Load64

General Category => 1530USB Datasette to PC Adapter => Topic started by: Remzi on December 20, 2019, 09:51:19 PM

Title: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: Remzi on December 20, 2019, 09:51:19 PM
If the programs that you tried to record on a tape is not loading on your Commodore 64,here is the troubleshooting.

1.Inspect the tape,is it creased? Pressure pad missing?
2.Clean the heads,capstan and the pinch roller with IPA and cotton buds.
3.Do not tick the "inverted waveform" box.It is used for transfering from tape to PC,not for recording to tapes.
4.Go to sound settings and make sure USB Pnp sound device is set as default for the playback.
5.Do not use your computer while recording.If you get any audio notifications from Facebook or messenger,it will be recorded to the tape.
6.DOWNLOAD (http://www.load64.com/up/justage.prg) Recorder Justage and record it to tape.Try loading on C64.
7.Backup that not loading tape back to PC and send me the WAV file so I can investigate what is wrong with it.
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: Remzi on October 13, 2020, 07:36:08 PM
it arrived. I tried it, something strange. I recorded two cassettes, one worked only on one side. Strange, the recorder can't even read what it writes..

If you managed to record something and it loaded,it shows adapter is working fine but there is something else wrong.

(http://www.load64.com/up/v22.png)

Make sure your speaker settings are exactly same as above.Increase the volume to 100.

Do you have any other tape decks?
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: chriz74 on October 14, 2020, 11:55:32 AM
my tests so far:

I made a tap file from original "Space Harrier" tape with success.
I tried the 3000 herzt test, none of my c2n read anything, my guess is they didn't record anything at all, tried several times with different tapes to no avail.
I made a tape from a tap file of "Antiriad" then I created a tap from the cassette, tried to load it in vice, it failed. Then I passed the same file to final tap and tried to load it in vice, it worked.

I was finally able to record a square tone using another software --> https://www.nch.com.au/tonegen/index.html

Here is the log, it was always over 3000 hertz

3007.0 0.3523 0.5978
3003.5 0.3890 0.6976
3003.1 0.3657 0.7664
3006.8 0.3643 0.7664
3005.7 0.3773 0.7664
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: chriz74 on October 15, 2020, 07:01:47 PM

7.Backup that not loading tape back to PC and send me the WAV file so I can investigate what is wrong with it.

here it is

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hu8suaapo0nlc8t/antiriad.wav.zip
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: Remzi on October 17, 2020, 07:02:48 PM
FinalTap gives 100% but it works if cleaned.
There must be a small issue.It might be the drive belt or tape deck might be picking up some noise.
Make sure your mobile phone and the WIFI router is away from the datasette.
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: chriz74 on October 18, 2020, 12:11:42 PM
FinalTap gives 100% but it works if cleaned.
There must be a small issue.It might be the drive belt or tape deck might be picking up some noise.
Make sure your mobile phone and the WIFI router is away from the datasette.

Do you know exact sizes of 1530 and 1531 belts?
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: Remzi on October 18, 2020, 01:14:35 PM
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280884437794

0.80mm X 1.2mm
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: chriz74 on October 20, 2020, 02:34:15 PM
I put new belts to both the 1530 and 1531, used an usb extension to move away both the 1530usb and the datasettes from the pc and smartphones. No way, still can't get a working tape.
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: chriz74 on October 20, 2020, 04:31:03 PM
Actually I made another test. I tried to record Antiriad and Ghosts'n'Goblins one after the other. Antiriad doesn't work, GNG does. This Antiriad tap seems very problematic. Can you test with on your end ?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/w7vias2ht2yg5iq/The%20Sacred%20Armour%20Of%20Antiriad.tap?dl=0
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: Remzi on October 21, 2020, 09:12:04 AM

(https://i.ibb.co/sKBQrMb/1a.jpg) (https://ibb.co/sKBQrMb)


I recorded that TAP file to a tape and tried it on real hardware.No problemo.
If you get some games working some games don't,you might have a partially failed CPU or PLA chip.

I had a similar problem with a PLA chip I bought from ebay.

Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: chriz74 on October 21, 2020, 10:06:57 AM
I’ll see if I find any diag software, I don’t have problems with commando. What is the cart you are loading from?

I tried this diagnostic software, can't find anything better. Don't really know what is diagnosing...

---

I tried the sw on Vice and it does the same so I think it's not really diagnosing anything at all.

Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: DABYX on September 06, 2021, 09:04:28 PM
Just to add my 2 cents, I'm also having problems with Antiriad. Audio on the tapes I'm trying sound fine. I suppose I could also have a bad PLA.
I'm guessing Antiriad is just one of those larger games.

Edit: After a weekend of trying I finally found a version both short enough for my original tape and it worked first time. I can share the file if needed just let me know.

After listening to the bad tape again I do think the low 'crackle'bursts sounded different. Slightly higher pitched and less bass. I'm guessing those are what made it not work and perhaps both our PCs messed with the audio despite having enhancements off?
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: chriz74 on September 07, 2021, 01:09:27 PM
Just to add my 2 cents, I'm also having problems with Antiriad. Audio on the tapes I'm trying sound fine. I suppose I could also have a bad PLA.
I'm guessing Antiriad is just one of those larger games.

