SCELBI Cassette Interface

The emulated cassette interface allows saving and reading data into AIFF formatted audio files.  The emulated cassette tape recorder implemented in this applications writes and reads AIFF files that are compatible with actual SCELBI hardware.  With this program, you can read actual SCELBI audio files that are digitized into AIFF format.  Audio AIFF files that are recorded by this program can be successfully played into an actual SCELBI cassette interface hardware and read by real SCELBI mini-computers.

NEW

When this button is selected, an empty tape is loaded into the emulated cassette tape drive.  A file select dialog is presented to the user, to enable the creation of a new SCELBI compatible, AIF formatted audio file.  This will enable the user to write data into the file from MEA, or another program that supports cassette output using SCELBI cassette interface hardware.

LOAD

When this button is selected, , a tape with existing data is loaded into the emulated cassette tape drive.  A file select dialog is presented to the user, to enable the load of an existing SCELBI compatible, AIF formatted audio file.  This will enable the user to read data into the system from MEA or another program that supports cassette input using SCELBI cassette interface hardware.

EJECT

A "new" or "loaded" file is ejected from the emulated cassette tape drive, and allows another "new" or "existing" tape to be loaded into the emulated drive.  Eject completes the writing of a newly recorded tape/file.

PLAY

An existing tape will be played to the cassette interface input hardware.  Note that the SCELBI cassette interface hardware implemented a remote control relay, so the tape will not actually start playing back until the 8008 cassette driver software switches the relay on.  If sounds are enabled, the sound from the tape will be played back as the tape is being read.  This playback is not completely aligned with the emulated tape player, but gives you an approximate idea of how the playback is progressing.

RECORD

A new tape will be recorded from the cassette interface output hardware.  Note that the SCELBI cassette interface hardware implemented a remote control relay, so the tape will not actually start recording until the 8008 cassette driver software switches the relay on.  IMPORTANT: Once recorded, the user must either rewind or eject the tape in order to fully save the data.  If rewind is selected after a recording session, the tape is rewound and available for playback, but no more recording to this tape/file is allowed.  Sound output is not supported while recording.

STOP

A tape recording or played back is stopped.   Incompletely written or played tapes will probably behave unpredictably.

REWIND

A tape recording or played back is rewound and made ready for playback.   "NEW" tapes behave like existing "LOADed" tapes, once rewound and can be played back, but not recorded over.  "EJECT" and select "NEW" to record over existing tapes.