syphus

C64 Datasette – you remember it. The Datasette embodies Commodore cheapskatery from start to finish: it was a cheapo alternative to a proper disk drive, it’s got a crudely thrown-together connector with wires hanging out and it’s even got a skinflint mono drive head apparatus. All expenses spared, so that Jack could keep the costs down!

So it turns out they last pretty well. And in this age of 1541 emulators, MMC64 interfaces and the like, it’s sad to see a Datasette sitting unused and unloved. So I decided to lavish about four quid on mine and turn it into a block-rocking pimp star supreme with:

• an internal speaker
• internal 9v battery power
• an external in (for when I eventually get the recording head to work)
• a line/headphone output
• a switch/knob for power and drive motor speed control (though this doesn’t really work yet)
• an unfeasible amount of mystery line noise, which I’m going to pretend is intentional and adds ‘character’.

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A quick one, to be elaborated upon when I’m less at risk of a 25-hour-a-day, stress-induced multiple organ failure extravaganza:

LIVE on 7th March at The Telegraph, Newcastle, along with gwEm, Jellica, Cerebral Scars and BSK

LIVE on 15th March at the Maker Faire Closing Party – part of Maker Faire and the Science Festival at Newcastle’s Centre For Life. This one’s with goto80, with some ace visuals and club DJs stretching into the night to round off the weekend’s excitement.

ALSO: be aware of www.chiptunemarchingband.com – taking place on the Saturday afternoon of the Maker Faire