Unable to Record to Tapes

[Remzi]

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 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.

[Remzi]

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.



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

Do you have any other tape decks?

[chriz74]

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

[chriz74]

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

[Remzi]

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.

[chriz74]

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?

[Remzi]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280884437794

0.80mm X 1.2mm

[chriz74]

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.

[chriz74]

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

[Remzi]

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.

[chriz74]

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.

[DABYX]

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?

[chriz74]

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.

[Remzi]

Welcome back Chriz.What a surprise 

@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?

[chriz74]

Welcome back Chriz.What a surprise 

@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.