CPC464 no sound out of speaker/loading

[Macc]

A friend of mine has aquired a CPC464 but cannot get any noise out the tape deck, all seems to work fine but no sound at all.  I heard about a sound mod, anyone care to explain, or even know what could be wrong here?

[freemac]

Do a keyboard sound test (DEL DEL DEL), test also with jack.
If game run and keyboard sound run, it is just a link between tape and speaker that was removed (see 464 schematic > tape port sound)

On some machines, do plug a jack shut down speakers (I don't know if it is the case with Amstrad)

[Macc]

Nothing loads at all, no matter what, he's getting sound out of it, just no data/noise out the tape player

[Bryce]

Need more info: Does the keyboard work ok? Does the tape turn properly? Can it record? (save a prog and play back on a normal tape-deck to test this).

Bryce.

[Macc]

Keyboard works, tape turns but ill check with him on the saving of progs, ill report back

[freemac]

http://amstrad.eu/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=102

Last time I saw a 464, I plug my mp3 player on it...

It's encouraged encoding tapes to mp3

It's just to know that some games did pause tape, as fruity frank during apple display, so that you have to play 2 times the fruity frank mp3 in order to load it

[MiguelSky]

If it is a CPC 464 Plus no sounds of tape are released. Is it the white CPC?

[mr_lou]

It's encouraged encoding tapes to mp3

I tried that, but didn't succeed. Could never get it working. Finally I thought that maybe the mp3 just needed a special kind of encoding I didn't know about, so gave up.

[Bryce]

The sample rate would need to be pretty high to get a CPC to understand it (improves the high frequency clarity). So the MP3 file would be rather large, but there's no reason why it shouldn't work.

Bryce.

[beaker]

Following on from Bryce's comments, I found a guide on the internet a few months back (http://www.cpctech.org.uk/docs/cdtconv.html) about using VOC files to load tape software that works for me. To summarise, I download the CDT file, use playtzx to convert it to a VOC file (I tend to use 44100Hz sample rate but the example shows 22050Hz and then play the VOC file using Goldwave with the tape connection plugged into my headphone socket and the tape mod of my 6128+. The only thing I found was I needed the windows and GoldWave volumes turned up to 100%. Attached it a picture of it loading Batman.

[MacDeath]

and the tape mod of my 6128+

You added "tape drive management" components into your 6128PLUS ?

[beaker]

You added "tape drive management" components into your 6128PLUS ?

Alas it wasn't me, the downgrade(?) was there when I bought the machine a few months back but I thought I should try it out to make sure it worked. 

[steve]

It's in the wiki http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/DIY_Plus_Tape_Socket

[Bryce]

I did that diagram for someone here a while back, it's a very easy mod to do. Whoever did the mod on beakers CPC did a really nice job of it, very neat.

Bryce.

[beaker]

Seems to work very well 
Just to check, that wasn't also the best place to mount the USB Mouse internally was it?

[Bryce]

Yes, it probably was the only place in fact.

Bryce.

[beaker]

Yes, it probably was the only place in fact.

Do'h!    What's the solution, unsolder the USB connector and mount that on the case then use wires back to the USB Mouse PCB that I can locate in another section of the case? A bit cheecky but if you're still building them and that is the solution, would it be possible to supply one with the USB not connected unless that's going to cause an issue testing it before you send it out of course?

Beaker

[Bryce]

I'll see if I have a panel mountable USB socket lying about. If I have I'll use that with a few short flyleads, or if not a standard socket on flyleads. Electrically, there's no problem having the socket far from the PCB.

Bryce.

[beaker]

I'll see if I have a panel mountable USB socket lying about. If I have I'll use that with a few short flyleads, or if not a standard socket on flyleads. Electrically, there's no problem having the socket far from the PCB.

Cool thanks  . Sorry for being a pain in the arse.

Beaker

[ralferoo]

If it is a CPC 464 Plus no sounds of tape are released. Is it the white CPC?

I discovered that too. I don't like it. There's something comforting about being able to hear the tape noises...

[Gryzor]

Nostalgic, too!

[MiguelSky]

I discovered that too. I don't like it. There's something comforting about being able to hear the tape noises...

Then, the yours is a Plus one? One Point for me !! 

[Macc]

Mate just tried saving a small program, played back in stereo, very faint sound and would not load back in.  Its a standard CPC464 btw

[Bryce]

This might seem brain-numbingly obvious, but have you cleaned the tape heads at all?

Bryce.

[Macc]

He has, and attempted to align, all the obvious fixes have been tried