Advice needed on creating a UEF file from a tape

[cyberdude]

Hi,

I recently bought Birdstrike by Firebird on cassette as a game I used to play a lot when I was young. I have tested it on my Elk and it works.

I would like to upload to the tape archive forum, I believe it is on your wishlist for tape archives wanted. I saw a post that someone wanted to see the differences between the disc and tape version. I already have the ssd of it too.

I can get the game into .wav format but I need to test this with my phone connected to the Elk to make sure it will work. Can I please get some help with making it into a .UEF format? I tried with MakeUEF but having no luck. I couldn't get it into CSW format as the CSW.exe kept producing data errors.

Any advice on this would really be really appreciated, links to the software I need and/or the commands I need to use to make it happen would nail it!

Many thanks,

Cyberdude

[CMcDougall]

yes, its a pain in the bottom, but i got ALL mine to work.
http://stardot.org.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=5023

the birdStirke on elk over at elkWorld is exactly the same screen loaders, but the 'protected' loaded aint in tact.

So will need to be .hqUEF lol

some of my notes from doing my whole collection :

Record (WaveLab6.10build340) usual Stereo, 44k, 16bit, peak about-2.5
then Save As RAW to Mono, 44k, 8bit unsigned.
then convert using dbPowerAmp to Mono, 44k, 8bit.
or convert using NCH Switch414 to Mono, 44k, 8bit.

very good , 95% works=Mono,44kHz,344Kbps / PCM 44100hz,1Channel,8bits
not very good, 20% works=Mono,22kHz,168Kbps / PCM 22050hz,1Channel,8bits


FreeUEF spits out a file at peak -2.499 / 75%, Mono,44kHz,344Kbps


BackToLife is for .CSW files to .WAV but peak 100% / 0
if use DOS csw.exe -d file.csw .WAV peaks 75% / -2.499
spits out a .WAV file Mono,44kHz,344Kbps.


In DOS window c:\tape

makeuefam -i file.wav

This creates a .UEF file from a .WAV file. (had 10% worked)

If no files appear, then reload your .WAV file and save as .RAW
makeuefam -i file.raw
this then shows files and makes the .UEF file properly. (has 90% worked)

IF no joy at all, use
makeuefam -o file ,this loads blocks in from Line-In, press Escape when blocks done.




In CSW viewer39 on the 'Create CSW file' TAB
Acorn tapes need 1000hz to 3600hz (sometimes 5000)
Spectrum tapes need 0600 to 4000 (only have left channel)
then use 'select and convert WAV' to pick your .WAV file.

In DOS window c:\tape

BBC / ELECTRON :
makeuef -i file.csw -w 0 180 -s 1200 1300 (OR -p OR -r)
OR
makeuef -i file.csw -s 1200 1300
OR
makeuef -i file.csw -w 0 180
OR
makeuef -i file.csw -w 0 180 -z 9 8n1
OR
makeuef -i file.csw -w 0 180 -z 99 8n1 -z 100 8n1

ATOM :
Makeuef -y 1 300 -z 1 atm -i file.csw -w 0 180
OR
Makeuef -y 1 300 -z 1 atm -i file.csw

EDIT : updated for beeb/elk & Atom

[CMcDougall]

and the newest files you need, all in a two easy clicks

EDIT: updated dead link with direct DL

[cyberdude]

Thanks my friend, you are a life saver! That's brilliant. I will have a go at using them over the weekend and try again with Birdstrike as a test. Brilliant

[CMcDougall]

no bother mate, you would be better to try normal tapes first, then the .HQuef

but could use Birdstrike's first two files to know your .wav/raw is at correct levels

More Notes :

Record usual CD quality Stereo, 44k, 16bit, peak about-2.5 & keep this as the 'MASTER' if your proggy does not do this already, then convert from this to the other mono files.

when after you get to convert to .CSW, try in BeebEm414 and use 'tape control' to see if files are all there/ok, then put into MakeUEF........

I have a couple of other tricks up my sleeve to do with the Master.wav to mono if you get stuck

[cyberdude]

Thanks CMcDougall, there is an exact science in getting this to work accurately. Seems like you have really played with it in trial and error. I find it kind of strange that Spectrum games made a noise when they loaded, but the Elk/Beeb never did. If you play them back in a tape player, they sound similar! I will have another go at this when I've got some time to work it out, and will let you know how I get on. Thanks very much for the detailed information, I will use this to attempt my own creation of a .uef file from a tape!

