MP3 Player for playing games ? ( CPC 6128 )

[Neil79]

Question : Is it true you can use an MP3 player on an Amstrad CPC to play games? Or am I talking bollox - I have this H2 Handy Recorder

[Token]

I did it on CPC and every other 8 bits I have. You can also speed up loading (easy to do with standalone file) with otla (Windows tool)
otla - Tool for loading programs into vintage computers via their cassette


Some files that are still in my pc   (maybe some are 464 only, often I did SNApshots when I couldn't convert CDT)
http://www.speedyshare.com/bW43M/otla.rar

[Neil79]

But this is for a tape cassette player, I don't have that as it's a CPC 6128

[Token]

Your MP3 player is used as tape here, you connect it by the headphone output (or line output if any) to the 6128 DIN input on the left. Now you need a special cable. I did mine with an old MIDI cable and another one with a 3.5 jack.


Amstrad CPC 6128 High Quality Cassette Tape Leads Cable | eBay


I'm not sure, but cheap
5 PIN DIN Plug TO 3 5mm Jack Stereo Plug Audio Cable | eBay

[Carnivius]

I did it on CPC and every other 8 bits I have. You can also speed up loading (easy to do with standalone file) with otla (Windows tool)
otla - Tool for loading programs into vintage computers via their cassette


Some files that are still in my pc   (maybe some are 464 only, often I did SNApshots when I couldn't convert CDT)
http://www.speedyshare.com/bW43M/otla.rar

I now have the ability to play CPC games off the internet onto my 464 and load them in superspeed?   This be some kinda sorcery! 
Here be a photo of my 464 running BB4CPC from that rar file of yours through one of them cheap car stereo cassette adaptors and it had loaded up before I'd come back from getting a glass of water.   

Sound didn't work properly (weird clicky noises instead of music and sound effects) but the game itself is playable.

Hm tried some other games in the rar but most seemed to fail or crash the CPC.  What might I be doing wrong?

[Token]

First time I made it run I laughed how the poor CPC 464 was loading the intro pic, scary as hell, haha 


There are different levels of problems.
Since Otla you can choose the speed but many other things like polarity. (that's why there's a + in the files)
I think I shorted a bit the pause (in ms)


On my 464 I soldered the audio input on the PCB, so it's very clean and accurate signal.
On the 6128 I had to reduce the level output from my phone.


The WAV files are very alike 0 dBfs peak (digital), it's really more than a tape. So by the 464 tape head transducer you should reduce the volume. (again I don't use it, it's soldered on the PCB, I did a hole on the case and put a mini jack connector)


You can load CDT, BIN and SNA (since Winape, save it as "version 1", then convert to WAV or MP3 with Otla. Few experiments and see what's works with your setting.

[Carnivius]

Ah right. Cool I'll try some of those.  I'm not very techy-minded or patient though.   I have made a topic requesting if people have wav files of already converted cdt games and such but yeah I'll try a few things with Winape like you mention.  Thanks.

Don't think I'll be soldering anything though (I don't even own a soldering iron and I certainly don't want to risk damaging my CPC with my lack of tech skills)   

[Token]

I know there are also MP3's with the original speed. http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=31
It's all french, you have to click on the 464 keys   

[Carnivius]

Oh I think I've been on there some time ago but couldn't figure out how to get the games working.  I shall try again.

[Carnivius]

I know there are also MP3's with the original speed. http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=31
It's all french, you have to click on the 464 keys   

Ok I just tried these again and it's now reminded me what happened before.  I can't get any of the games working that I want.  Tried Into The Eagles Nest, Rex, Rick Dangerous and they all start to load and get to loading screens but then fail and say 'Read Error B'  and I have absolutely no idea what means cos I've never seen it when loading a game from actual tape.

[Token]

I'm going to try Eagle Nest. =]
edit: Rex instead

[Carnivius]

I should have said Into The Eagle's Nest in case that's why you switched =p

[Token]

I should have said Into The Eagle's Nest in case that's why you switched =p

haha, I was looking for "the" as well
Thx!


Rex, black screen until the end, but it works.
Maybe the problem is the level output. Can you modify it?
Now I remember you have that Zoom, it must be a setting on it.

[Carnivius]

Rex, black screen until the end, but it works.
Maybe the problem is the level output. Can you modify it?
Now I remember you have that Zoom, it must be a setting on it.

Zoom?  I don't understand.  And what is level output?

[Token]

The Handy recorder, setting volume on it.
I know that it didn't work when I tested with the netbook, I had the disable the sound enhancer, 3D stuffs etc. You have to make sure the sound isn't altered by fancy stuffs (bass etc)

[Token]

Edit, I mixed with Neil79's H2, damn netbook 10"
sorry mate!

[Carnivius]

Oh you mean the mp3 player?  I don't think any of the enhancers are on but i'll try changing volume and stuff on that. 

[mr_lou]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this app yet:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.kica.tapdancer

Lets you copy your CDT files onto your Android phone, and play them back.
Saves a lot of space, since a WAV file is A LOT bigger than a CDT.

Worth checking out if you have an Android phone. (And I wonder if the app isn't also available for other platforms).

[Neil79]

Holy... How many replies? Did this forum wake up on Sunday 

[Neil79]

Your MP3 player is used as tape here, you connect it by the headphone output (or line output if any) to the 6128 DIN input on the left. Now you need a special cable. I did mine with an old MIDI cable and another one with a 3.5 jack.


Amstrad CPC 6128 High Quality Cassette Tape Leads Cable | eBay


I'm not sure, but cheap
5 PIN DIN Plug TO 3 5mm Jack Stereo Plug Audio Cable | eBay

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!

[Neil79]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this app yet:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.kica.tapdancer

Lets you copy your CDT files onto your Android phone, and play them back.
Saves a lot of space, since a WAV file is A LOT bigger than a CDT.

Worth checking out if you have an Android phone. (And I wonder if the app isn't also available for other platforms).

Awesome! I'll try this as I do have an Android phone and 2GB mem card

Sorry for the multi posting, I'm on my phone

EDIT : I have all the CDT files from gamebase

Just tried out the Android one, used all my CDT files to Android phone, then pressed load-play and it said it was converting to audio. Now it's squeeling like a **** haha. Will test it this week for real 

[Carnivius]

EDIT : I have all the CDT files from gamebase

I need more CDT's so I thought I'd look up that Gamebase thing but it seems like it's a 68 part zip file download with 67 parts being 256MB each?  Is that right? Sounds like it's well over 1 and a half GB's and all I want is stuff that would probably take up less than 5MB. 

[Neil79]

I need more CDT's so I thought I'd look up that Gamebase thing but it seems like it's a 68 part zip file download with 67 parts being 256MB each?  Is that right? Sounds like it's well over 1 and a half GB's and all I want is stuff that would probably take up less than 5MB.

I'll do this for you. The total folder size comes in at 106MB with each game zip having a CDT file. If my fibre upload speeds are good I'll upload it all as a single zip, or you can send me a list of what you need and i'll send just those files over.

How's that? 

[Carnivius]

Oh hey thanks.  Can I have the whole CDT library?  Just in case I forget some games and could just grab them from that pack rather than bother you again.   

[Neil79]

Oh hey thanks.  Can I have the whole CDT library?  Just in case I forget some games and could just grab them from that pack rather than bother you again.   

I'll see what I can do, I can't promise though

Will be sometime this week as my system isn't at the new place yet