Tapuino, the $20 C64 Tape Emulator

[Quagliarulo]

Tested record from C64 to Tapuino OK.

Could you please try recording in Turbo Tape? I'm having trouble doing so and I don't know the cause. I'm using a class 6 micro-SD card and a 74AHC125 for level conversion. The TAP file I got gives a load error and fails the checksum test in TAPclean.
Edit: I'm also getting incorrect length in the TAP file header.

[protek]

My local store was out of 4N35 optocouplers, so I bought a 4N36. It's pin compatible but is it otherwise suitable?

[spcbm]

My local store was out of 4N35 optocouplers, so I bought a 4N36. It's pin compatible but is it otherwise suitable?

It's OK the only difference is the electrical isolation voltage, so no difference for this application.

[sweetlilmre]

Tested record from C64 to Tapuino OK.

Could you please try recording in Turbo Tape? I'm having trouble doing so and I don't know the cause. I'm using a class 6 micro-SD card and a 74AHC125 for level conversion. The TAP file I got gives a load error and fails the checksum test in TAPclean.
Edit: I'm also getting incorrect length in the TAP file header.

SuperTurbo tap never worked, I couldn't get the sampling routine fast enough. I think I got turbo working though. Can you give some detail on your exact process? If this is using a cartridge, I may not be able to assist depending on the cart (I only have final cart iii)

[Quagliarulo]

I tried Turbo 250 by Mr. Z and Spectacular Copy by Stephan Senz.
The first one is pretty straightforward: you run the utility, then you LOAD a program and save it with <-S.
With the other one, I choose '3' (disk to auto turbo), I type *programname, then S, then the program is loaded from disk and turbosaved on tape.
Both these procedures work fine in VICE.
I had a look at the generated TAPs and it seems that the pulses that are present are quite precise, but some pulses are skipped. In fact, the file is shorter than it should be (that is, the length stored in the header). I thought this might have to do with my SD card, which isn't blazing fast (just class 6).
Thank you for your help!

[sweetlilmre]

Hi,
There is a direct correlation between SD speed and accuracy. I'll try to reproduce your tests but the results you are getting matched what I found initially with a slow card. Bumped up to a class 10 and the issues disappeared.

[c64new]

If you do not put the original connector 'CN2 Datassette', to avoid burning components 'tapuino', you better put a plastic key-guide in the compatible female connector. The piece of plastic can measure 1,5x6 mm.

.

[sweetlilmre]

If you do not put the original connector 'CN2 Datassette', to avoid burning components 'tapuino', you better put a plastic key-guide in the compatible female connector. The piece of plastic can measure 1,5x6 mm.

.

Excellent point. I did exactly this with a piece of plastic cut out of some hard packaging. Works well, thanks for sharing!
-(e)

[Quagliarulo]

I tried Turbo 250 by Mr. Z and Spectacular Copy by Stephan Senz.

Good news: they both work with a faster card! Gonna try something more difficult...

[sweetlilmre]

Tested record from C64 to Tapuino OK.
Tested record from Tapuino to datassette OK, for this need to put invert=1

I tried loading from datassette to C64 or tapuino but I think this is not implemented yet?

I will update the pre-sales thread for PCBs, and then need to fit all in the box.

Tested:

• Playback from Tapuino to C64: OK
• Record from C64 to Tapuino: OK

Using INVERT mode:

• Playback from Datasette to Tapuino: OK
• Record from Tapuino to Datasette: OK

So when dealing with the Tapuino <--> Datasette operations, use INVERT(1) and all should work.
This is with my MUX board but should be the same as the PCB.

So all code is implemented. PLEASE use GitHUB code!


-(e)