Stood up a tape rip station to get the last tricky block conversion done. It loads so much easier and will correctly match the runtime of the original tape when I'm done.
The flat recorded wav works but it isn't enjoying conversion to tzx (yet!) 🙂
The flat recorded wav works but it isn't enjoying conversion to tzx (yet!) 🙂
November 12, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Stood up a tape rip station to get the last tricky block conversion done. It loads so much easier and will correctly match the runtime of the original tape when I'm done.
The flat recorded wav works but it isn't enjoying conversion to tzx (yet!) 🙂
The flat recorded wav works but it isn't enjoying conversion to tzx (yet!) 🙂
Two separate coils are way better. The front coil acts as a damper for the rear coil and it all sorts of balances itself out at medium volume.
I have to switch it but it means I have an ideal config for the Speccy and C64.
I still need to fine tune the pause response but it's pretty decent as is.🙂
I have to switch it but it means I have an ideal config for the Speccy and C64.
I still need to fine tune the pause response but it's pretty decent as is.🙂
November 9, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Two separate coils are way better. The front coil acts as a damper for the rear coil and it all sorts of balances itself out at medium volume.
I have to switch it but it means I have an ideal config for the Speccy and C64.
I still need to fine tune the pause response but it's pretty decent as is.🙂
I have to switch it but it means I have an ideal config for the Speccy and C64.
I still need to fine tune the pause response but it's pretty decent as is.🙂
The amp isn't agile enough to do a snappy rising and falling edge at low volume so I'm playing with dual wound coils.
I have a 100/600 turn setup at the moment and a switch at the side to choose but it's rubbish so I'll try two separates. 🙂
I have a 100/600 turn setup at the moment and a switch at the side to choose but it's rubbish so I'll try two separates. 🙂
November 9, 2025 at 9:03 AM
The amp isn't agile enough to do a snappy rising and falling edge at low volume so I'm playing with dual wound coils.
I have a 100/600 turn setup at the moment and a switch at the side to choose but it's rubbish so I'll try two separates. 🙂
I have a 100/600 turn setup at the moment and a switch at the side to choose but it's rubbish so I'll try two separates. 🙂
I'll do a slow rip, and convert each block at a time. The dead spot is towards the end of the loading screen so it'll be easy to see if it's right.
I'm not bad with audio editing so should be able to sort it out. My theory is that the timing in the other tzx files are a smidge off, hence weird. 🙂
I'm not bad with audio editing so should be able to sort it out. My theory is that the timing in the other tzx files are a smidge off, hence weird. 🙂
November 8, 2025 at 1:42 PM
I'll do a slow rip, and convert each block at a time. The dead spot is towards the end of the loading screen so it'll be easy to see if it's right.
I'm not bad with audio editing so should be able to sort it out. My theory is that the timing in the other tzx files are a smidge off, hence weird. 🙂
I'm not bad with audio editing so should be able to sort it out. My theory is that the timing in the other tzx files are a smidge off, hence weird. 🙂
Got a decent enough export from a tape player but there's a nasty little dead spot.
I'm going to try dropping the deck speed by half, recording it, then doubling it back up again. I'll see what I'm left with after that, it works in an emulator but won't convert to .tzx (yet) 🙂
I'm going to try dropping the deck speed by half, recording it, then doubling it back up again. I'll see what I'm left with after that, it works in an emulator but won't convert to .tzx (yet) 🙂
November 8, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Got a decent enough export from a tape player but there's a nasty little dead spot.
I'm going to try dropping the deck speed by half, recording it, then doubling it back up again. I'll see what I'm left with after that, it works in an emulator but won't convert to .tzx (yet) 🙂
I'm going to try dropping the deck speed by half, recording it, then doubling it back up again. I'll see what I'm left with after that, it works in an emulator but won't convert to .tzx (yet) 🙂
I've been using a .tzx of StrangeLoop to test loading games from a Bluetooth cassette but it has always been weird.
I have an original copy and the game loading speed is about 8-10 seconds faster than the .tzx. it's not the deck speed, that's been checked.
I might try and rip my copy. 🤔
I have an original copy and the game loading speed is about 8-10 seconds faster than the .tzx. it's not the deck speed, that's been checked.
I might try and rip my copy. 🤔
November 8, 2025 at 12:57 PM
I've been using a .tzx of StrangeLoop to test loading games from a Bluetooth cassette but it has always been weird.
I have an original copy and the game loading speed is about 8-10 seconds faster than the .tzx. it's not the deck speed, that's been checked.
I might try and rip my copy. 🤔
I have an original copy and the game loading speed is about 8-10 seconds faster than the .tzx. it's not the deck speed, that's been checked.
I might try and rip my copy. 🤔
Thrown together with zero finesse but I'm not going to argue with the results. ☺️
November 6, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Thrown together with zero finesse but I'm not going to argue with the results. ☺️
Hah! I spy with my little eye...
This is good, this is VERY good...
Hold please. 😁
This is good, this is VERY good...
Hold please. 😁
November 6, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Hah! I spy with my little eye...
This is good, this is VERY good...
Hold please. 😁
This is good, this is VERY good...
