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Vintage Computers Any vintage computer systems, calculators, video games etc., but with an emphasis on 1980s and earlier equipment. |
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9th Mar 2018, 5:05 pm | #1 |
Retired Dormant Member
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Identification of data recorder used with ZX computer
Hi
My name is Chris and I'm new to this forum. I'm trying to find model# (and spec. if available) of data recorder presented in attachment. The picture comes from computer show TV series, which was popular in Poland in 80's. The data recorder was used in this show to load data into 8 bit ZX Spectrum computer. Do you recognize brand and model of this device ? I appreciate your help Chris |
9th Mar 2018, 5:11 pm | #2 |
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Re: Identification of data recorder used with ZX computer
If it was being used in Poland in the 80s then it's likely to have been an East European product.
The Spectrum cassette interface could be used with any cassette player with an earphone socket. The idea was that people could use it with whatever they already had. |
9th Mar 2018, 5:39 pm | #3 |
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Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA.
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Re: Identification of data recorder used with ZX computer
Thank you ,
I asked about the same in Poland vintage computers forums and users are saying there it is rather western product |
9th Mar 2018, 7:36 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
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Re: Identification of data recorder used with ZX computer
It's also worth mentioning that you can use any audio replay device with a sufficiently powerful output (such as a dedicated MP3 player or a smartphone or PC) to load software onto a Spectrum if you can find the software in audio file format. Of course if it's original tape-based software you wish to load then yes, you'll need a real tape machine but as Paul said, the majority of mono cassette tape recorders or radio-cassettes were usable for this: Sinclair themselves never sold an 'official' data recorder for the Spectrum although the +2 came with a cassette deck built in.
Acorn did, for their machines, but it was just a conventional audio cassette recorder colour matched to the Acorn machines and with an Acorn logo on it. Certain other machines such as the C64 did use proprietary non-standard cassette 'decks', but the vast majority of home computers from that period could use more or less any audio recorder. |
9th Mar 2018, 7:40 pm | #5 |
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Re: Identification of data recorder used with ZX computer
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9th Mar 2018, 10:14 pm | #6 |
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Re: Identification of data recorder used with ZX computer
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10th Mar 2018, 9:22 pm | #7 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK.
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Re: Identification of data recorder used with ZX computer
The two silver things (lights?) in the picture make me wonder whether it was a small stereo cassette deck. Radio Shack/Tandy used to sell small cassette decks a bit like that although I don't have a catalogue to hand at the moment to see if it was one of theirs.
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10th Mar 2018, 9:59 pm | #8 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK.
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Re: Identification of data recorder used with ZX computer
if it was used in a TV studio setting maybe it was something semi / professional loaned to the programme makers by the station's tech department?
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11th Mar 2018, 3:13 am | #9 |
Dekatron
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Re: Identification of data recorder used with ZX computer
You used to be able to get cassette recorders specially designed for use with computers; they dispensed with the battery box and electret condenser microphone, and had an even smaller speaker than usual, but beside that they were just the usual Far East (nothing) Special internals in a different form factor. Some of them offered a "phase invert" function for especially picky computers.
The picture is too blurry to make out any of the writing that might reveal the manufacturer or even just hint at a language, unfortunately.
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