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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!harpo!eagle!mhuxl!ihnp4!inuxc!inuxd!porter
From: porter@inuxd.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro,net.micro.cbm
Subject: Re: Need c64 data recorder info
Message-ID: <393@inuxd.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 8-Dec-83 13:03:34 EST
Article-I.D.: inuxd.393
Posted: Thu Dec  8 13:03:34 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 10-Dec-83 01:48:50 EST
References: <1188@cbscc.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Consumer Products Div., Indianapolis
Lines: 36

This is the second time that someone has posted a desire
to adapt a conventional audio tape recorder to a C64 and
I think my comments deserve consideration for anyone who
thinks they can get away with this, no hitches.

The Commodore cassette is a digital cassette drive that
uses direct head saturation.  There is no kludged audio
circuitry, no volume or tone controls to play with.  The
Commdore cassette is extremely reliable for this reason.
Talk to any of your apple, TRS80, or TI friends and ask 
them about the problems with cassettes - they will all 
tell you they are a pain in the ***.  They all use conventional
tape recorders and every time they go to use them, they
get load errors nearly every time.  Now talk to someone
with a commodore cassette drive and ask them how many load
errors they have - the response maybe one or two a YEAR!!
Conclucion:  Shell out the bucks for the real thing.  Don't
waste your time with kludging up an audio recorder - it just
isn't the same.

There are a couple of other advantages:  1. The commodore
cassette gets its power from the computer - one easy connection -
no cable-idis.  2. The computer senses when you press "PLAY".
3. And of course, you can selectively load files by their
16 letter file name (as opposed to other computers that have
no file name scheme with their cassettes.  4. Of course there
is a tape counter for convience.  5. The motor on/off is software
controllable.

If you are still insistant on inflicting pain upon yourself,
I can give references of articles in magazines of people who
have done this kludging in the past.

Jeff Porter  (inuxd!porter)
AT&T Consumer Products
Indianapolis