Converting .PRG .TAP, and .64 files to tape.

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joshuadenmark
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Post by joshuadenmark »

e5frog wrote:We have a problem.

The cassette adapter is only rated for "Bit rate: 32 kbps ~ 256 kbps.cbr/vbr." and winTZX outputs 320kbps.

I managed to load at 265kbps but with the current release of winTZX you can't change the bit setting (easily).
This is not good :(
Kind regards, Peter.
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Post by e5frog »

I've had some conversation with the author, perhaps he'll add a 256kbps option. Otherwise you'd need to encode them manually from wav... :-(


You never know however, perhaps it can take 320 anyway, my old 128MB mp3 player does...

I've ordered one as well, would be handy in the car and possibly other places.
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Post by joshuadenmark »

Thanks, lets see when it arrives. But when its possibel to encode manually I hope it can come in use.

Once again thanks for your experiments and your time. Hope the author will ad the option needed.
Kind regards, Peter.
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Post by e5frog »

If you are forced to encode separately you might as well use this, I think it's easier but not as fun as winTZX:
http://wav-prg.sourceforge.net/audiotap.html

Ahh... v3.5 is up, only have 3.4...

Then you can use Lame_enc to code to mp3 (or if you have other programs that do mp3:s) :

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/lame_encoder.htm

So it's not a total waste. It'll be exciting to see how it works when it gets here, remote control and no need to remove the lid is pretty handy. I ordered a US->Euro adapter as well for $0.99 so I can use the charge which is supposed to go from 100-250V according to the eBay seller. Charging from the computer works as well I guess.



EDIT:
I tested wav-prg again, the latest version, for fun I tested the sine wave version - both wav and mp3 loaded on the first try. Didn't have to fiddle with settings at all - and I had put everything away earlier today.

Recommended.
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joshuadenmark
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Post by joshuadenmark »

Hi Frog

Will take a look at audiotap and lame_enc maby these will do the job without crashing.

Now I can't wait to do some retro download for my vic and c64 :D
Kind regards, Peter.
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Post by 16KVIC20 »

I had another thought about transferring data to a real VIC by this method.

The C2N datasette seems to advance the tape far more slowly than a standard cassette deck does. If this is indeed true anything recorded onto a tape using a standard deck would be played at a different pitch when loaded from a C2N. Does that matter to the VIC? It could maybe explain why it isn't always successful.

I may dig the VIC out later and have another go.
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Post by 16KVIC20 »

e5frog wrote:Yes, having a "zillion" games available that can be loaded in an instant takes some of the fun out of it.
That is exactly what I found, so I went back to tape.

Although I don't mind putting a cart in once in a while for fast loading and instant fun. ;-)
Strangely that's OK, as it is only an extension of 1980s technology. Cartridges always were convenient for that.
It's a mediative state while waiting for a game to load, expectations are rising and when it finally loads OK you tend to stick to it for a while because you know it takes some time to load a new one...
I have a cup of coffee while games are loading. The investment in time and expectation makes a good game all the more rewarding.
With multicarts and others I tend to play a little, swap games, play some, swap game again etc.
I think it would be rather similar to when I use my 76 in 1 cloned NES.
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Post by 16KVIC20 »

e5frog wrote:Annoying program this winTZX 0.9a, doesn't seem to save last opened directory so I have to re-open that every time unless I want to place everything in the winTZX-folder. (That's when I finally found the "no-popup help text" button that looks like a bag painted in far too few colors, something like a 16 color Windows color scheme).
I store WinTZX in the same folder as VICE and all the games I've dowloaded. It always seems to remember where to find them.
When I finally opened the file I tick the MP3-button-"led" and now there's three options lit up in the lower menu WAV, VOC, and the play-button.

I want neither WAV nor VOC so I try and press the play button to get my mp3...
Kernal, turbo or both, well both sounds nice, will be handy to try both versions...

Tick.

WTF! It starts playing it in the speakers!
I recognize the kernal loader and turbo sounds...

What now, start all over - the program has reset and I have to do all of it all over again. What if I wanted to play it back again for some reason?
Whoops! Obviously my little guide in post 1 wasn't as thorough as it could have been...

