On 2005-09-08 00:08, Dunny wrote:
I'm sure you've all seen this before?
Ok, it'll not plug directly into your speccy, but you can use it to load real tapes into an emulator :)
D.
Bloody hell Dunny, will you stop linking to that, I get very tetchy when I see it cos I could really use one but can't afford to spend over ?100 pounds at the moment...
I use one of those WH Smiths Tape Deck with counter. I used to use an Alba-R170 but it died. The results I get are more of less the same (good success).
I still use my 'Computer Compatible ' tape recorder from the 80's with the little switch which says 'COMPUTE MODE ON', though I don't think it actually does anthing. It's probably the same as Andrews WH Smiths recorder as I remember there were 3 or 4 different brand names on the same machine.
I use a Yamaha MT-120 4-Track Recorder. It has stereo 10 band eq(5-band L/R), variable speed too which helps with speedloaders. Damaged tapes can be sometimes fixed by running a compresser/limiter in the aux/fx loops and cutting bass and adding treble, whilst making a copy.
On 2005-09-08 00:08, Dunny wrote:
I'm sure you've all seen this before?
Gilby and myself both think these are excellent units. A bit expensive yes but when you build it into a machine with a plus 3 drive you have just about the best you can do for a preservation setup.
Very easy to use and very reliable BUT make sure you download the latest software. It adds a couple of useful features.
On 2005-09-08 00:08, Dunny wrote:
I'm sure you've all seen this before?
Gilby and myself both think these are excellent units. A bit expensive yes but when you build it into a machine with a plus 3 drive you have just about the best you can do for a preservation setup.
Very easy to use and very reliable BUT make sure you download the latest software. It adds a couple of useful features.
ADJB
yeah id really love one of those
for ripping my old music tapes onto computer, beats trying to get the old line in connection working :)
yes they do seem a bit expensive to me, whats $149 in real money?
Professional Mel-the-Bell Simulator................"So realistic, I found myself reaching for the Kleenex King-Size!" - Richard Darling
Best one we ever had was a W H Smiths Data Casette Recorder.Brown with an orange pause button.It could output game sound at the flick of a switch, had easy access to the zimmy and loaded everything.
On 2005-09-12 20:17, Specboy wrote:
Have a look in the Argos book. They do a Sony mono tape recorder just like the old one's you used to have with your Speecy. I think it's 24.99
I'm sure Swordheart recommended this earlier, in fact it's ?24.50.
Please read the entire thread before adding comments of your own.
_________________
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[ This Message was edited by: karingal on 2005-09-13 00:39 ]
On 2005-09-12 20:17, Specboy wrote:
Have a look in the Argos book. They do a Sony mono tape recorder just like the old one's you used to have with your Speecy. I think it's 24.99
That's the one I tried and rejected. Got it for that price at Comet. Costs another ?5 at Argos.
probably best to try out very cheap 80s stereos from car boots or charity shops - these often have 3 band eq on them and can put out a loud signal from the headphone socket - the bottom end of the eq is usually worth knocking right down and also sometimes the top end - the code is not using those frequency ranges and this way you are to be able to feed the spectrum higher volumes without it crashing because of the tape rumble. The fact that they are stereo can be an advantage - by using the balance control or a splitter lead (stereo plug to 2 mono plugs) you can feed the channel (R or L) which has best survived the years - in some cases games tapes were biased to one side or the other so being able to just use the channel with best signal to noise (the loudest chaneel) is helpful.
Well excuse me for being unable to open Swordheart's link to the Argos site.
Excuse me for trying to help a fellow Spectrum user.
Oh and excuse me for being a whole 50p out on the price.
But I tell you this I would much rather be considered incompetent than Anal retentive.
I thought the idea of these forums was so that people could share information and opinions. Not so that people like you could have free rein to pass on your condesending little comments. Some of these threads have over 166 individual comments and according to you we must read every single one because otherwise we may get a snotty posting from Karingal.
Actually FrankT was onto something rather significant, mentioning compressor/limiter and with graphic eq.
