This chapter describes the LOAD and SAVE handling in FPB mode, for ROM mode handling see the Cosmac VIP chapter: Cassette Support
The easiest and fastest way to load or save a .wav file into the Cosmac Vip II emulator is by making sure both options 'Turbo LOAD/SAVE' and 'Auto LOAD/SAVE' are checked, this should be the default setting when the Emma 02 Emulator is started for the first time. Depending on which type you choose, i.e. automatic or manual please follow the instructions below.
Note that we have not been able to load any of the saved wav files on a real Cosmac Vip II. If you have/need that option, please let me know and we can do some trouble shooting on this. Changing the wave file settings might impact the usability of the wav files on a real Cosmac Vip II, see also below.
Default settings, to use this make sure 'Auto LOAD/SAVE' is checked.
To load a .wav file into the Cosmac Vip II, start the Emma 02 emulator and then the Cosmac VIP II emulator (start button on Cosmac VIP II tab). Select a .wav file in the Emma 02 window by selecting the 'Cassette' button. Now type PLOAD or DLOAD (and return) in the Cosmac Vip II emulator window and the cassette PLAY button should go green.
To save a .wav file from the Cosmac Vip II, Select a .wav file in the Emma 02 window by selecting the 'Cassette' button. Type PSAVE or DSAVE (and return) in the Cosmac Vip II emulator window and the cassette REC button should go red.
For both save and load make sure a .wav file is selected in the Emma 02 window before using the PSAVE and PLOAD instructions otherwise the Cosmac Vip II emulator will hang on the PLOAD (until you manually start a .wav file) or with a PSAVE the wav sound will not be written to any file.
To use this make sure 'Auto LOAD/SAVE' is NOT checked. This setting is more like the cassette handling is on the real Cosmac Vip II however more complicated than Auto LOAD/SAVE.
To load a .wav file into the Cosmac Vip II, start the Emma 02 emulator and then the Cosmac Vip II emulator (start button on Cosmac Vip II tab). Type PLOAD or DLOAD in the Cosmac Vip II emulator (don't type return as yet!). Select a .wav file in the Emma 02 window by selecting the 'Cassette' button. Press play and after that as soon as possible press 'return' on the Cosmac Vip II.
To save a .wav file from the Cosmac Vip II, Select a .wav file in the Emma 02 window by selecting the 'Cassette' button after that Press the dark red recording button and type PSAVE or DSAVE (and return) in the Cosmac Vip II.
When Turbo LOAD/SAVE is selected the emulator will increase speed when a wav file is played to allow faster LOAD and SAVE possibility in the emulator. The speed of the Turbo LOAD/SAVE can be changed; default is 15 MHz, which works ok on both my desktop and laptop. Too high values will not run ok on slower PCs as all CPU power will be used by the emulator. On my vista desktop vista limits CPU usage to 50% max but on my windows 2000 laptop CPU usage gets up to 100% and can possibly hang the laptop for the duration of the LOAD or SAVE command.
Via the 'Settings' drop down menu select 'Wav File and Real Cassette Settings' to change the wave file settings used for saving or loading a '.wav' file. . The following subchapters describe applicable settings in more detail. Settings for saving to a file are the 'Wave volume', 'Bit Rate' and 'Bits per sample', setting for loading a wav file are the 'Wav file conversion' and 'Reversed Polarity'. The 'Cassette conversion' and 'Input Channel' are only used for Real Cassette loading.
1 to 15 (where 15 is the loudest)
11025, 22050, 44100 or 88200 (samples per second)
8 or 16
Two conversion types can be used:
1. Amplitude: where the signal is converted to a 1 on positive amplitude and a 0 on a negative amplitude.
2. Sinus: where the signal is converted to a 1 on an upward sinus and a 0 on a downward sinus
Default this is set to 'Amplitude' which works for all my wav files. Depending on the emulated computer this might need to be changed if loading does not work or gives tape errors.
Switch converted signal polarity (1->0 and 0->1) as described for conversion types above.