This is definitely a program and a duplication method that requires some experimentation.
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Post by 16KVIC20 »

e5frog wrote:If you are forced to encode separately you might as well use this, I think it's easier but not as fun as winTZX:
http://wav-prg.sourceforge.net/audiotap.html

Ahh... v3.5 is up, only have 3.4...

Then you can use Lame_enc to code to mp3 (or if you have other programs that do mp3:s) :

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/lame_encoder.htm

So it's not a total waste. It'll be exciting to see how it works when it gets here, remote control and no need to remove the lid is pretty handy. I ordered a US->Euro adapter as well for $0.99 so I can use the charge which is supposed to go from 100-250V according to the eBay seller. Charging from the computer works as well I guess.



EDIT:
I tested wav-prg again, the latest version, for fun I tested the sine wave version - both wav and mp3 loaded on the first try. Didn't have to fiddle with settings at all - and I had put everything away earlier today.

Recommended.
I've never had much luck with those. Probably me being a bit thick though. I've used one for converting disk images to .prg images, can't remember its name at the moment though.
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Post by e5frog »

I got my mp3-tape today, I'm glad to announce that 320kbps works as well, so no problem there.

I'll try it in the datassette later today.


A few bad thing really is that the instructions have loads of spelling errors (as expected) and isn't 100% accurate. LED colors doesn't match etc.

My headphones have a broken wire, I have to bend the bend protection to get any sound in one of the speakers. :-( Something that could be expected after using this cheap item for a while, but not when new.
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Post by joshuadenmark »

Hi frog

Got my cassette too, will try it tomorrow.
Yes it's cheap quality, but my headset works :wink:

Glad to hear 320 kbps works.

Will post result when tested.
Kind regards, Peter.
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Post by e5frog »

I'm going to try it out in the car as well (and remember to remove any datassette-mp3:s before I do) - I'm interested in seeing if the remote works through the opening in the cassette-player... Really neat, not a bunch of wires to mess about with.

I wonder if the remote works when it's in the datassette - it should have had a lens through both sides. Maybe something to mod.
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Post by e5frog »

My remote didn't want to work with the player at all first, after opening it - it started to work. I think it was soldered slightly out of position and somehow it didn't work with the shell pressing it - or it was something with the batteries having a bad connection, I had them out as well.

I opened up a larger hole for the IR-receiver so I could maneuver the player inside the datassette with the remote. Works well now.


I had a really really hard time getting something to load, harder than with the wired tape adapter tried all versions of mp3, finally managed to set the EQ and volume correctly to be able to load a small 1.5kB kernal coded program (Tape Head Adjuster). It was a CBR coded 256kbps version, not inverted, made with Cool Edit.

Unfortunately it seems it doesn't keep the settings after you shut it off, so you have to remember the settings or calibrate it all over again.

I'll try and find my sweet spot, if you lower the volume to the lowest it should be possible to count the amount of needed clicks.

It would have been handy having one of the LEDs blink an indication when changing the EQ, only thing missing IMHO. Maybe a small LCD display could have been fitted in there as well.
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Re: Converting .PRG .TAP, and .64 files to tape.

Post by Forbidden64 »

I use tapdancer on my phone and record to a classic long cassette recorder. The play speed actually doesnt matter as much believe it or not. Commodore got away with using a cheap unregulated 9v ac motor because they handle the syncronization in software. For this reason it is generally okay to have different speeds of playback, provided thst speed is relatively constant.

The best thing to do is just crank up the volume. Also the reason why chrome tapes dont work as well is because you need a more powerful signal that is designed for those...the output quality of those tapes is amazing if you have the rigbt equipment. But for programs on a commodore you dont need anything fancy. Cheaper the better.
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Re: Converting .PRG .TAP, and .64 files to tape.

Post by Forbidden64 »

1541u2. The best addon for the c64 ever thus far. I transfer .tap with the datasette adapter all day long and it does a superb job every time. I just transfer like a dozen games to a tape and then plug the tape into my c2n on the vic and its game time! only problem is right now i dont have space to set up both computers...so if i do it that way, i generally transfer lots of games in one session. btw has anyone figured out what to do in the evil castle at the beginning?
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