Recording difficulties [SOLVED]

[scyllinice]

Hello,

My 1530 USB adapter came in a couple of days ago (thanks!) and I've spent my Saturday trying to get a tape to successfully record.

My datasette is in good shape. It can load tapes recorded on a Eiki tape recorder just fine.

I've tried different volumes (from 75 to 80 as directed). I've even tried 100 and upping the recording frequency to 96000.

What happens is that every time I try to load the tape, I either get a load error, the loading crashes the machine or the loading freezes.

The same TAP file can be recorded using the aforementioned Eiki tape recorder and it loads up just fine.

Any ideas on what else I can try?

[Remzi]

I guess you have the version 2.

Give it another try with these instructions

Don't use your PC while recording.Even browsing the web might cause interference.

[scyllinice]

I'll give it a shot. The slip of paper included pointed to the instructions that said not to tick the inverted waveform box.

It can't get any worse than not working I guess

[scyllinice]

Inverting the waveform just made it so nothing is detected at all. It's got to be something else.

[Remzi]

In that case it is version 1.

Are you using a USB hub or extension cord any chance?It has to be connected directly to a USB 2 port.

Record this program to tape and back it up.See if it runs on emulator.

[scyllinice]

Thanks for the off forum troubleshooting.

I think at this point, the program I was trying to get working just isn't going to work.

I recorded a copy of Crystal Caverns and I was able to load it pretty consistently.

I'm going to try others to confirm it's just the one I was trying before that didn't work. If that's the case, then I'll just record that one on the tape deck I used before and move on with life

[scyllinice]

In my tests so far, anything with Novaload just does not record properly.

Anything that doesn't have Novaload appears to work fine.

I don't know why that is. Is that expected? if so, did I miss it somewhere?

[Remzi]

It is either record head is dirty/worn out or azimuth is way off.

You need to calibrate your datasette with an original copy game.

[scyllinice]

I've got a copy of Excaliba coming my way (cheapest cassette I could find) and I'll see if that changes anything.

Worst case at this point is that I record Novaload games via my external tape deck.

Thanks for all the help!

[Remzi]

Do you have a PET style datasette any chance?
These are very rare over here,never had the chance the test it out with the adaptor.

[scyllinice]

I have a bog standard 1530, which is why I didn't expect any hardship. I'll adjust the datasette when the commercial tape arrives.

Additionally, I have a new old stock Data-Master datasette coming in that I'm going to try with your adapter just to see if it will work. For funsies.

[scyllinice]

Unfortunately, the supposed new old stock datasette was no such thing. The seller just thought it was because it was wrapped in plastic in the box. The read/write head is completely dead. Oh well.

I did try a shorter tape (the dead datasette actually had a C10 tape in it), but the same problem occurs with Novaload games.

So I'll be waiting on that commercial tape to get here to adjust the azimuth so I can try again.

[scyllinice]

Hello,

The commercial tape came in finally. I've adjusted the azimuth as best as I could tell.

The tape loads just fine. However, no novaload recorded tapes with the adapter work still.

I guess it's time to give up on making that work since I've spent way too much time trying different things .

[Remzi]

We can try one more thing.

Go to advanced options on audiotap and change the output frequency to 96000Hz.
Also increase the speaker volume to 90%

[scyllinice]

That didn't help. Nothing loads on that tape if I do that unfortunately.

It's time to call it as unsuccessful for me. I hope everyone else has a better overall experience and this is just my problem

Edit: Just to confirm that everything should be working just fine, I did the following:

1. Loaded my copy of Excaliba that I got from eBay. It's the commercially recorded tape. It loaded and booted up fine. No issues.
2. I erased the same tape I have been using with a electric tape eraser from Realistic.
3. Using my Eiki tape recorder with the same PC, tape image, and version of Audiotap, I recorded another copy of Impossible Mission. It loaded up fine.

I can't say if it's the adapter, but it's the only thing that isn't consistently working.