My dad opened up the original C64 tape deck and found an output on the circuit board, he connected a lead to another C64 tape deck (a 3rd party one). I could load games and copy them at the same time perfectly, I could optionally listen to the sound output too on the 3rd party deck and became so trained I could adjust the tape head on the fly by ear to load difficult copies and even make a better copy that would load with the head in it's normal position. Those really were the days.
I am always pleased to see that there are channels that treat Commodore like me! I am now your new subscriber. I also use the technique of cleaning the data cassette connector!
Many thanks for the video. My c64 player does not load a handful of games. But it successfully loads others. Does this suggest a fault with the unloaded cassettes?
Quite possibly. If you are not the original owner of the games (i.e you got them pre-loved) it's hard to say what care was taken to look after the cassettes. I have all my Amstrad CPC cassette games from a kid (30+years) & they still work fine because I always took care of them & stored them away from the dust & sunlight.
@@TheRetroStuffGuy Many thanks for this. No I am not the original owner of the games which don't load. They were ordered from ebay. Any tips to clean the actual cassettes would be highly appreciated
@@ScrabbyDabbyDoo1 Well in the olden days they did used to have devices that would clean cassettes....not just the tape players. You might be able to pick one up on ebay, though chances may be a bit slim. Alternately, i've not tried this myself, but you could try cleaning them manually by hand. Very time consuming by the sounds of it but legacybox.com/blogs/analog/how-do-you-clean-old-cassette-tapes might be worth a go. If you do give it a go, let me know what happens.
Ive got a problem which I dont understand i have a cassette player and 1 tape reads just fine but i have another tape that just doesnt do anything can anyone give me some ideas
@@TheRetroStuffGuy Well guess what. I cleaned my datasette connection port on the back of my VIC 20, and all my program tapes start loading right away. Thanks for your best advice, I had a feeling it was a bit dingy, and that was the issue.
Well it would just stop. Depending on the tape deck you had (even for music or computing) the play button might pop-up, but usually the play button would stay compressed & try to drive the tape spool. I hope i've understood your question. :)
@TheRetroStuffGuy yeah that helps. I get it with music and movies, we had those, they run out, you either flip it or rewind it. But playing a game on a cassette? That just blows my mind.
My dad opened up the original C64 tape deck and found an output on the circuit board, he connected a lead to another C64 tape deck (a 3rd party one). I could load games and copy them at the same time perfectly, I could optionally listen to the sound output too on the 3rd party deck and became so trained I could adjust the tape head on the fly by ear to load difficult copies and even make a better copy that would load with the head in it's normal position. Those really were the days.
Thanks for this! Managed to sort my tape deck and got games loading again after 25+ years!
Great to hear!
The ground lead is for connecting to the metal case when used with a Commodore PET. It is not used for the Vic 20 or C64. Later units didn't have it.
I am always pleased to see that there are channels that treat Commodore like me! I am now your new subscriber.
I also use the technique of cleaning the data cassette connector!
Very useful tips, great video!
Glad it was helpful!
nice just got my c64 bundle in and want to get my programs saved
Look at line 9, it seems you typed DATA 2.230 instead of DATA 2, 230 so that's probably why you were getting the error message
Good spot!!! They joys of BASIC.
Many thanks for the video. My c64 player does not load a handful of games. But it successfully loads others. Does this suggest a fault with the unloaded cassettes?
Quite possibly. If you are not the original owner of the games (i.e you got them pre-loved) it's hard to say what care was taken to look after the cassettes. I have all my Amstrad CPC cassette games from a kid (30+years) & they still work fine because I always took care of them & stored them away from the dust & sunlight.
@@TheRetroStuffGuy Many thanks for this. No I am not the original owner of the games which don't load. They were ordered from ebay. Any tips to clean the actual cassettes would be highly appreciated
@@ScrabbyDabbyDoo1 Well in the olden days they did used to have devices that would clean cassettes....not just the tape players. You might be able to pick one up on ebay, though chances may be a bit slim.
Alternately, i've not tried this myself, but you could try cleaning them manually by hand. Very time consuming by the sounds of it but legacybox.com/blogs/analog/how-do-you-clean-old-cassette-tapes might be worth a go.
If you do give it a go, let me know what happens.
Azimuth turn screw
Ive got a problem which I dont understand i have a cassette player and 1 tape reads just fine but i have another tape that just doesnt do anything can anyone give me some ideas
Do the spools move or is it just not reading the tape?
So I just have to take the thing apart and clean it? And then it's going to work?
Maybe. It worked for me. You need to remember these things are 30plus years old...a basic service can only be a good thing. 👍
Same with a vic 20 I hope.
Most likely I reckon.
@@TheRetroStuffGuy Well guess what. I cleaned my datasette connection port on the back of my VIC 20, and all my program tapes start loading right away. Thanks for your best advice, I had a feeling it was a bit dingy, and that was the issue.
@@SinisterScoundrel6562 Result! Christmas has come early!
Ive got a burning question. Im 31 and wasnt alive for this. What would happen if the cassette ended? Like if it ran out of tape?
Well it would just stop. Depending on the tape deck you had (even for music or computing) the play button might pop-up, but usually the play button would stay compressed & try to drive the tape spool. I hope i've understood your question. :)
@TheRetroStuffGuy yeah that helps. I get it with music and movies, we had those, they run out, you either flip it or rewind it. But playing a game on a cassette? That just blows my mind.