Released: pulse

[Boray]

I've now tested it with two datasettes and it worked perfectly with both. Here are some pictures:
http://museum.boray.se/#!album-14

[beamrider]

I guess I must have been unlucky to pick two mis-aligned datasettes..

I see there are several alignment programs for the C64. Guess I need to find a calibrated tape or maybe pre-recorded commercial cassettes would be good enough? Or perhaps simply calibrate the other two to match the one that successfully loaded pulse?

[pixel]

Thanks, boray! Glad to hear it worked.

I wouldn't use the one recorded by me as one side of the stereo channel seems to be a little bit louder than the other. Although that shouldn't cause problems with correctly aligned mono heads in datassettes – well, I guess you can picture the problem when using it as a reference easily. Won't happen again.

You could, however, record a tape with a regular audio deck, check if the sides are even, and then that should work out nicely. Since AFAIK commercial releases have been made in regular audio tape copy plants back in the days that would make the head alignment in audio equipment the de facto standard.

[pixel]

Replacement tapes arrived! And recording…

[pixel]

The recorder started to winch. Opened it, vacuumed it, got a reanimating shock – would have to leave it to an expert, but considering the cost of those: a new recorder it is…

What could make this thing winch anyway? It didn't before.

EDIT: 3 of 5 tapes said "Arrivederci!" in the datassette. Tape manufacturer is trying to source 18µm tapes, tho.

[darkatx]

Finally got my game cant wait to try it out later

[majikeyric]

Hi Pixel,
Have you sent all the copies ?

[pixel]

Nope. The recorder and a lot of tapes quit and I need to afford replacements which is what my new job is about to solve quickly, I hope.

[majikeyric]

No problem take your time
I was just afraid mine was lost by the post.

[pixel]

No problem take your time
I was just afraid mine was lost by the post.

Yours is currently being recorded.

So, what just happened? I moved to Berlin, spent four days next to Windows progress bars (new job) and cooled off. Despite having not much hopes I unpacked the tape recorder and that freakin' thing just worked again. No winching, nottin'. Clean recordings. Still, the tapes wouldn't work in the VIC. I guess the debilitating effects of having been cornered by psychos are wearing off as it seems that even the last issues one can have with the recording process have been solved right away.

I see myself being confronted with the honour to send new tapes to those who already have one, so you don't have to worry about where you placed your datassette.

Let's see how many blanks survive the mechanics of the datassette…

p.s.: An example for "psycho" would be somebody shouting at you for writing an article about how to make computer tape recordings with regular audio equipment. "You can't tell everybody what you know!". Maybe it'll be a read in the next issue of Commodore Free.

[pixel]

Oh dear! Who was it who wanted serial #35!? I cannot remember but the label is here and recall that someone wanted exactly that number.

[pixel]

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
kids and pets,

it is to my greatest, blatant pleasure of repulsing proportions to inform you that all ordered copies of "Pulse" have been bagged and boxed. Not only that the pixies seem to have repaired the recording equipment, also not a single tape messed up. A miracle.

love + respect
pixel

[elwee]

Mine arrived today. Have to give it a go the coming days.
Pixel, I like to thank you for all your power you put into this project with all its problems.

[jsundh]

I'm so happy!! Today I got a nice package in the mail. A big thank you Pixel!! and the other involved. I tried it directly!!

[majikeyric]

Received mine today!!! great! Thanks Sven