[CMcDougall]

^your welcome

more info when things go right
a picture tells a thousand words!

when doing makeuef -i bs.csw -s 1200 1300 you get things like :

Code: Select all

The following block size is 225
Found : BIRDSTRIKE 00	Checksum ok, last block flag
1 data blocks written.
1 ordinary files written.
Carrier tone written, length 12709 waves.
Security waves written, length 1 waves, as follows:
S,
The security waves end with a pulse.
Baud rate of the preceding data was 1251.87

Gap written, length 0.01126984 seconds.
POSSIBLE DROPOUT - THE GAP IS LESS THAN 0.02 SECONDS.

Security waves written, length 14 waves, as follows:
S,S,S,L,L,S,S,L,S,S,L,S,S,L,
The security waves start with a wave.
The security waves end with a wave.
Carrier tone with standard dummy byte written.
Length before dummy byte is 8 waves.
Length after dummy byte is 12236 waves.
Baud rate of the preceding data was 1252.278

The following block size is 283
Found :       BIRD 00	Checksum ok
2 data blocks written.
Carrier tone written, length 2128 waves.
Baud rate of the preceding data was 1252.2

The following block size is 285
Found :     STRIKE 00	Checksum ok
12 data blocks written.
Carrier tone written, length 2136 waves.
Baud rate of the preceding data was 1252.774

The following block size is 285
Found :     STRIKE 01	Checksum ok, last block flag

then if has a protected/stream loader you get :

Code: Select all

Security waves written, length 5 waves, as follows:
S,S,S,S,L,
The security waves start with a pulse.
The security waves end with a wave.
Carrier tone written, length 16 waves.
Dummy byte in carrier tone is &FF.
Carrier tone written, length 12070 waves.
Security waves written, length 30 waves, as follows:
L,S,S,L,S,S,L,S,S,L,S,S,L,L,S,S,L,L,S,S,L,S,S,L,S,S,L,S,S,L,S,S,L,L,L,L,S,S,L,L,S,S
The security waves start with a wave.
The security waves end with a wave.
Carrier tone written, length 46 waves.
Security waves written, length 76 waves, as follows:
L,L,S,S,L,S,S,S,S,S,S,L,L,L,S,S,L,S,S,L,S,S,S,S,S,S,L,L,L,L,S,S,L,L,L,L,S,S,S,S,L,L
The security waves start with a wave.
The security waves end with a wave.
Carrier tone written, length 18 waves.
Security waves written, length 5 waves, as follows:
L,L,L,L,L,
The security waves start with a wave.
The security waves end with a wave.
Carrier tone written, length 8 waves.
Security waves written, length 101 waves, as follows:
L,S,S,L,S,S,L,L,L,L,L,L,L,S,S,S,S,L,L,L,S,S,L,S,S,L,S,S,S,S,L,S,S,L,L,S,S,L,S

and if above beeps from PC internal speaker, then its a fail and press CTRL-C to finish.

\/ and below a pic of normal files working fine

\/ not working, using Pink Mic-In on Laptop , NEED Blue Line-In

a little success with bbctapedisc, but still a fail with pink Mic-In

[odin]

In DOS window c:\tape

makeuefam -i file.wav

This creates a .UEF file from a .WAV file. (had 10% worked)

If no files appear, then reload your .WAV file and save as .RAW
makeuefam -i file.raw
this then shows files and makes the .UEF file properly. (has 90% worked)

IF no joy at all, use
makeuefam -o file ,this loads blocks in from Line-In, press Escape when blocks done.

Just been trying this for a sound file (in either WAV or RAW) I had recorded but get the following message:

"Expected phase shift is +0".

Nothing else happens except the creation of a UEF file which is no way near big enough.

I'm stuck!!

[CMcDougall]

"Expected phase shift is +0"

well, least you typed in the right things!
seems the rip is pants, check below
http://www.stardot.org.uk/forums/viewto ... 703#p79162
but saying that, yesterday, I had my first ever two that I have failed with
http://www.stardot.org.uk/forums/viewto ... =32&t=7700
I need to know:
q1) what tape are you ripping (if a Missing In Action, i might reply!)
q2) what proggy are you using (if Audacity, it's crap IMO)
q3) are you using the Blue line in on PC, as Pink mic-In is utter useless
q4) if still stuck, and q1 is MIA, can you upload the .WAV file to somewhere, or PM me your email addy, and will try my tricks to sort it

[odin]

Off to try WaveLab, I had used Audacity!

I'm using the blue input and the title is "Table Adventure" (kids educational).

I'll let you know how I get on.

I was on a roll too after earlier creating an SSD from another tape which subsequently put on floppy and made bootable!!

