I'm a bonehead...

[joeybastard]

I got the CAS2Wav program and downloaded a couple of .CAS files. Coverted them easily enough, hooked up a tapedeck and recorded one of them to tape.

 

So far so good, right?

 

I used iTunes to play the WAV file down though and I wasn't monitering it. Finally I see that it was done so I popped it into the 410 and fired up my new 800XL. After 20 minutes of loading I got an error.

 

I didn't realize that iTunes just advanced to the next track in the playlist so right after my program, the Clash started playing. I guess the 800XL doesn't like the Clash causing me a load error I'll be a little more careful about what's in the playlist next time.

[Bryan]

That shouldn't matter, as the Atari will stop the tape once the load completes.

 

-Bry

[joeybastard]

That shouldn't matter, as the Atari will stop the tape once the load completes.

 

   -Bry

 

Oh, then I guess it was just a bad conversion from CAS to Wav. Thanks, I'll try it again

[SmileyDude]

couple of tips (though, I haven't done either of these myself -- reader beware ):

 

- in iTunes, setup a playlist for the tape you are making. Make sure that repeat/shuffle isn't set for the playlist, and you should be good.

 

- again, in iTunes, make sure you don't have any EQ settings turned on. I believe you can turn EQ on/off on a per file basis, but I'm not sure if this applies to WAV files.

 

BTW -- does compressing the WAVs into MP3s or AACs work? or do you lose too much quality? Not that it really matters that much, since you can always just toss out the WAVs and regenerate from the CAS files instead...

[Bryan]

BTW -- does compressing the WAVs into MP3s or AACs work?  or do you lose too much quality?

 

You don't want to compress a data cassette track because too much integrity will be lost.

 

-Bry

[SmileyDude]

if you encoded it at the right rate, it should be okay (in theory). The data rate isn't that high, and it's only alternating between two frequencies. Assuming that you are using a WAV from cas2wav, you have a perfect audio source to begin with.

 

i was just thinking that it could really come in handy if you could use something like an iPod connected up to the Atari to load directly from there. Of course, since Atari never made a cable to connect other tape drives to the 8-bit line, that option is pretty much dead. But, it should work on other platforms that did allow other players to be used (TI-99, Sinclairs, Apple IIs).

[andylama]

Way way back in the day when the 410 cassette drive was my only storage device for my A800 (we're talking over 20 years ago now...) I was into making my own games that played music from the tape while loading (like some commercial games did at the time). I did this by adapting a multitrack reel-to-reel deck to my Atari. I was able to get good consistent results after some experimentation.

 

Data is expected on one channel (don't remember if it was LEFT or RIGHT) and the other channel is reserved for audio.

 

The other (more important) thing I remember is that VOLUME is absolutely crucial. Optimally, the level should ride about mid-scale to two-thirds-scale on a VU meter (never peak above, say, -12dB). Too quiet or too loud = guaranteed load errors. Your problem might be that the WAV file is playing too loud or too quiet(?)

 

IIRC, the Atari makes different kinds of error noises to indicate whether the incoming data is too loud or too quiet. I seem to recall that quiet data would come through as a sort of low-pitched 'foghorn blasts', whereas loud data would make a sort of high-pitched bell-ringing type sound. You would hear these noises sort of 'superimposed' over the usual cassette loading noise.

 

Your mileage may vary. These memories are 20+ years old, and I don't even own a tape drive anymore.

[joeybastard]

Would it matter that I did a stereo hookup from my PC to the tapedeck? I was careful about record levels and set them properly so I don't think that's the problem.

[Shannon]

I got the CAS2Wav program and downloaded a couple of .CAS files.  Coverted them easily enough, hooked up a tapedeck and recorded one of them to tape.

 

So far so good, right?

 

I used iTunes to play the WAV file down though and I wasn't monitering it.  Finally I see that it was done so I popped it into the 410 and fired up my new 800XL.  After 20 minutes of loading I got an error.

 

I didn't realize that iTunes just advanced to the next track in the playlist so right after my program, the Clash started playing.  I guess the 800XL doesn't like the Clash causing me a load error   I'll be a little more careful about what's in the playlist next time.

 

Well first off, tell us what FILE you are currently trying to load so we can make sure your not making some other kinda error (like not holding down OPTION to disable basic as well as START to load a binary).

[joeybastard]

Well first off, tell us what FILE you are currently trying to load so we can make sure your not making some other kinda error (like not holding down OPTION to disable basic as well as START to load a binary).

 

I followed these instructions from another thread here on AA:

Start->power on. The computer will sound a tone, which prompts you to press play on the 410 or 1010. Then hit enter

[Bryan]

Well first off, tell us what FILE you are currently trying to load so we can make sure your not making some other kinda error (like not holding down OPTION to disable basic as well as START to load a binary).

 

I followed these instructions from another thread here on AA:

Start->power on. The computer will sound a tone, which prompts you to press play on the 410 or 1010. Then hit enter

 

Ah... I think you have to hold OPTION+START for the typical binary cassette.

 

Originally, BASIC was a cartridge, so when Atari built it into the 800XL, they used the OPTION key (held at power up) to disable it. This was sort of a kludge, but it was required to make existing 400/800 software work.

 

-Bry

[Shannon]

Yeah... here are the basic rules for any of the XL/XE machines.

 

If the cassette game in question is a binary. Turn off the computer.

Hold down option AND start, and turn it on till you hear the tone.

 

Press play on your cassette (or unpause it) and then any key on your Atari.

 

If it is a basic program you need to turn on the computer (do NOT hold down option or start). When the basic READY prompt comes up type Run "C:". I think that is how it works.

[+Stephen]

It's funny - even after all this time, I can still hear the theme to States & Capitals with the cassette loading noise in the background. I don't think I've actually played that tape for 15 years now.

 

It's no wonder I can't remember crap anymore. Too much nostalgia stored up there

 

Stephen Anderson

[Zybex]

Turn on yuor computer pressing Option+Start

You hear a tone, then push play in the recorder

Press Enter to start loading.