Edit: After a weekend of trying I finally found a version both short enough for my original tape and it worked first time. I can share the file if needed just let me know.

After listening to the bad tape again I do think the low 'crackle'bursts sounded different. Slightly higher pitched and less bass. I'm guessing those are what made it not work and perhaps both our PCs messed with the audio despite having enhancements off?

Hello, yes please. I will try with yours and report if it works for me too.
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: Remzi on September 07, 2021, 04:38:40 PM
Welcome back Chriz.What a surprise  :D

@Dabyx,please correct me if I'm wrong.
You downloaded a TAP file and recorded it over to original copy tape.
It doesn't load on the real hardware?

Tape is physically damaged any chance? Creased or badly worn out?
Have you tried recording it to another blank tape?
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: chriz74 on September 07, 2021, 04:46:10 PM
Welcome back Chriz.What a surprise  :D

@Dabyx,please correct me if I'm wrong.
You downloaded a TAP file and recorded it over to original copy tape.
It doesn't load on the real hardware?


Thanks, I think he was able to burn a version on the original tape that works with real hardware. That's what I get from his post at least.
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: DABYX on September 07, 2021, 09:26:19 PM
My original tape was very (VERY) temperamental so I downloaded a tap that would fit but it failed. Suspecting it was my old tape I tried on a blank tape and that also failed on real hardware. It loaded in Vice absolutely fine.
 
After listening to the recording on the blank tape I do think that despite having all enhancements etc off it recorded the big loud fuzz sections at a slightly higher pitch.
I therefore think that maybe some PCs still can affect recording but only if the tape has these certain sounds. I'm guessing it was a copy protection to try and fool auto balance on old decks?

Anyway I found a tap file that is the right length (Shorter) that works fine on my blank tape.

My old tape is 100% dead though I think but that's not important.

Am I ok to provide a link to the file on the forums Remzi?
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: Remzi on September 08, 2021, 07:56:25 AM
That's fine mate.Please do post the links for the working and non working TAP files.
It does sound like some sort of tape copy protection.
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: chriz74 on September 08, 2021, 02:40:42 PM
I can confirm that the version works. I was able to burn it on the original tape (that was not working), both sides.
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: DABYX on September 08, 2021, 05:25:11 PM
That's fine mate.Please do post the links for the working and non working TAP files.
It does sound like some sort of tape copy protection.

I'll upload the files either tonight or tomorrow evening  :)
Already gave Chriz a link to the working one as per his response.
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: DABYX on September 09, 2021, 09:28:41 PM
ok here is one of the Antiriad versions that did not work. In total I think I tried 3.
I think they all had the extreme 'fuzz' but I'm not certain as I went through a lot of attempts etc.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8eugs24x6lpz0fk/Sacred%20Armour%20of%20Antiriad%2C%20The%20%281986%29%28Palace%20Software%29.tap?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/8eugs24x6lpz0fk/Sacred%20Armour%20of%20Antiriad%2C%20The%20%281986%29%28Palace%20Software%29.tap?dl=0)

(Edit: I did this quickly last night and think I gave you the wrong version for not working...I think this is the longer tape length which I didn't try due to my original being smaller. Apologies! I'll have a proper look at the weekend.)


And this is the version that worked first time and was confirmed working for Chriz.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xw1cczbpq35mogb/The%20Sacred%20Armour%20Of%20Antiriad.tap?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/xw1cczbpq35mogb/The%20Sacred%20Armour%20Of%20Antiriad.tap?dl=0)

If you need me to do tests of any sort I'm more than happy to but I'm a tad busy recently.

As I (keep  :-[ ) saying I don't think it's an issue with the cable personally but individual PC's and specific tape(s).
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: Remzi on September 10, 2021, 10:36:04 AM
Long one doesn't work on the Winvice,that's not the one I guess.
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: DABYX on September 10, 2021, 09:29:37 PM
Well now I'm confused as I thought all versions I had worked in Vice.  :o

Anywho here is the one I think I tried previously that I couldn't get working.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3op36ni11dubu72/The%20Sacred%20Armour%20Of%20Antiriad%20-%20Copy.tap?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/3op36ni11dubu72/The%20Sacred%20Armour%20Of%20Antiriad%20-%20Copy.tap?dl=0)

It's one of the two.
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: Remzi on September 11, 2021, 11:17:42 AM
Well now I'm confused as I thought all versions I had worked in Vice.  :o

Anywho here is the one I think I tried previously that I couldn't get working.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3op36ni11dubu72/The%20Sacred%20Armour%20Of%20Antiriad%20-%20Copy.tap?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/3op36ni11dubu72/The%20Sacred%20Armour%20Of%20Antiriad%20-%20Copy.tap?dl=0)

It's one of the two.

I recorded this TAP to a tape and it loaded on the real hardware fine.I'm not sure what's wrong on your side.
It might be your PC somehow limiting the output or your datasette is well used and underperforming.
You can try pushing it to the limits.
1.Max out the USB speaker volume.
2.Go to Audiotap advanced options and set the output frequency to 96000Hz.

(http://www.load64.com/up/96.jpg)
Try recording it again to tape.
Title: Re: Unable to Record to Tapes
Post by: DABYX on September 15, 2021, 01:38:28 PM
Sorry for the late reply!

I might give that a go then thanks.  :)