Thanks for watching! This little device is just brilliant. Load games FASTER than a floppy drive, Pi1541, SD2IEC using the cassette interface! If you don't have any of the other solutions for your C64 then Tapecart SD is for you.
I've read a long time ago that the tape bus is actually faster than the disk drive bus, but the tape drive itself was slowing it down. Too bad that the tape boot loader takes between 15 to 20 seconds to load fully before able to access the menu, otherwise it would really be a SD2IEC killer. The Ultimate II+ cart or Ultimate C64 comes the closes in speed to this. I noticed that the Ebay link for the TapeCartSD under the video description no longer works... it's probably outdated.
Just ordered one of these! Might take a while before it arrives though. Also ordered a C64 to scart cable. I found my old C64, cleaned it up and got myself fired up about setting it up again!
Not sure if it’s a replacement for the Pi1541 given the amount of software available in disk image format, BUT combined with one, you’d pretty much be set! Definitely gonna have to source one of these.
Sure there are limitations, it is read only too. If you’re starting out though it’s worth getting this first to test the waters. Most disk images can have their PRGs extracted quite easily. I do agree though, with this and a Pi1541 You’ll have all you need 👍🏻
I'm an 1541ultimate user. Sometimes I run GEOS apps or watch some demos, but 90% of the time I just want to play a game I like which I could easily do with this tapecart.
Been playing some c64 on my modded psp go lately. Uridium, barbarian etc. Of course its a little fiddly, albeit I can use the 3d slider instead of a dpad. Tempted to get a real c64c model, refurbed, with an sd card solution. I miss that lovely sid chip sound. But what about 64 maxi? What advantage, if any does it have over a recapped c64 for example? Thanks in advance.
Got me one of these, very handy device. I only wish there was an easy way to just return to the menu, resetting seems to be the only way to load something new.
What about games that were released on multiple disks? Ultima series, Summer/Winter Games. Are there image files of these games which will work with the Tapecart? What about writing to the files... like in games that save your progress or high scores?
The Tape Cart is read only as far as I understand it. A lot of games that were originally multiple disks have been converted to single file versions that this device is capable of loading. If you check other comments for this video a viewer has provided a link to some of them.
What about games that cannot be reduced down to a single PRG file? How about large original crt images? I think Batman (or maybe Robocop) is 512k There are a lot of releases that use both sides of a floppy disk. Watching the video, I noticed that all the games you loaded would fit in memory. Even 1 side of a 1541 formatted disk is 174,000 bytes.
honestly, I've had two now which have both died. I tried them on different machines. It seems those using arduino cheaper chinese clones don't last very long.
Amerigo Costa That is correct. For now multiload games need to be reformatted in such a way to be compatible but as far as I am aware this is a minority of games.
Hi i have a tapecart sd and i got a weird problem...when my floppy disk drive is plugged in my c64 my tapecartsd dont boot.. it blink 1 time and stay on a blue screen..but when my floppy disk drive is not plugged in my c64 the tapecart sd work with no problem..do have any idea why? Is it do the same to you? thanks
And with all the utilities in the tapedevil like magic copy etc..if i cant use my floppy disk drive.. the tapecard its only for game...and if i use simons basic with my tapecart sd how can i save a program i made if i cant save to my floppy disk drive?Because tapecart sd is a read only i think?
@@RetroRecollections Do you know if firmware updates are easy? If I got one, I'm wondering if I could upgrade its firmware later for C16, Plus/4 or VIC-20 support
My understanding is that the initial file loaded via the cassette loading instruction is what holds all the magic. If someone writes a C16 or VIC-20 compatible version in theory it should work.
Ah you wrote C61 which is what confused me. It’s possible the cables made for us with the Tapuino would work but of course someone needs to write compatible software.
Thanks for watching! This little device is just brilliant. Load games FASTER than a floppy drive, Pi1541, SD2IEC using the cassette interface! If you don't have any of the other solutions for your C64 then Tapecart SD is for you.
@Foolish Tongue nice one, don't think you'll be disappointed :)
I've read a long time ago that the tape bus is actually faster than the disk drive bus, but the tape drive itself was slowing it down.
Too bad that the tape boot loader takes between 15 to 20 seconds to load fully before able to access the menu, otherwise it would really be a SD2IEC killer. The Ultimate II+ cart or Ultimate C64 comes the closes in speed to this.
I noticed that the Ebay link for the TapeCartSD under the video description no longer works... it's probably outdated.
Just ordered one of these! Might take a while before it arrives though. Also ordered a C64 to scart cable. I found my old C64, cleaned it up and got myself fired up about setting it up again!
Great! 👍🏻
Definitely going to have to get one of these! Thanks for sharing about it!
wow thx i was really overwhelmed after i bought a c64 with all the choices, this is the one
I currently use SD2IEC, it also takes forever to load. I’ll definitely be getting one of these, thanks
Even faster than this are the EasyFlash and KungFu carts, they load nearly instantaneously without waiting for loading for the loader menu.
Thanks for this video, You got a new sub!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Not sure if it’s a replacement for the Pi1541 given the amount of software available in disk image format, BUT combined with one, you’d pretty much be set! Definitely gonna have to source one of these.
Sure there are limitations, it is read only too. If you’re starting out though it’s worth getting this first to test the waters. Most disk images can have their PRGs extracted quite easily. I do agree though, with this and a Pi1541 You’ll have all you need 👍🏻
I'm an 1541ultimate user. Sometimes I run GEOS apps or watch some demos, but 90% of the time I just want to play a game I like which I could easily do with this tapecart.
