Sinclair ZX80 / ZX81 / Z88 Forums

Hi I am returning to the Spectrum after a 30 year break so trying to establish some basics! What is the best way to connect up a 48k+ to a tape recorder? I have model Philips AQ6455 tape recorder. The guide seems to suggest grey to Ear and black to Mic on the 48k+ and grey to Phones and black to Mic on the tape recorder. This does load a tape ok but the volume isn't that loud and that's with it at 10/10 on the tape recorder is this normal? Did I read somewhere that just connecting the grey wires would give a louder output, although that's not what the spectrum guide suggests doing?

I am also looking to test that I can save ok to tape. Do I need to remove a grey connection at one end leaving in the two Mic connections and try saving and loading basic program I write?

On the ZX Spectrum, the Ear socket is the audio input FROM the cassette tape deck.

The Mic socket is the audio output from the ZX Spectrum TO the cassette tape deck.

A 'phones' output is similar to an Ear output (Ear being mono, but 'phones' could be either mono or stereo).

While on this subject of stereo, keep in mind that the ZX Spectrum sockets are mono and stereo plugs do not work correctly. The plug contacts are in different places.

One of the features of the ZX Spectrum, including the ULA, is that a single ULA pin deals with three things:

• Audio input from the cassette tape deck (Ear socket).
• Audio output to the cassette tape deck (Mic socket).
• Audio to the "loudspeaker".

Hence the Ear and the Mic sockets are electronically linked. If the cassette tape deck produces a "monitor" output on its output socket when recording, this will completely mess up the recording , as the output from the computer will be mixed with the output of the cassette tape deck, causing a feedback loop. Hence the generic advice to disconnect the Ear lead when recording.

If your cassette tape deck does not have a 'monitor' output/feature, you may not have to disconnect the Ear lead.

You also don't have to disconnect the Mic lead when loading. However, LOADing only needs the Ear lead connected.

Yes, you will need a high setting on the volume control. The ZX Spectrum was an improvement on the earlier Sinclair computers, but it still needs a rather loud audio signal. If you can't clearly hear the internal "loudspeaker" when LOADing , the volume is too low.

Mark

1024MAK wrote: ↑Thu Jul 11, 2024 5:03 pm On the ZX Spectrum, the Ear socket is the audio input FROM the cassette tape deck.

The Mic socket is the audio output from the ZX Spectrum TO the cassette tape deck.

A 'phones' output is similar to an Ear output (Ear being mono, but 'phones' could be either mono or stereo).

While on this subject of stereo, keep in mind that the ZX Spectrum sockets are mono and stereo plugs do not work correctly. The plug contacts are in different places.

One of the features of the ZX Spectrum, including the ULA, is that a single ULA pin deals with three things:

• Audio input from the cassette tape deck (Ear socket).
• Audio output to the cassette tape deck (Mic socket).
• Audio to the "loudspeaker".

Hence the Ear and the Mic sockets are electronically linked. If the cassette tape deck produces a "monitor" output on its output socket when recording, this will completely mess up the recording , as the output from the computer will be mixed with the output of the cassette tape deck, causing a feedback loop. Hence the generic advice to disconnect the Ear lead when recording.

If your cassette tape deck does not have a 'monitor' output/feature, you may not have to disconnect the Ear lead.

You also don't have to disconnect the Mic lead when loading. However, LOADing only needs the Ear lead connected.

Yes, you will need a high setting on the volume control. The ZX Spectrum was an improvement on the earlier Sinclair computers, but it still needs a rather loud audio signal. If you can't clearly hear the internal "loudspeaker" when LOADing , the volume is too low.

Mark

Hi thanks again.

So I only really need Ear connected not Mic when loading games? Is the input any better/worse/same if I do that or I have MIC also attached? I think a read somewhere it can be better quality of just Ear connected?

This is the brief spec of the old tape recorder I have not sure if its stereo or mono etc as you mention earlier. Any idea? I also include a photo - click through the pics to the see ports. Maybe Line In needs used instead of Mic? Presume Phones is the headphone socket and the grey Ear wire needs to connect to. It does seem to load ok though will try saving to tape tonight.

https://www.leboncoin.fr/ad/photo_audio ... 2401870640

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/12251 ... e=2#manual

No, there is no problem having EAR and MIC connected but you might need to adjust the azimuth.

I don't know what the azimuth is but I tried both with and without MIC and a game loaded with about the same volume last night. I also followed the introduction instructions on writing and saving a simple program with just MIC connected and that worked ok too and verified and loaded ok as well. Thanks for you help. Can recommend this old Philips tape recorder for use with the spectrum.

83dons wrote: ↑Thu Jul 11, 2024 5:30 pm So I only really need Ear connected not Mic when loading games?

Yes.

83dons wrote: ↑Thu Jul 11, 2024 5:30 pm Is the input any better/worse/same if I do that or I have MIC also attached?

It makes no significant difference if the Mic lead is connected or not. So the answer is "the same".

The cassette recorder you linked to is a "shoebox" mono cassette recorder similar to many others from the 1980s. This one has some extra features though.

The reason that I say that it is mono, is because if it had been stereo this would have been prominently displayed on it and the box. And it would be in the written details.

83dons wrote: ↑Thu Jul 11, 2024 5:30 pm Maybe Line In needs used instead of Mic? Presume Phones is the headphone socket and the grey Ear wire needs to connect to.

Line in inputs operate at an industry standard level (well, most do some, ). It's unlikely that using this socket would be successful as the output from the ZX Spectrum Mic socket is specifically designed to feed microphone level inputs on this type of cassette recorder.

Looking at the details for that particular cassette recorder, the loudspeaker (LS) socket should output a higher level signal compared to the (head)phones socket. So you could try connecting the LS socket to the Ear socket on the computer. Do start with the volume adjusted to no more than half, then adjust as required.

The azimuth is the angle of the magnetic head compared to the position of the tape. The 'slot' that is the the magnetic 'sensor' on the head should be vertical compared to the tape as the tape passes the head. An adjustment screw is provided to allow slight changes to the adjustment. If it was set up correctly, it should not require adjusting. But if a tape was recorded in a recorder that had a head that was not correctly set up, adjusting the azimuth in your deck may help with LOADing by matching to the angle used on the recording.

Mark