[net.micro] atari recorder

scc (04/28/83)

I would like to know if anyone has been able to rig something up which
allows you to use a non-atari cassette recorder with th 400.  I
picked up a 400 for $89 and do not wish to pay as much for the recorder
as I did for the computer.  I already have a GE data cassette recorder
and would like to hook it up to the 400.

					Thanks in advance
					Sally Catena
					floyd!burl!scc

newman (04/29/83)

The Atari computers virtually have to be used with the Atari cassette
recorders because the cassette recorders have non-trivial decoding
circuitry to produce ttl digital output from the analog signal that was
recorded. They are also stereo recorders, having a second analog channel 
that some software uses for a soundtrack. Schematics for the circuitry
in the 410 were published in the latest Antic magazine, but it wouldn't
be easy and you still wouldn't have the second channel or motor control.
Conclusion: not worth it.