SVI-CAS Digital Tape Alternative for Sinclair Machines

[Romsey]

Greetings all,

For those who may be interested, or even just curious, SVI-CAS is a digital tape drive that supports the 8bit classic Sinclair machines (among others) with both image playback and recording functionality, it's a direct alternative to the TZXDUINO / MAXDUINO units currently available.

I developed this unit due to my dissatisfaction with what was available at the time and wanted a total solution for all my Sinclairs (particularly my ZX80) as well as the rest of my classic micros.

Some images of the unit performing various functions (note TFT display hard to photograph clearly):

http://users.tpg.com.au/romsey/SVI/Spec ... n_Menu.JPG
http://users.tpg.com.au/romsey/SVI/ZX81_Main_Menu.JPG
http://users.tpg.com.au/romsey/SVI/ZX81_Playback.JPG
http://users.tpg.com.au/romsey/SVI/Gene ... ayback.jpg
http://users.tpg.com.au/romsey/SVI/Directory.JPG
http://users.tpg.com.au/romsey/SVI/Ente ... e_Name.JPG
http://users.tpg.com.au/romsey/SVI/ZX80_Recording.JPG

If you'd like to leran more about the unit you can also download the user manual here:
http://users.tpg.com.au/romsey/SVI/SVI-CAS%204.0.pdf

Happy to answer any questions anyone may have about the unit,

Thanks

[Paul]

Can I modify my Maxduino to run your firmware?

[stevenmcdonald]

Wow that unit looks great plus it has RECORD!!

Very nice !


I’ll have a look at the user manual now thanks

Steve

[Moggy]

Some for sale here..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154467981468 ... olid=10001

[Romsey]

Can I modify my Maxduino to run your firmware?

Hi Paul,

SVI-CAS was not written using arduino, it was written in C and assembler using the CodevisionAVR commercial IDE & compiler, I also don't use a bootloader with this product either. I'm not a fan of arduino to be honest, I needed an environment where innovative tricks and design techniques could be applied properly - as this unit only uses an 8bit microcontroller. Also SVI-CAS contains a custom analog section for amplification and "wave shaping" for the recording process that requires no record level adjustments by the user - I wanted a unit that was simply plug & play for all my micros.

The ZX80 & ZX81 were the real challenge having the lowest cassette interface record signal of any micro I've encountered which made said signal quite susceptible to RF noise from any CRT TV and the oscillator inside Sinclair's 16K ram pack.

Regards

[Romsey]

Some for sale here..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154467981468 ... olid=10001

The unit is cheaper if bought direct, see the last page of the user manual if interested.

[Superviridi]

Romsey are you still active in here ?