Cassette recorder replacement?

[MADrigal]

Hi Tom,
just had a quick read to your posts, and wow looks like you're very close to building the ultimate replacement for CV tape modules!

I just sent you the required pics of the tape module IC's.

On a side note: my Funvision tape module works at double speed than the CV version. Not sure if it was hacked by some repairing service, or it was "factory made" (which I doubt).

By the way, when loading tapes with the FV tape module I got many many read errors or missing lines. The same tapes work 100% when loaded with the CV tape module.

[Scouter3d]

Hi Luca,

I have to dig deeper in to the "impedance" of different input / outputs (PC Soundcard, Mic-in, Headphone out, tape in / out ...) and make more tests...

i wonder if the funvision runs the tape faster at playback then at recording!?!?!?

Greetings TOM:-)

[MADrigal]

I think it always works at 200% speed, probably changed some plastic wheel in the mechanics, or used shorter strings...

[Scouter3d]

Hi Luca, if your funvision-tapemodule always runs faster (even on recording) , it would only increase "quality" (the same signal on twice as much tape) of the signal but not speed, as the Console outputs the data at a fix rate... Greetings TOM:-)

[Scouter3d]

Hi,

Updates ont the CreatiVision "Save-Load":

I managed to SAVE and LOAD BASIC programs using the MIC input and the Headphones output + a little homemade amplifier of my notebook!

SAVE: i simply connected the 2 pins the the mic input and recorded, the signal is very much clipped, but i think thats ok, because it "squares" the waveform really good.

LOAD: i connected the Headphone output to my little Amp (LM386 + 10K resistor + 7805 for creating 5V from the console output...) and was able to load!!!!

PS: with this Setup i was not able to load the "lunar lander" file ...

Will keep you updated...

[Scouter3d]

Again a few updates,

Saving and loading with my small amplifier works very good and reliable ...
So if you only want to save / load your own programms (meanwhile testet with built in notebook soundcard), thats the easiest way...

But i tried something different: i used the inards of a commodore datasette and with this i was also able to load my saved programms!

So maybe there is an easy way to hook up a Commodore Datasette (as they are really cheap) ....

Tell me what you think!

Greetings TOM:-)

[Bill Loguidice]

So maybe there is an easy way to hook up a Commodore Datasette (as they are really cheap) ....

Tell me what you think!

Greetings TOM:-)

Well, that certainly would be a viable option for Creativision/Wizzard owners. I know I must have a half dozen datasettes laying around.

[MADrigal]

Tom, why not home-making a bunch of adaptors with connectors for the creativision console and the Commodore datassette? I think that more creativision owners would buy it for cheap.

[Bill Loguidice]

Tom, why not home-making a bunch of adaptors with connectors for the creativision console and the Commodore datassette? I think that more creativision owners would buy it for cheap.

I second that. You'd have at least two buyers right here.

[Scouter3d]

Hi!

I will give it a shot at the weekend (right now i only have the inards of one datasette at hand, so i have to dig into my collection and find a complete one ...)

IF!?! the concept works in both directions (save/load) i think it will be a very basic adapter, all that would be needed would be a few electronic parts to get the 2 needed voltages (5V for the electronic inside the datasette and 6,5V for the motor - both generated from the roughly 9V out of the cassette-port) and maybe it is possible to use the "remote" signal as well ... (maybe this needs inverting!)

Greetings TOM:-)