? That would be great, because even though I use TAPER, it won't always be that way, and Windows XP doesn't work with it. I tried the DOS version of playtzx and bugger all happened. Maybe I'll try it again, since I'm using a different computer now :)
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  • cyborgcyborg
    edited November 2004
    Have you tried using SPIN's? Last time I checked the cassette window had an option for playing a TZX file for 'real' loading.
  • DunnyDunny
    edited November 2004
    Indeed.

    I have successfully loaded a great many tapes with a wide variety of loaders from SPIN out to a real spectrum.

    Be sure to disable all autostart/speedloading options first though...

    Or use SPIN to convert to WAV - I've used that successfully too.

    D.
  • b00mzi11ab00mzi11a
    edited November 2004
    On 2004-11-15 23:12, Spector wrote:
    On 2004-11-15 18:27, b00mzi11a wrote:
    Again, see my reply in the other thread,
    but I can roll you a Windows version of PlayTZX if
    you like. I might even muck about and make
    a GUI for it :wink: It's very very simple to
    use anyway.

    Would you be able to do that? Make a windows version of playtzx? That would be great, because even though I use TAPER, it won't always be that way, and Windows XP doesn't work with it. I tried the DOS version of playtzx and bugger all happened. Maybe I'll try it again, since I'm using a different computer now :)

    I've already had it compile succesfully in Windows and it works a treat. It should be very very easy to knock some sort of front-end together, but right now I've just installed Win2k3 server on Quad Opterons, and am happily nerding about and running benchmarks ;) So maybe tommorow I'll get me ass in gear!


  • SpectorSpector
    edited November 2004
    On 2004-11-15 23:43, Dunny wrote:
    Indeed.

    I have successfully loaded a great many tapes with a wide variety of loaders from SPIN out to a real spectrum.

    Be sure to disable all autostart/speedloading options first though...

    Or use SPIN to convert to WAV - I've used that successfully too.

    D.
    Is SPIN meant to work on Windows98? It doesn't work on my computer that's for sure. I tried it on my laptop upstairs, also using 98 and the exact same thing happened.
    Here's the message:

    "Direct Sound could not create the primary buffer- Sound is unavailable"

    On top of that, the actual program appears to freeze when you double click the exe file so it does nothing except look pretty.
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  • Lee TonksLee Tonks
    edited November 2004
    It works on my Win98 machine. Very little else does, but Spin is fine. :)
  • Jon NeedleJon Needle
    edited November 2004
    On 2004-11-15 16:11, Spector wrote:
    So here's my question directly to Jonathan Needle - would you not consider bringing out a standalone cassette recorder application based on the one in Spectaculator so that...
    think Jon?

    Sorry, No. The playback is inherently tied to the running emulation. It would almost be a re-write (apart from the UI) to extract it all.

    However, the Windows compile of PlayTZX seems to be fitting the bill nicely :)

    Cheers,

    Jon.
  • SpectorSpector
    edited November 2004
    PlayTZX is very nice Jonathan, yes, but remember that yours is probably still the best. No tzx player will load the 128K version of Fairlight, for example, but your cassette recorder tool does :)
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  • mel the bellmel the bell
    edited November 2004
    Awww stop it, he'll never get his head back out of the thread :p
    Professional Mel-the-Bell Simulator................"So realistic, I found myself reaching for the Kleenex King-Size!" - Richard Darling
  • itsallgooditsallgood
    edited November 2004
    Taper loads Fairlight without any problem at all.
  • SpectorSpector
    edited November 2004
    On 2004-11-20 09:06, itsallgood wrote:
    Taper loads Fairlight without any problem at all.

    What version is that? Is it the 128K tzx version, with that distinctive loader where you can't see the bars round the edge of the screen?
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  • itsallgooditsallgood
    edited November 2004
    That's the one!
    Are you trying to load it into a real Speccy? Because it doesn't load on a +2a/b. It only works on a 128 and +2.
  • Andrew BarkerAndrew Barker
    edited November 2004
    There's also a /128 switch with PlayTZX, perhaps it could be that too. Though I've had nee bother replaying Taper to my speccies, or playtzx for that matter. That's on my W98se box out to my 128k and 48ks.

    Try using /freq 45454 to see if that helps, cos you may notice that 44100 sounds out of pitch on some cards due to hardware rouding etc. Most sounds cards and built-in sounds best (by ear) using 45454Hz.

    Cheers

    Andy
  • Tom-CatTom-Cat
    edited November 2004
    PlayTZX loads that one perfectly to my +2 too ... whats the problem ?

    Remember with some TZX files you need to change sample frequency a bit... with mine 99% of all TZX files playback with default (44100) freq. , but some (altough not this one) need 45454 setting.

    TC
  • CKayCKay
    edited November 2004
    Tomcat, how do you load to your +2... have you modded it?


  • itsallgooditsallgood
    edited November 2004
    I use one of those cassette adapters that are meant for car tape players to use with a CD player.
    Just put that into the +2 tape player and press play. Plug the lead from it into your PC speakers headphone socket and away you go!

    I got the cassette adapter from Maplin online. Only cost about a fiver with postage.
  • CKayCKay
    edited November 2004
    WOW... nice idea, I knew some people were opening them up and doing something to allow input like with +2A/+3 but what you`ve just mentioned sounds ideal :)

    I`d never have thought of that (not having a car, and being unaware of those tape/CD thingy`s)...

  • DodgyGeezerDodgyGeezer
    edited November 2004
    On 2004-11-20 19:03, itsallgood wrote:
    I use one of those cassette adapters that are meant for car tape players to use with a CD player.
    Just put that into the +2 tape player and press play. Plug the lead from it into your PC speakers headphone socket and away you go!

    I got the cassette adapter from Maplin online. Only cost about a fiver with postage.

    I have a stereo cable between my SoundBlaster MIC connection and the 128+ ear.
    The Spectrum end is a stereo to mono jack.

    I can use Taper and PlayTtx without changing any settings (ie sound levels)
  • itsallgooditsallgood
    edited November 2004
    Ummm.......How do you get the sound to come out of the soundblasters MIC socket? Surely that's an input. Or am I just being thick?!
  • DodgyGeezerDodgyGeezer
    edited November 2004
    On 2004-11-21 11:54, itsallgood wrote:
    Ummm.......How do you get the sound to come out of the soundblasters MIC socket? Surely that's an input. Or am I just being thick?!

    I have a SB AWE64. I have my Speakers connected to line out
    and the cable for my speccy connected to MIC.
    it works. Try it.
    it is the required volume level for Taper and PlayTZX.
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