C64 and Zx CD adapter - could something like this of worked on Amiga?

Retro1234 · 12 December 2020, 17:19

The C64 and Zx Spectrum Codemaster pack on a CD Disc
they came with a simple adapter that hooked any Audio CD player upto the joystick port and loading times were faster than from Tape.

and the technology was cheap!

but if there was such an adapter for Amiga could it match Floppy disc loading speeds and how much could the CD store?

lesta_smsc · 12 December 2020, 17:24

In essence C64 relied on conversions from sound to digital? Hence the use of tape and hifi systems to copy cassettes.

This means the CD could back 650MB/74 mins or 700MB/80mins.

Amiga could have achieved the same, in fact there is no reason why those with CD32 or CDROM drives could not have had a loader that enabled selection of a game... there were many disks with multiple games so the platform isn't the issue. It was what was affordable at the time...

You could in theory have used your own CD player and written different 'songs' to act as different games provided you output the headphones into the line in for C64...

Retro1234 · 12 December 2020, 17:35

would the loading speed be acceptable on Amiga? because tape is painfully slow this is optimized somehow loading through the joystick port.

Predseda · 12 December 2020, 17:58

I think it is possible as Amiga was able to back-up data to video tapes, for example. But I also think it would be pretty useless. Discman is a single-speed device, which in theory transfers 150kB/s. Floppy drive reads about 50kBps, so yes - it is IN THEORY 3x faster, but I doubt this can be any reliable.

Retro1234 · 12 December 2020, 19:12

I was just thinking a cheap device for larger storage for games like monkey islands etc.
Seeking would be a problem I guess as you would have to manually select the track.

12 December 2020, 17:19	#1
Retro1234 Phone Homer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 5150 Posts: 5,782	C64 and Zx CD adapter - could something like this of worked on Amiga? The C64 and Zx Spectrum Codemaster pack on a CD Disc they came with a simple adapter that hooked any Audio CD player upto the joystick port and loading times were faster than from Tape. and the technology was cheap! but if there was such an adapter for Amiga could it match Floppy disc loading speeds and how much could the CD store? Attached Thumbnails

12 December 2020, 17:58	#4
Predseda Puttymoon inhabitant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tromaville Age: 46 Posts: 7,546	I think it is possible as Amiga was able to back-up data to video tapes, for example. But I also think it would be pretty useless. Discman is a single-speed device, which in theory transfers 150kB/s. Floppy drive reads about 50kBps, so yes - it is IN THEORY 3x faster, but I doubt this can be any reliable. Last edited by Predseda; 12 December 2020 at 18:05.

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12 December 2020, 17:24	#2
lesta_smsc Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 3,175	In essence C64 relied on conversions from sound to digital? Hence the use of tape and hifi systems to copy cassettes. This means the CD could back 650MB/74 mins or 700MB/80mins. Amiga could have achieved the same, in fact there is no reason why those with CD32 or CDROM drives could not have had a loader that enabled selection of a game... there were many disks with multiple games so the platform isn't the issue. It was what was affordable at the time... You could in theory have used your own CD player and written different 'songs' to act as different games provided you output the headphones into the line in for C64...

12 December 2020, 17:35	#3
Retro1234 Phone Homer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 5150 Posts: 5,782	would the loading speed be acceptable on Amiga? because tape is painfully slow this is optimized somehow loading through the joystick port.

12 December 2020, 19:12	#5
Retro1234 Phone Homer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 5150 Posts: 5,782	I was just thinking a cheap device for larger storage for games like monkey islands etc. Seeking would be a problem I guess as you would have to manually select the track.

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