Family Basic cassette issues

[UglyJoe]

So I've been trying to dump a working copy of a Family Basic cassette that I purchased recently.  Through some trial-and-error, I've managed to get one side of the tape to work (side B) but not the other (side A).  I can't get Side A to work at all, even when going straight from my cassette player to the keyboard at a variety of volume levels.

The wave patterns for each show what appears to be two distinct areas per program -- I've been referring to them as the "header" and the "data", but it's entirely possible that neither one is a header.  When everything is working, the FB unit will display the name of the program after it has loaded the header.  If it gets past the header and doesn't display a program name, then it's not working. 

Anyway, with the volume set loud enough, I can get the sample from Side B to load.  The sample from Side A, however, will either do nothing or will throw a tape error just after the header is read.

I was wondering if anyone with experience loading data from cassettes (on any system) has any idea what could be wrong with one side but not the other?  I'm attaching two sample wav files.  They are two different programs, one from Side A and one from Side B.

Side A Sample (doesn't work)
Side B Sample (works)

[80sFREAK]

1) what is the picth tone after each data block in both A and B samples?
2) need more info about cassette deck/player
3) you not supposed to adjust volume - it should work from "Line OUT"

[Frank_fjs]

I couldn't get either file to load. Having a listen to them, they don't appear to be the best quality recording, I'm wondering if you could have a go at re-recording them at a lower volume/with less interference?

P.s. I did notice that file A is recorded at a lower volume, which might explain why it doesn't work for you and file B does.

[80sFREAK]

I've done it Proofs coming...

[Frank_fjs]

I did it too, got both files loaded.



Side A is a game with a crab dropping projectiles on a Mario sprite, which you control, and side B is some text based thing, all in Japanese.

I converted your files to a mono file and then normalised. Could probably do a little more cleaning up if I had more time.

http://www.sentinelgames.com/download/side_a_sample1.wav

http://www.sentinelgames.com/download/side_b_sample1.wav

What did you do 80sFREAK?

[80sFREAK]

 With file? Nothing. Just recored it on my datarecorder. First it does not work, but i pushed magic button, slided magic slider and all good now Tried few times - same result - all good.
By some reasons phase on the file little bit off. Thats why i asked for info about cassette deck.

P.S. tapes... just love'em

[Frank_fjs]

Ah, I don't have a tape recorder so just used an MP3 player.

[UglyJoe]

1) what is the picth tone after each data block in both A and B samples?

I don't know what that means   If I get some time I'll do some research and get back to you.

2) need more info about cassette deck/player

It's a new-model Sony Walkman.  Manual can be found here.

3) you not supposed to adjust volume - it should work from "Line OUT"

There is no line-out jack, just the headphone jack.

I'm wondering if you could have a go at re-recording them at a lower volume/with less interference?

I can re-capture them at a lower volume, sure.  They weren't working for me at a lower capture volume, either, so I tried capturing them as loud as I could without any visible clipping.

P.s. I did notice that file A is recorded at a lower volume, which might explain why it doesn't work for you and file B does.

Both sides play back at different volumes.  I don't know if this is because of the tape or because of the cassette player.

I converted your files to a mono file and then normalised.

I tried the same thing and got my recordings to work with a little trial-and-error.  Thanks!

but i pushed magic button, slided magic slider and all good now

Magic "play" button and magic "volume" slider? 

[Frank_fjs]

Glad to hear you got it working.

Sample A is actually pretty cool, I might use that as a learning tool.

If you ever come across any other cool Basic samples, feel free to share.

[UglyJoe]

If you ever come across any other cool Basic samples, feel free to share.

The book/tape that those samples are from has 10 games in all.  I'll start posting them this week now that I can get them to load.

[80sFREAK]

but i pushed magic button, slided magic slider and all good now

Magic "play" button and magic "volume" slider?  

Nope. And i don't have volume slider on it, but line IN/OUT. Phase shifter. If you need pic of my datarecorder i can upload after lunch
Post Merge: August 12, 2012, 08:02:42 pm

It's a new-model Sony Walkman.  Manual can be found here.

Did you used only one channel? Do you? And MegaBass was off, i hope?

Here we go

As you can see, there is no volume control. "monitor" is small internal speaker. This unit have mono magnetic head and nice 3-digit mechanic counter

[kamowa]

Hello,

I am new to programing with Family Basic and I have been having issues loading programs from cassette. I am using a GE Computer Program Data Recorder. I have saved programs to it OK, I hear the computer tones I expect to hear and I have been able to see the program name with I do the "load?" command. But I have not been able to successfully load a program from cassette. It has a "Tone" knob next to the "volume" knob and I have moved both knobs around a bit to see if it helps.

I have never used a cassette backup for a computer before so I am unsure what volume I should have it at, and with the ability to adjust tone I am at a loss.

[P]

That's a nice looking data recorder. Too bad Family BASIC can't use the motor remote control line though.

So you get a TP error when loading or something?
Usually volume should be set to a high but not fully max level. I guess tone should be at its neutral position where it doesn't mess with the tone.

Also check the translated manual if you didn't already, to ensure that you do everything right.

[kamowa]

Yes I will get a " ?TP error" or it wont do anything at all, it wont error out and I have to hit STOP to break it.

Attached is a pic where I had made the simple move Mario in four directions program from the translated manual, saved it and tried to read it back from the tape. It failed to I fast forwarded the tape and saved it again with a different name. It was able to read the program with a "LOAD?" but when I went to actually load it back it would "?TP error" out each time.

I am using a Maxell C30 tape to save the data I'm not sure if that has anything to do with the issue.
Post Merge: October 02, 2018, 08:50:18 pm
 Update, I was able to get a program to successfully load twice so I think I figured it out. I set "Tone" all the way to low and slowly increased the volume until I was able to get a successful "LOAD?". I then tested with an actual LOAD and it worked. Thanks for the help.

[P]

Ah so it was a problem of tone and volume after all. Good that you got it working.