Sinclair ZX80 / ZX81 / Z88 Forums

I'm going to write a program to control some external hardware on my ZX81 but I just realize I only have tape out and in on the ZX81 to cassette. Is there a tool that converts audio cassette to P file? Or better yet a way to use the audio out and audio in of a PC instead. I know EightyOne will produce an audio output of a P file. Can it also convert audio to P? If all else fails I do have a cassette player that works with the ZX81 and I can copy the program manually by typing it into EightyOne. Thanks.

EightyOne can read wav files, so you can convert to p file with its help.
Otherwise persons with a ZXpand can use tapescrape Program to convert a cassette to p files.
If you want me to I can do this for you, but my response time is quite slow.
Kind regards Paul

I use the Java Tape Converter from zx81stuff.org.uk

If you have a good quality Audio file you wish to post email or what ever then like Paul's kind offer I will happily convert it for you and as I have more time on my hands these days I could get it back to you quickly if time is of a premium.

Thanks for the info and offers. I need to break down and get a ZXPand+ . I was hoping EightyOne could read wav files. For now I'll set up my old "beater" laptop with EightyOne and use it for my "cassette recorder" for the ZX81. I have an Arduino Due with a SD Card Reader that I use to read in P files and converts them to audio with a nice graphical touch screen but I never got around to converting audio to P files

I use a TZXduino for my Lambda 8300, as the ZXpand does not work here. But it's only for loading. I don't think TZXduino supports saving.

mrtinb, When I wrote the code for my Due I did think about converting the audio but the volume on output is a lot lower because the old cassette players amplified the mic input. To make it work I would have to build some sort of amplifier on the input. Sadly when I lost an external hard drive I also lost the code I written for it.

The Arduino outputs 5V, as that is ideal for ZX81, so no amplification should be necessary.

I thought the output of the ZX81 is very low amplitude which needed amplification. Also unlike most Arduinos the Due can only accept and put out 3.3 V which happens to be the perfect voltage for the audio in. I never had a dropout and never saw a corrupted load with the Due.

Sorry I misunderstood you.

I was talking about output from Arduino to ZX81.

I think you are taking about output from ZX81 to Arduino.

I have not looked into output from ZX81 to Arduino, as I think TZXduino does not support recording from ZX81.