Mirage Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Here: http://www.lemon64.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4995&highlight=alignment I didn't read the whole thing, but a few posts down, someone points to a couple other links. I'm sure somewhere in there is some good info on how to most efficiently adjust the thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fyrri Posted February 14, 2011 Author Share Posted February 14, 2011 The screw was stripped, and it still doesn't work. Maybe its the computer I'm using to burn the game to the tape... I'll have to try a different one later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 The screw was stripped, and it still doesn't work. Maybe its the computer I'm using to burn the game to the tape... I'll have to try a different one later. It's worth a shot. It seems unlikely that it would be the computer, but you never know. Worst case, if you open it up, I'll bet you can turn the screw somehow. Small vice-grips, or something, I don't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fyrri Posted February 14, 2011 Author Share Posted February 14, 2011 I opened it up, dusted EVERYTHING off with a can o' air, about to try again. I don't want to muck around with the innards if I can avoid it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 I opened it up, dusted EVERYTHING off with a can o' air, about to try again. I don't want to muck around with the innards if I can avoid it. You shouldn't have to muck around, just adjust it. I'm sure those links will explain how to do it. It can't be harder than adjusting any other tape player (other than the stripped screw). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRTGAMER Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Though kind of hard to find, there are game carts that plug in for instant "Console" gaming. OMEGA RACE, SHAMUS and TYPE ATTACK come to mind. Type Attack plays like Space Invaders and is perfect with the 22 column large font VIC20 screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Though kind of hard to find, there are game carts that plug in for instant "Console" gaming. OMEGA RACE, SHAMUS and TYPE ATTACK come to mind. Type Attack plays like Space Invaders and is perfect with the 22 column large font VIC20 screen. Yes, maybe he doesn't know that. I think he's trying to get his datasette working though. You know what's funny is that I was playing games on my Vic-20 MegaCart just yesterday, and I had never before seen that game, but played it for quite awhile (I like typing games, I'm really weird). Then the very next day, you post a picture. Odd! The game Typo is good too, but Type-Attack is better. Also in case the OP doesn't know about it, the http://www.mega-cart.com is about the best thing to ever happen to the Vic-20. Get that, and you will never need much else for it. There's a lot of tape games, cart games, all the util/memory expansion carts, everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nathanallan Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 That Mega Cart looks really sweet, I'd love to get one, one of these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zylon Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 If you can't adjust the datasette tape head, you could try adjusting the device you're making them on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Ah crap, that's right. I forgot, you're making tapes with something other than that, aren't you? It probably is the OTHER tape machine that needs the adjustment. That makes a lot more sense since the tapes that came with it are working. Sorry, I totally spaced that out. I was thinking you were SAVEing a program on the Datasette, then trying to LOAD it. By the way, try that if you haven't already. Or is that what you're doing? I'm confused. This is the line that threw me off: "Maybe its the computer I'm using to burn the game to the tape... I'll have to try a different one later." I thought you meant a different Vic-20, meaning that's what you were using to make the tapes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zylon Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Ah crap, that's right. I forgot, you're making tapes with something other than that, aren't you? It probably is the OTHER tape machine that needs the adjustment. That makes a lot more sense since the tapes that came with it are working. Sorry, I totally spaced that out. I was thinking you were SAVEing a program on the Datasette, then trying to LOAD it. By the way, try that if you haven't already. Or is that what you're doing? I'm confused. This is the line that threw me off: "Maybe its the computer I'm using to burn the game to the tape... I'll have to try a different one later." I thought you meant a different Vic-20, meaning that's what you were using to make the tapes. I took a chance and guessed he might have one of those USB cassette decks. It's a lot easier to adjust just the recorder than every player you might use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fyrri Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 (edited) Hehe... Sorry if I was being vague. The Datasette itself works beautifully, I've tested saving, loading, etc. I'm using one of these to get the program onto the tape. I got a headphone jack to headphone jack at Radioshack. It's coming from the computer's headphone jack into the mic input on the cassette deck. Edited February 16, 2011 by Fyrri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Ok, yeah, then leave the Datasette alone (it was good that you cleaned it though), and maybe look into adjusting the other tape player. I have no idea what else it could be, unless it has something to do with the type of tape you're using. Any old regular tape should work, but the fancier you get, the more trouble you're likely to have if you don't know what's compatible and what's not. Actually, any should work some, just not as well, if that makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fyrri Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 Well, the tapes I have now work fine for saving/loading from the VIC itself, so I'll see what I can do with the tape deck... What should I adjust? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Well, the tapes I have now work fine for saving/loading from the VIC itself, so I'll see what I can do with the tape deck... What should I adjust? Right, I wasn't sure if you were using the same tapes or type of tapes for the ones that work and the ones that don't. You should be set then. For what to adjust I have no clue how to do that on yours. You'd have to read the manual for whatever tape deck you have. It just involves setting the azimuth of the head, but I don't know how to do it on yours. There's usually just a small screw just like on the Datasette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fyrri Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 Huh. Well, I should PROBABLY find the instructions, then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zylon Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Best way to do this is to play a tape that loads fine on your datasette in the recorder with the volume turned up enough to hear it. Adjust the head while playing until volume is at its loudest. If all else fails, you can just bend the head a little in or out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Best way to do this is to play a tape that loads fine on your datasette in the recorder with the volume turned up enough to hear it. Adjust the head while playing until volume is at its loudest. If all else fails, you can just bend the head a little in or out. Sweet, that makes sense, nice tip! He just needs to find the adjustment screw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zylon Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Best way to do this is to play a tape that loads fine on your datasette in the recorder with the volume turned up enough to hear it. Adjust the head while playing until volume is at its loudest. If all else fails, you can just bend the head a little in or out. Sweet, that makes sense, nice tip! He just needs to find the adjustment screw. They used to have an alignment tape for just that purpose...and people paid for it too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fyrri Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 Wait, what? How can I play the tape AND adjust the head at the same time? I'm totally lost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Wait, what? How can I play the tape AND adjust the head at the same time? I'm totally lost. Well, on the Datasette, the screw hole is right there exposed and accessible while you're playing a tape, right? Hopefully the one on your other recorder is the same way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fyrri Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 It's not, if the screw I've found is the right one. There are any holes on the outside to get into, so it must be. Should I tighten it, or loosen it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 It's not, if the screw I've found is the right one. There are any holes on the outside to get into, so it must be. Should I tighten it, or loosen it? Depending, see Zylon's advice above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zylon Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 Sometimes, you must remove the cassette door to be able to adjust the head. You then turn the screw with tape playing till highest volume is achieved. It works in both directions. Try both clockwise and counter clockwise until it makes a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayhem Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 So you don't have a datasette like this then? The hole to put the size 0 Philips screwdriver into when the play button is depressed, is located just about where Commodore is printed, and below the slot for the tape to be inserted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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