Re: Disk Image to cassette tape

[Sean Burnett <sean.burnett@home.com>]

Hi,
I just ran a couple tests using the SAVE command to dump it from memory
to cassette out and it's looking quite feasible, space-wise.  An entire
disk volume would take about 8.5 minutes.  It's slow, but not
unreasonable, so neither would the harddrive space as a .wav file.  I
believe I can keep the audio file of a disk image under 2MB and still
keep the resolution needed for safe transfer.  I'm going to go ahead and
write the audio file -> bit stream process (batch).  That'll be fun. 
I'm not sure if the TAPESAVE routine puts in stop bits or what the
header or trailer consists of, but I guess I'll find out.

If you could send me the utility that you mentioned, that would be
great.  Are you able to send it to me as a .wav file?  I know that
sounds crazy (and is asking a lot), but I have no other way of loading a
program coming from the internet.  I would just play the .wav file from
my sound card into the cassette in.

Also, you mentioned a TAPESAVE command.  I tried it but it did not work.
Is it a PRODOS command?  Perhaps I just didn't use the correct syntax.  

Geez, I'm sure requesting a lot of stuff.  I won't be offended if it's
too much hassle.

Thanks for all your comments/suggestions!

TWS wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> How about this.  Use a Disk to DiskImage converter to convert your disk on the
> Apple II.   Connect your Apple II Cass OUT to your PC's SOUNDBLASTER (or Macintosh
> Sound)  INPUT.  Use the ROM in the Apple (there is a TAPESAVE command) to save the
> 143k disk image over the CASSETTE port.  Press RECORD on the Mac/IBM sound
> recording program.
> 
> Write a program for you IBM (or Mac?) that will decode the Audio into a binary
> file.  The program would involve some Timing loops to synchronize with the sound
> file.  Shouldn't be hard at all.
> 
> Problems you could have:  #1  a 143k sound file sent from the Apple II cassette
> port may be 4 hours long.  I don't know how long it will be.  Do you really want a
> 4Hour long sound file on your Mac/Pc Hard drive?
> 
> Hmm how about writing a program for your IBM/Mac that will Get sound from the
> AUDIO INPUT, and De-code it into data as it receives the sound?
> 
> Sean Burnett wrote:
> 
> > Hi,
> > Thank you for the responses, everybody.  This is the best newsgroup I've
> > had the opportunity to follow.  No major attitudes or anything, and
> > everybody seems very helpful.  Enough of the touchy feely stuff - now
> > down to business.
> >
> > My goal in asking the 'cassette out' question is that I hope to be able
> > to do this:
> >         1) write a disk image to tape (actually, minidisc track)
> >         2) transfer this to a more modern computer into a .wav file
> >         3) write a program to extract the Apple ][e disk image out of the .wav
> > file.
> >
> > My first project will be to do a single Apple file and use DSK_OUT to
> > convert it to a disk image for use in an emulator.
> >
> > There seems to be mechanisms for getting Apple ][e disk images if
> > someone has a serial port or compatible game port and cable, but not
> > using the cassette out peripheral.
> >
> > Any comments?  Would this be a worthwhile endeavour for anybody except
> > me?  Any rate, it will be a good exercise.  I will post the program when
> > it is complete.
> >
> > Sir Cain wrote:
> > >
> > > I had a program called COS (Cassette Operating System), I think, that came
> > > on an old Micro disk.  It would break up an Disk image into four or five
> > > parts and save them to cassette (or restore from cassette to disk).  It was
> > > not a complete Operating System, but more like a utility program.  And of
> > > course it was slow.  I'd give more specific info, but I've recently moved
> > > and all my old computer books (and software) are still in boxes.
> > >
> > > Greg Buchner wrote in message ...
> > > >In article <3622A3F5.D7702F72@swbell.net>, rubywand@swbell.net wrote:
> > > >
> > > >>     Is it possible to save a 140kb disk image to cassette? Yes; but,
> > > >>you would need to break up the image file into smaller pieces. One idea
> > > >>is to add your own routines to do something like read chunks of the disk
> > > >>image file (perhaps 4096 bytes per chunk) and write the data to tape.
> > > >>Then you would need a Big File tape read routine to read the chunks and
> > > >>put them on disk.
> > > >
> > > >I at one time did have a program, was probably DOS 3.3 that did copy
> > > >disks back and forth to the tape drive.  I seem to remember that it was
> > > >supposed to be able to fit five disks on one side of a 90 minute tape.
> > > >
> > > >This was probably twelve years ago and that's all that I remember about
> > > >it.  Never used it, so can't be certain about any of this.
> > > >
> > > >Greg B.
> > > >
> > > >--
> > > >*****
> > > >Note:  To e-mail me, replace someone with gjb
> > > >I don't get junk e-mail and intend to keep it that way.