Hi.
Yarek Adamski's system (ZXVGS) and various HDD connections working with the system, can load TAP and *.z80 files without any problems (of course only TAPs with standard loader).
Will it be possible to load TAPs and *.z80 files from HDD on Sprinter? I think it's a very important question.

SPECTRUM.EXE is a program which allows loading of Spectrum software images (today only from TRD files). As we have a plan of progress of Spectrum Configuration, Sprinter Update #2 will include a new version of the program which allows loading SCL and TAP files. May be, we will examine some other file formats in time.

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PETERS PLUS LTD

for now you must play tap and tzx files connecting sprinter to a pc using sound blaster and tap players

I must report complete success loading *.TAP thru the EAR socket in Sprinter from a Laptop with WinAMP and the Tap Player plugin (for WinAMP 2.xx).

Since *.TAPs are exclusively standard tones, I could not try non-standard ones, as there are no *.TZX plugins for WinAMP (any version). This plugin would be a great idea. Any C programmer out there could do this. I only deal with VB6, and Z80 assembly, of course!

I did not yet try to load MP3 images of cassette audio... Some say the lossy MPEG compression would not get thru... But's an idea. I read of someone that dumped WAV files to CDRom (as standard audio), and use a cheap discman to load games to the real rubbery thing. That should also work on Sprinter.

Hope it helps!

Marcelo.
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Speccy rules, its staff is Sprinter.

By the way, tape-connector in Sprinter, looks like joyskitck/mouse port. Is there any scheme how to make a cable for it?

PS: About TAP-files loading, we're waiting unpatiently. :) How do you think, when it's ready?

yeah. You can also convert TZX to TAP using tzx2tap utility
ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/tools/pc/tzx2tap.zip

Flydream:
The point I tried to make with TZX is that TAP files cannot cope with non-standard tones/loader routines, while TZX can. This is a personal opinion based on my almost good knowledge of TAP files and what I've read on TZX files. Please let me know if I'm wrong.
As far as I know, not always a TZX can be converted to TAP, but any TAP can be made into a TZX. That's why I ***suggested*** a C programmer make a TZX plugin (or WinAMP v3 'component') for TZX file input. I searched yesterday for them on the WinAMP site, with no success.

What CAN be done (but it is ridiculous to do) is to get a WAV from a TZX, then play it with WinAMP. That SHOULD work. But, as I said, I think the plugin/component idea rocks.

Any ZX-freak C programmer(s) willing to take the challenge?

Marcelo.
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Speccy rules, its staff is Sprinter.

Does Taper play a TZX? Also I think is possible using RealSpec... but... you must emulate Speccy :))

...and I still think, the best would be loading TAPs from harddisk...

PS: Does anybody know it: tape-connector in Sprinter, looks like joyskitck/mouse port. Is there any scheme how to make a cable for it? Hellp, ppl! :(

PS.2: Sprinter Crew, how do you think, when TAP-files loading can be ready?

PS: Does anybody know it: tape-connector in Sprinter, looks like
joyskitck/mouse port. Is there any scheme how to make a cable for it?
Hellp, ppl! :(

Yes, Sprinter has 25-pin connector (on bracket) for Tape/Joystick.
Please, use next info (Assembly Guide includes it too) for creation of your
cable.

Signal		Pin on connector	



Tape OUT		8	

GND / Tape	3	

Tape IN		2	

Joystick body	20	

JK0 / RIGHT	7	

JK1 / LEFT	6	

JK2 / DOWN	4	

JK3 / UP		5	

JK4 / FIRE	22	

GND		10