Audio CD Software/data was: Re: Recent Finds & Thoughts

From: Ethan Dicks <erd_at_infinet.com>
Date: Tue Nov 24 09:41:15 1998

>
> cswiger wrote:
> >
> > Marvin wrote:
> > >Having *finally* gotten a CD-R unit hooked up, it occurred to
> > >me that perhaps recording all the cassette data tapes to CD
> > >would be a worthwhile thing to do. Has anyone else tried this?
 
> Is there a library of cassette software being archived anywhere? At this
> point, I probably have at least several hundred cassette tapes of programs
> for the earlier computers, and it would be a shame to lose it.

I did not digitize my library of PET tapes, but I did convert them to
disk files by hooking up a C= tape drive to to a PeeCee parallel
port and slurping the data up directly. At the time, I used a commercial
(registered shareware) program to do it. I belive there are freeware
products to do the same on ftp.funet.fi, now.

What I _really_ need is some data on the PET Rabbit format. I have my
original Rabbit cassette and ROM, but not easy access to a BASIC 3.0 32K
PET (or else I'd read them in on the original hardware). For the unaware,
the Rabbit was like TurboTape from 1979 for the PET. It was several
times faster than the slower and redundant recording on the native PET format.
If need by, I'll disassemble the Rabbit program, but that's not at
the top of my list of projects.

> Also, how did you record the cassettes with respect to input device,
> sampling frequency, etc.? I am currently running the input into my sound
> card. Since I am also starting to transfer a few records to CD, the
> recording settings are 44 MHz in Stereo. Aside from the minor detail of
> about 11 Mb/minute and record rumble, it works really well.

For stereo recording, you can't go wrong with 44Khz/stereo stampling. Yes,
it sucks up disk space (~9Mb/minute), but disks are cheap. I have some
reel-to-reel to transfer myself. Again, not at the top of my list.

I can recommend Spin Doctor by Adaptec. In addition to digitizing stuff,
you can post-process it, removing pops and clicks, and even give the computer
a chance to guess where the song boundaries are.

Enjoy,

-ethan
Received on Tue Nov 24 1998 - 09:41:15 GMT