In such a case I'd recommend a used Behringer DSP8024.
With a 64Bit processor and 31 band stereo eq. These things are cheap nowadays, am sure you could get hold of one for under ?100.
Just like in music, when you do the eq thing, its not about boosting a particular band, but about removing unwanted noise and then to normalise the entire content. Removing bass (as FrankT also mentioned) does wonders as so does cleaning the treble.
And what is treble you might ask? Silly boy, treble is in the field of (spectrumwise speaking that is) 5Khz to 15Khz range.
With one of these in your pocket, ok well rather large pockets, but nonetheless, even an old dusty spaceraiders will come out sounding as crisp as a drag from a cigarette after sex with a ?1000 whore. (But rather use your money on the DSP)
If anyone has an old Spectrum 128, +2, +2A or +3, then use the built-in cassette recorder to play games. Connect the 9V-DC socket to the mains (PSU if you're using +2A or +3), switch on, rewind a tape, start an emulator, et voil
Comments
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000AKKQJ/qid%3D1126125248/202-8195294-8669431
I bought it about three years ago and I've had no trouble with it at all. I recommend it completely.
Necros.
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=3801&productId=153766&clickfrom=name
Ok, it'll not plug directly into your speccy, but you can use it to load real tapes into an emulator :-)
D.
Cheers
Andy
My ZX Art Music Page
Carlos Michelis Theme
I'll look for the WH Smith model.
I tried the Sony but it didn't work on my old "backups".
Gilby and myself both think these are excellent units. A bit expensive yes but when you build it into a machine with a plus 3 drive you have just about the best you can do for a preservation setup.
Very easy to use and very reliable BUT make sure you download the latest software. It adds a couple of useful features.
ADJB
yeah id really love one of those
for ripping my old music tapes onto computer, beats trying to get the old line in connection working :)
yes they do seem a bit expensive to me, whats $149 in real money?
but i'd recommend a
Sony TC=150
predates the walkman by many a year, eats batteries, but if you use rechargables not a problem.
Predates the ZX-Spectrum, and I've used one for years, never let me down ever.
Records too.
Rather hard to find, but when they do come up on eBay, they don't fetch big bucks.##
## edit: they take universal supply units too ##
[ This Message was edited by: thx1138 on 2005-09-12 03:34 ]
Please read the entire thread before adding comments of your own.
_________________
I wanna tell you a story 'bout a woman I know...
[ This Message was edited by: karingal on 2005-09-13 00:39 ]
If you have any more surly comments please sodding well keep them to yourself.
I'm not the one who failed to read entire thread before adding comments of his own.
Don't blame me for your incompetence...
That's the one I tried and rejected. Got it for that price at Comet. Costs another ?5 at Argos.
Excuse me for trying to help a fellow Spectrum user.
Oh and excuse me for being a whole 50p out on the price.
But I tell you this I would much rather be considered incompetent than Anal retentive.
I thought the idea of these forums was so that people could share information and opinions. Not so that people like you could have free rein to pass on your condesending little comments. Some of these threads have over 166 individual comments and according to you we must read every single one because otherwise we may get a snotty posting from Karingal.
If it's not loading your old backup tapes, you need to adjust the azimuth most likely.
In such a case I'd recommend a used Behringer DSP8024.
http://www.behringer.com/DSP8024/index.cfm?lang=ENG
With a 64Bit processor and 31 band stereo eq. These things are cheap nowadays, am sure you could get hold of one for under ?100.
Just like in music, when you do the eq thing, its not about boosting a particular band, but about removing unwanted noise and then to normalise the entire content. Removing bass (as FrankT also mentioned) does wonders as so does cleaning the treble.
And what is treble you might ask? Silly boy, treble is in the field of (spectrumwise speaking that is) 5Khz to 15Khz range.
With one of these in your pocket, ok well rather large pockets, but nonetheless, even an old dusty spaceraiders will come out sounding as crisp as a drag from a cigarette after sex with a ?1000 whore. (But rather use your money on the DSP)