Hold please. 😁
Got a cheapie Bluetooth Cassette Adapter to play with.
I have an idea that ought to be interesting and I'll pop it open tonight and take a look. ☺️
I have an idea that ought to be interesting and I'll pop it open tonight and take a look. ☺️
November 6, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Got a cheapie Bluetooth Cassette Adapter to play with.
I have an idea that ought to be interesting and I'll pop it open tonight and take a look. ☺️
I have an idea that ought to be interesting and I'll pop it open tonight and take a look. ☺️
Programmed and built. It could be snappier but I'm going with safe timings for now.
Also, as alignment isn't critical, I jiggered with the shell design a bit. 🙂
Also, as alignment isn't critical, I jiggered with the shell design a bit. 🙂
November 4, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Programmed and built. It could be snappier but I'm going with safe timings for now.
Also, as alignment isn't critical, I jiggered with the shell design a bit. 🙂
Also, as alignment isn't critical, I jiggered with the shell design a bit. 🙂
Well, that's much smaller, I'll need to do some programming next. ☺️
November 2, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Well, that's much smaller, I'll need to do some programming next. ☺️
The PCB is little more than a breakout board for the attiny and hall effect sensor but should definitely do the job.
Into the tub it goes. ☺️
Into the tub it goes. ☺️
November 2, 2025 at 10:08 AM
The PCB is little more than a breakout board for the attiny and hall effect sensor but should definitely do the job.
Into the tub it goes. ☺️
Into the tub it goes. ☺️
Oh yeah, about that pause detection.
The full Arduino is overkill but the attiny doesn't have hardware serial which is needed for snappy pause response from the Bluetooth module.
Luckily there's a gpio pin on the module that pauses if you short it to ground.
I'll need a PCB for this. 🤔
The full Arduino is overkill but the attiny doesn't have hardware serial which is needed for snappy pause response from the Bluetooth module.
Luckily there's a gpio pin on the module that pauses if you short it to ground.
I'll need a PCB for this. 🤔
November 2, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Oh yeah, about that pause detection.
The full Arduino is overkill but the attiny doesn't have hardware serial which is needed for snappy pause response from the Bluetooth module.
Luckily there's a gpio pin on the module that pauses if you short it to ground.
I'll need a PCB for this. 🤔
The full Arduino is overkill but the attiny doesn't have hardware serial which is needed for snappy pause response from the Bluetooth module.
Luckily there's a gpio pin on the module that pauses if you short it to ground.
I'll need a PCB for this. 🤔
Played component Ker-Plunk and stripped out everything that wasn't completely necessary without sacrificing performance.
I got it down to a cap, switch, coil and pot.
I'm a happy old Hector. ☺️
I got it down to a cap, switch, coil and pot.
I'm a happy old Hector. ☺️
November 2, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Played component Ker-Plunk and stripped out everything that wasn't completely necessary without sacrificing performance.
I got it down to a cap, switch, coil and pot.
I'm a happy old Hector. ☺️
I got it down to a cap, switch, coil and pot.
I'm a happy old Hector. ☺️
Found one game that was problematic but used another tap file and it was fine so I'm calling this done.
it prefers a square wave but is happy with sines too. ☺️
it prefers a square wave but is happy with sines too. ☺️
November 1, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Found one game that was problematic but used another tap file and it was fine so I'm calling this done.
it prefers a square wave but is happy with sines too. ☺️
it prefers a square wave but is happy with sines too. ☺️
The RoboCop 3 loader is positively demonic. 😲
Worked though! 🥳
Worked though! 🥳
November 1, 2025 at 12:17 PM
The RoboCop 3 loader is positively demonic. 😲
Worked though! 🥳
Worked though! 🥳
I've built the changes into a cassette with pause detection and I haven't found anything that doesn't load.
It's adjusted so that full volume favours the leading edge for the Speccy and half evens up the waveform for the 64.
time for some proper testing I think! ☺️
It's adjusted so that full volume favours the leading edge for the Speccy and half evens up the waveform for the 64.
time for some proper testing I think! ☺️
November 1, 2025 at 12:10 PM
I've built the changes into a cassette with pause detection and I haven't found anything that doesn't load.
It's adjusted so that full volume favours the leading edge for the Speccy and half evens up the waveform for the 64.
time for some proper testing I think! ☺️
It's adjusted so that full volume favours the leading edge for the Speccy and half evens up the waveform for the 64.
time for some proper testing I think! ☺️
Filtered out the remaining HF noise and distortion, it's rock steady! 🥳
I've used a pot in line so that it creates a high pass filter with the DC blocking cap. Most things load fine but it boosts the leading edge for certain Speccy speed loaders. I'll add a boost switch later. ☺️
I've used a pot in line so that it creates a high pass filter with the DC blocking cap. Most things load fine but it boosts the leading edge for certain Speccy speed loaders. I'll add a boost switch later. ☺️
November 1, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Filtered out the remaining HF noise and distortion, it's rock steady! 🥳
I've used a pot in line so that it creates a high pass filter with the DC blocking cap. Most things load fine but it boosts the leading edge for certain Speccy speed loaders. I'll add a boost switch later. ☺️
I've used a pot in line so that it creates a high pass filter with the DC blocking cap. Most things load fine but it boosts the leading edge for certain Speccy speed loaders. I'll add a boost switch later. ☺️
Coupled some coils back to back, yellow is the tx coil, blue is the Rx coil. There's a low frequency sag caused by the transfer that's just enough to cause a trigger event.
