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Re: repaired games from bad tapes

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 6:57 pm
by .mad.
another one found, and removed from the missing list. :D

Re: repaired games from bad tapes

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 6:19 pm
by robcfg
I've been taking a look at the Cuthbert In The Mines wav file, and it has been generated from the cas file.

That usually isn't a problem unless the game relies on the pauses between blocks to do stuff. You'd need a wav taken from the original tape instead.
sorry.... i know you don't like these mods. ;)
it is only emulator compatability i am looking for.
Well, I tried on MAME 0.210, and it loads in 3:42 which is the length of the wav file. Which version of MAME and what kind of computer are you using? It seems a problem either with your setup or an older MAME version.

Regarding 'emulator compatability', it's actually the emulators that have to correctly mimic the working of the real machine. Otherwise, it will be quite confusing having different versions of the dumps.

Nothing against fixing broken dumps, of course.

Re: repaired games from bad tapes

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 11:18 am
by .mad.
Hi Rob,

i am using MAME 208 with the old NTSC artifacting from MAME 202, without the conflicting joystick keymaps on the NUMPAD. :D
i have not edited any of the COCO /Dragon loading routines.
Unless Perno70 has updated the dragon/coco files very recently... and i missed the update.

the cuthbert loadscreen error even shows in Xroar, so i guess it must only be a duff wave.
and the good CAS was sourced elsewhere.
Xroar speeds up the loading, so i only noticed the longer time using MAME as it is displayed on the screen.

The longer load time problem is only in 3 or 4 CAS files i found so far, so it's more than likley a misread by MAME,
with a particular headerless loader.

here are the versions i have. good and bad.
Regarding 'emulator compatability', it's actually the emulators that have to correctly mimic the working of the real machine. Otherwise, it will be quite confusing having different versions of the dumps.
I 100% agree with you there. :D
The CAS load routine needs to get updated!.

But until it does... i have no other option than to edit the CAS files, if i want to play the games in MAME.

Re: repaired games from bad tapes

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 6:44 pm
by .mad.
Hi Rob,

can you take a look at this BAD wave and try to fix it?. :mrgreen:
i don't know how to use your util correctly, i need the manual or a tutorial video. :cry:

Back Track sample [maybe same as original].
after a failed attempt, the saved code (first few blocks) looked identical to this CAS copy.

Re: repaired games from bad tapes

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 8:34 pm
by robcfg
Regarding Cuthbert in the Mines, there was indeed something fishy.

The wav file produces a correct cas file, but different from the good one that we have at the archive.

So, I generated a new wav file from the right cas file and it seems to be loading ok.

I did the same with Back Track. I don't know where did you get that file, or why don't you use cas files instead of wav files.

Try these new files.

Re: repaired games from bad tapes

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 9:53 am
by .mad.
Thanks Rob,

I only want to use CAS files.
That's whole the problem really. :)

with Cuthbert, i only tested the WAV after i noticed the CAS took 8 mins to load.
then i saw the bad load screen.
so i thought (wrongly) the extra load time might have something to do with the CAS conversion.

As for Back Track (pre-release sample), only the BAD wav is known to exist. ;)
and i was wondering if the code was identical to the official realase?.
your backtrack WAV when converted to CAS, is identical to the one i posted above.
did you edit (fix) the BAD sample WAV?.

Re: repaired games from bad tapes

Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2019 1:20 pm
by .mad.
fixed / modded a few more CAS files.

Micro-Debug
Knowledge Quiz, Sports Quiz, Reasoning 11+ Revision, CSE Maths*.

* archived Tape is missing file header "Qfile" and the first 10 questions.
fixed the missing blocks so it loads.
added 10 blank questions so the Answers are in sync. :P
included Q&A cheat sheet.

Underbeings of Cloth [MAME fix]
Finally fixed this for good (edited BASIC).
the BASIC code used MOTOR ON before the data read, then CLOADM is used 10 seconds after.
moved the motor on command after the data read.
works in MAME and XROAR without the edited gap.

And All Because.. (B&H) [CAS] does the same Motor On thing causing loading to fail in emulators...

Re: repaired games from bad tapes

Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2019 3:30 pm
by .mad.
La Voz De Su Dragon.
The original tape WAVE has Spanish speaking audio between the programs.
These are just the edited programs in CAS format. (without the Audio parts).

Re: repaired games from bad tapes

Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2019 4:07 pm
by robcfg
This one feels a bit pointless, as the instructions are narrated during the load.

That’s why is was uploaded only as a wav file. Otherwise you’re losing part of it, which is not acceptable from a preservation point of view.

I mean, it’s called “Your Dragon’s Voice”, if you take the voice away it makes no sense.

So it’s not repaired (but the contrary) and it’s not a bad tape either.

Re: repaired games from bad tapes

Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2019 7:45 pm
by .mad.
the forum "Topic Name" maybe misleading.

but like i said in the post...
it's just an alternative edited CAS version.

and for ME, the Spainsh audio between loads is pointless. :P