Xref: utzoo comp.sys.atari.8bit:1866 misc.wanted:3180
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!rutgers!iuvax!bsu-cs!cfchiesa
From: cfchiesa@bsu-cs.UUCP (Christopher Chiesa)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit,misc.wanted
Subject: Re: Need a cassette tape drive.
Summary: Don't need special interface if you get an Atari cassette drive
Message-ID: <4408@bsu-cs.UUCP>
Date: 19 Oct 88 18:53:38 GMT
References: <736@wsccs.UUCP>
Organization: CS Dept, Ball St U, Muncie, Indiana
Lines: 52

In article <736@wsccs.UUCP>, swillden@wsccs.UUCP (Shawn Willden) writes:
> I need an interface for a cassette tape for an atari 800XL.  I don't
> know if I need just an interface or an atari tape recorder too.  I might
> be interested in getting a disk drive instead, if the price is low
> enough.  I can probably build my own interface to a tape drive if it
> is not too incredibly complicated and if someone can tell me where to
> get a 13-pin male connector.

1) You don't need an 'interface' if you obtain an Atari cassette drive - they
   are made to plug right into the SIO port, although they have only ONE SIO
   connector and therefore "terminate" any daisy chain.  (This implies that
   you can't have the cassette unit and any OTHER terminating peripheral (the
   SX212 modem in SIO-direct mode, for example) connected at the same time.)
   There are two units in existence that I know of, the 410 and (someone cor-
   rect me if I'm wrong) the 1010.  The 410 is of the 400/800 generation,
   and the 1010 is of the XL generation, but EITHER should work with ANY 
   8-bit Atari.   I personally have a 410 that I rarely use, but have just
   recently thought of an interesting use for cassette storage, so am loath
   to sell...  sorry.

2) Disk drives are infinitely better: faster, random-access, more space.  I
   HAVE heard, however, from a friend who got the new XM551 drive and does NOT
   like it...  (Ooh, I can feel the flames already...  ask 'aegnor@bsu-cs'
   about Mike W's experience; 'aegnor' is the one who was telling ME.)

3) I don't imagine the interface to a standard tape recorder should be too
   complicated; data is stored and retreived as audio tones on, I believe, 
   the LEFT channel of a standard stereo recording, with capability to play
   right-channel audio through the TV/monitor speaker!  You should be able  
   to simply connect the audio inputs, outputs, and ground, to the appropriate
   SIO pins, as well as using some kind of control circuit (I do NOT recommend
   direct connection here) to turn the cassette player's MOTOR on and off in
   response to the appropriate SIO signals.  (On the other hand, you could
   probably get away with leaving it ALWAYS on, in some if not all cases.  There
   ARE cases where the computer NEEDS to start and stop the tape, however.)

4) Alas, I don't know where to get an SIO plug, but there must be SOMEPLACE
   since there is a continuing flow of SIO cables etc.  Scavenge a cable if
   you have to.  Probably the easiest way of obtaining one, when you get 
   right down to it.

Hope this is helpful; good luck!  If you DO hack together an interface to a
standard cassette recorder, let me know; I have a reel-to-reel I'd like to 
try using...

Chris Chiesa
  almost gone from
    Ball State University
 
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