It's bang on exact but the Speccy doesn't work as well as it should.
My guess is that it's flooding the Datacorder. 🤔
It's bang on exact but the Speccy doesn't work as well as it should.
My guess is that it's flooding the Datacorder. 🤔
November 1, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Coupled some coils back to back, yellow is the tx coil, blue is the Rx coil. There's a low frequency sag caused by the transfer that's just enough to cause a trigger event.
It's bang on exact but the Speccy doesn't work as well as it should.
My guess is that it's flooding the Datacorder. 🤔
It's bang on exact but the Speccy doesn't work as well as it should.
My guess is that it's flooding the Datacorder. 🤔
Made up a batch of hot swap coils and a test frame that's half storage, half synth.
You very kind internet people have given me a bunch of tricky loaders to test with so I'm going to do a bunch of observational legwork for a bit. 🤔
You very kind internet people have given me a bunch of tricky loaders to test with so I'm going to do a bunch of observational legwork for a bit. 🤔
November 1, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Made up a batch of hot swap coils and a test frame that's half storage, half synth.
You very kind internet people have given me a bunch of tricky loaders to test with so I'm going to do a bunch of observational legwork for a bit. 🤔
You very kind internet people have given me a bunch of tricky loaders to test with so I'm going to do a bunch of observational legwork for a bit. 🤔
That actually worked pretty well. It helped dial in a couple of things too, cheers! 🙂
October 28, 2025 at 6:34 PM
That actually worked pretty well. It helped dial in a couple of things too, cheers! 🙂
Hello!! I'm working on a tape loader device type thing and I want to give it something tricky to chew on.
What are the trickiest loaders fo the C64 and Speccy? I'm currently loading StrangeLoop and Sanxion without issue and I'm after a challenge.
Suggestions gratefully received! 🙂
What are the trickiest loaders fo the C64 and Speccy? I'm currently loading StrangeLoop and Sanxion without issue and I'm after a challenge.
Suggestions gratefully received! 🙂
October 27, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Hello!! I'm working on a tape loader device type thing and I want to give it something tricky to chew on.
What are the trickiest loaders fo the C64 and Speccy? I'm currently loading StrangeLoop and Sanxion without issue and I'm after a challenge.
Suggestions gratefully received! 🙂
What are the trickiest loaders fo the C64 and Speccy? I'm currently loading StrangeLoop and Sanxion without issue and I'm after a challenge.
Suggestions gratefully received! 🙂
I've set up the pauseable tape with the new config and I'm loading games at random.
The magic formula is to have enough coil turns to match the amps output across the main frequencies, filter the high end a smidge, and attenuate until the datasette head can cope. Easy peasy really. 😂
The magic formula is to have enough coil turns to match the amps output across the main frequencies, filter the high end a smidge, and attenuate until the datasette head can cope. Easy peasy really. 😂
October 19, 2025 at 6:48 AM
I've set up the pauseable tape with the new config and I'm loading games at random.
The magic formula is to have enough coil turns to match the amps output across the main frequencies, filter the high end a smidge, and attenuate until the datasette head can cope. Easy peasy really. 😂
The magic formula is to have enough coil turns to match the amps output across the main frequencies, filter the high end a smidge, and attenuate until the datasette head can cope. Easy peasy really. 😂
Results are in. Tap2Wav beats TapClean in consistency. The TapClean output volume is all over the place whereas Tap2Wav works to a set level.
I've tuned the tape and have been flipping through wavs, they all look good so far!
Even TapDancer works! 🥳
I've tuned the tape and have been flipping through wavs, they all look good so far!
Even TapDancer works! 🥳
October 19, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Results are in. Tap2Wav beats TapClean in consistency. The TapClean output volume is all over the place whereas Tap2Wav works to a set level.
I've tuned the tape and have been flipping through wavs, they all look good so far!
Even TapDancer works! 🥳
I've tuned the tape and have been flipping through wavs, they all look good so far!
Even TapDancer works! 🥳
I was wildly wrong about HF noise, it was the head ringing all along. A huge chunk of ferrite proved that nicely.
I'm converting the entire C64 TOSEC tap library to see which is the most consistent at outputting a wav then I'll do some proper tuning. ☺️
I'm converting the entire C64 TOSEC tap library to see which is the most consistent at outputting a wav then I'll do some proper tuning. ☺️
October 19, 2025 at 6:00 AM
I was wildly wrong about HF noise, it was the head ringing all along. A huge chunk of ferrite proved that nicely.
I'm converting the entire C64 TOSEC tap library to see which is the most consistent at outputting a wav then I'll do some proper tuning. ☺️
I'm converting the entire C64 TOSEC tap library to see which is the most consistent at outputting a wav then I'll do some proper tuning. ☺️