Piotr Domański It’s such a cheap solution that it makes sense to have one 👍🏻
Really quite a nice piece of equipment. It is quite face, considering it is going thru the tape port. Nice!
Yeah must be magic lol
Thanks for such complete Review. Does tapecart sd comply with c64 NTSC boards? I know Kung fu flash doesnt but not sure about tapecart sd...
I don’t believe there is any issue using it on NTSC boards but I don’t have one to test.
Been playing some c64 on my modded psp go lately. Uridium, barbarian etc. Of course its a little fiddly, albeit I can use the 3d slider instead of a dpad. Tempted to get a real c64c model, refurbed, with an sd card solution. I miss that lovely sid chip sound. But what about 64 maxi? What advantage, if any does it have over a recapped c64 for example? Thanks in advance.
Got me one of these, very handy device. I only wish there was an easy way to just return to the menu, resetting seems to be the only way to load something new.
yeah I think that is the only way since when you load something it no doubt overwrites the menu in RAM.
this makes it fit for the next 30 years
Yep, awesome little device.
What about games that were released on multiple disks? Ultima series, Summer/Winter Games. Are there image files of these games which will work with the Tapecart? What about writing to the files... like in games that save your progress or high scores?
The Tape Cart is read only as far as I understand it. A lot of games that were originally multiple disks have been converted to single file versions that this device is capable of loading. If you check other comments for this video a viewer has provided a link to some of them.
Hello there, can you tell me what a converter do you have ?? C64 - hdmi . THANKSSSS
I currently have a Tapecart Mini but for some reason when i run the load command, it stays on the light blue screen. Never finds browser.prg...
What about games that cannot be reduced down to a single PRG file?
How about large original crt images? I think Batman (or maybe Robocop) is 512k
There are a lot of releases that use both sides of a floppy disk. Watching the video, I noticed that all the games you loaded would fit in memory. Even 1 side of a 1541 formatted disk is 174,000 bytes.
I’m looking at an SD solution for my Commodore 64 and 128D. Is this a better option than an SD2IEC?
Better is subjective. This is faster but you can’t save to it. Great for loading games.
Can I ask what device you use to get the picture looking like that on a flatscreen ?
It looks like a RetroTink
A question:are tcrt and crt files interchangable or does renaming the extension from crt to tcrt work on Tapecart SD?
does the tapecart sd include an azimuth head alignment tape utility?
honestly, I've had two now which have both died. I tried them on different machines. It seems those using arduino cheaper chinese clones don't last very long.
That's a shame :(
My understanding is that it does not support multiload games, am I right?
Amerigo Costa That is correct. For now multiload games need to be reformatted in such a way to be compatible but as far as I am aware this is a minority of games.
Does anyone know if the Tapecart SD is compatible with MSSIAH?
My one fails to load 80percent of the time. I don't know what's wrong with it. It has no buttons, or anything.
Sounds like a build issue. I have had no problems whatsoever.
Does it handle multidisk games and demos?
Does the browser software use any of the c64's ram up ?
Yeah it will but I think it gets overwritten when you load up a program.
eBay link is dead, doesn't seem to be available anymore.
how did you connect c64 on modern monitor? thanks
I am using svideo to a retrotink 2x that outputs HDMI to the monitor.
Hi i have a tapecart sd and i got a weird problem...when my floppy disk drive is plugged in my c64 my tapecartsd dont boot.. it blink 1 time and stay on a blue screen..but when my floppy disk drive is not plugged in my c64 the tapecart sd work with no problem..do have any idea why? Is it do the same to you? thanks
Jonathan Plante I don’t have a floppy drive but I will try and replicate the issue with my Pi1541 plugged in.
@@RetroRecollections ok thanks
And with all the utilities in the tapedevil like magic copy etc..if i cant use my floppy disk drive.. the tapecard its only for game...and if i use simons basic with my tapecart sd how can i save a program i made if i cant save to my floppy disk drive?Because tapecart sd is a read only i think?
does this support save games ?
Not at this time. It is purely a mega fast software loading mechanism.
what can be used with d64 disk images?
How to save a basic programm to the sd card ?
I don't think you can. The device is designed to be read from only as far as I'm aware.
Hi can you save game in tcrt file ? Thanks
Is it only reads .PRG files? What about .TAP or .d64?
Doesn’t read .TAP files but it reads PRG, CRT and D64 - sorry this is wrong, had a brain fart 😂
@@RetroRecollections .d64? are you sure>>??
Oh sorry I got confused with the Kung Fu Flash! Sorry PRG and TCRT only 🙏
Sub for C64 coverage.
Welcome aboard! :)
Does it support VIC-20 ?
It could be made to if the software was written for it but as it stands it is C64 only. I'd love to get this working with the Plus/4.
@@RetroRecollections Do you know if firmware updates are easy? If I got one, I'm wondering if I could upgrade its firmware later for C16, Plus/4 or VIC-20 support
My understanding is that the initial file loaded via the cassette loading instruction is what holds all the magic. If someone writes a C16 or VIC-20 compatible version in theory it should work.
Where can you get a C64 to C61 converter cable for this?
Not sure what you're asking.
@@RetroRecollections C16 doesn't have the same tape port. If there was a converter cable and menu support that would be awesome.
Ah you wrote C61 which is what confused me. It’s possible the cables made for us with the Tapuino would work but of course someone needs to write compatible software.