[CMcDougall]

if still a fail, then this may be useful:
http://www.g7jjf.com/bbc.htm

bbctapedisc -w try.wav -s -a try.ssd
will read from the 'try' WAVE file and decode files to disc 'try'.
<OR>
bbctapedisc -r try.raw -s -a try.ssd
will read from the 'try' RAW file and decode files to disc 'try'.
<OR>
bbctapedisc -i -s -a try.ssd
will read from Blue Line-In and decode files to disc 'try'.

but, this did not work either with those two tapes

[odin]

Making some progress with this.

I don't have WaveLab in my collection but do have GoldWave.

The resulting 8bit mono WAV will now process through MAKEUEFAM to produce a file but I'm getting 'BAD PROGRAM' right at the end when loading the UEF into the computer.

[CMcDougall]

maybe need PAGE=&E00, *T., CH."" OR *RUN
if you turn the .UEF into a .ZIP and upload it here, will take a look. It may have 'lost' a file it could not get/read out the .WAV, or if tape is recorded both sides, try the other side (or sometimes a mix of both sides ).

[billcarr2005]

My apologies if it's the journey (of getting the UEF working) rather than the destination (a working version of Table Adventures) which is more important, but here's an SSD of the title (assuming it's the one by Acornsoft / ASK)

[CMcDougall]

but I'm getting 'BAD PROGRAM' right at the end when loading the UEF

the title (assuming it's the one by Acornsoft / ASK)

that explains, most of those tapes have a little hidden file at the end (maybe 300baud?) so will need a uefHQ or CSW, and they only work in bEm22 not BeebEm414

[odin]

Yes that's the correct title by ASK.

And yes there is a very short blip right at the end of the tape.

So what's the recommended procedure for obtaining a uefhq or csw?

Btw, I'm using UPCFS to run uef's into my Model B.

[CMcDougall]

the info is in this thread already, the 2nd post, near the bottom (& pics further on).

once one of those two commands gives the desired effect, then unzip the working uefHQ, and fire that down the UPURS cable!

[MartinB]

...but I'm getting 'BAD PROGRAM' right at the end when loading the UEF into the computer.

Btw, I'm using UPCFS to run uef's into my Model B.

Be a little cautious because even on a Model-B, there are some programs that don't like UPCFS due to my not being able to make it's hooks and tricks fully transparent. For a sanity check, maybe you could try loading a real mag-tape image made from the new UEF or even loading your UEF into an emulator - just to be sure the 'Bad program' isn't actually a UPCFS issue?

Col - apologies mate, I've been away for the last two weeks (bonnie Edinburgh again!) but I'll aim to get those UPURS bits in the post tomorrow. It'll deffo be good to have you in the UPURS/UPCFS test loop

[Elminster]

Just adding a little note on the end for Mac users.

Because most of the software runs on windows I have been doing most of everything on VMWare fusion running Win7. I tended to get random errors when recording. These moved about to different blocks on subsequent recordings. Okay on small programs, impossible on large ones.

Tried all of CMcDougall's advice above and no joy. Not using Wavelab, Switch Sound File Convertor, CSW Viewer or direct to makeuefam etc.

In the end I did the actual recording on the Mac side (still did all the processing with Switch Sound and makeuefam on VMWare) and worked first time (after trying for must have been 40-50 recordings on VM).

So have now switched Wavelab 8 Elements license to Mac now, then doing all the process in Windoze on VMWare fusion. Hopefully all a lot easier now. Also explains why stuff would load into a real BBC eaiser. The old technology is the best

I assume that there is an interruption (that you cant hear while listening) caused by who knows what (interrupts, cpu stealing, load, little green goblins). Might apply to other products like Parallels or Virtual box but not tested.

So if having similar issue try doing the recording native.

[CMcDougall]

some pics, info for Paul doing MIA tapes, trials before swearing!

my Meteors :

mine

your Meteors :

pauls

what I got from yours :

so I can get something

[Paul]

Hmm theres still a bad block there... I got one or two on uef conversion for this tape too.
That's not good / useable right?

I used Adobe Audition and a creative usb interface to record it.

I also have a hdd recorder and now hopefully a better tape deck recorder- would either of these help, or do I just need wave labs. Would wavelabs elements do? (I cant currently justify £480 for the full version!
Any advice in advance of the upcoming weekend welcome.

Thanks,

Paul.

[CMcDougall]

hi Paul,
I always use a Sony HiFi Walkman with 2xAA new battery's.
This way it eliminates bad quality mono tape decks where the heads are like sandpaper after 2hr use.
Check heads after each side of a tape, and clean if necessary.
Side A & B are rarely the same volume, so levels changed with every tape & side

happy ripping! Col.