Convert SV-904 tape drive to MSX use

By protek

Expert (123)

protek의 아바타

03-06-2010, 19:49

Hi,

I'm a new member on this forum and a proud owner of Spectravideo 328. I have also a SVI 728 MSX coming to me but that's going to a friend of mine, as he used to have one as a kid. Apparently, the 728 doesn't come with a tape drive. I have an 8 pin din and one 3,5 mm plug bought for making a cable.

I was also wondering, if the 328's tape drive SV-904 could be converted to MSX use. Looking at the SV-904 pinout, this doesn't seem just a simple swap of connector. I wonder if SV-904's cassette data read and write are the same as CMTIN and CMTOUT in MSX tape drives? Somehow, I get the feeling that the AD/DA conversion is done on the SV-904 side already. There is cassette audio pin in the SV-904, though.

Also, can you connect a Philips VY-0010 VY0010 3,5" disk drive directly into a 728? The 728 seems to have the 34 pin floppy connector on its back but I'm not 100% sure.

Br,

Tero

Login or 등록 to post comments

By Manuel

Ascended (19273)

Manuel의 아바타

03-06-2010, 21:09

For an MSX you can use any tape recorder, so probably also the SV-904, unless it's special as you described.

The VY0010 is probably supposed to be connected only via its own interface cartridge.

By RetroTechie

Paragon (1563)

RetroTechie의 아바타

03-06-2010, 21:19

Welcome to this forum, protek! Running Naked in a Field of Flowers

I wonder if SV-904's cassette data read and write are the same as CMTIN and CMTOUT in MSX tape drives? Somehow, I get the feeling that the AD/DA conversion is done on the SV-904 side already.
I'm wondering with you... Maybe that SV-904 is similar to those C= datasettes, where digital signals go over the cable, and the analog signals are only found inside the recorder. It's possible to modify the internals, but if it doesn't have regular 3.5 mm. EAR/MIC plugs, it's probably easier to grab another taperecorder.

Also, can you connect a Philips VY-0010 VY0010 3,5" disk drive directly into a 728? The 728 seems to have the 34 pin floppy connector on its back but I'm not 100% sure.
That's the 2nd cartridgeslot, using a floppy/IDE style connector... External floppy drive works fine, but you need an interface to go with it (that goes into the cartridgeslot on top of the machine). I'd recommend that, and skip audio tapes alltogether. Or perhaps even buy an SD- / CompactFlash interface if you can find one (see here for a recent discussion on that topic).