Apple II Cassette Interface

Yes, the Apple ][, ][+, and ][e came with cassette drive interfaces built in. I think that Apple probably sold a player under their name, but you could use an ordinary cassette player too.

You could connect these with a mini-plug (I don't think that it mattered if it was a stereo or mono plug, as both tracks would have the same signal, I'm pretty sure).

The old manuals have instructions on how to use this set-up.

You should know that this is a really slow method of data transfer. Also tapes are a linear access device, disks are random access devices.

Mutant_Pie

Just remember the casette interface was touchy and slow... You had to set your volume just right or it would not work.

Mark Frischknecht

An Apple branded cassette player? never heard of that... well, now I have to figure out how to get my hands on an 1976 cassette player...

Connect the iPod to the Cassette In port on your APPLE ][
Type LOAD from Applesoft on the APPLE ][
Play the MP3 of LITTLE BRICK OUT on the iPod
Type RUN and play the game on the APPLE ][

LOAD
SAVE
RECALL
STORE
SHLOAD

Awesome,

Brilliant! This is the second way (I know of) of directly interfacing modern Apple equipment with ancient.

The other one is when I plug my old Apple //c color monitor to my powerbook and use it as a second monitor, to increase the desktop space. (Yeah the resolution is minimal, but it works fine for playing QuitTime videos or playing Backgammon, while leaving the rest of the desktop available.)

I have the Compact Flash card reader in my //e, and can take out the CF card, put it in a PCMCIA holder, and in OS 9, transfer the files, no problem. But since no modern Mac can boot up in OS 9, this is no longer a "modern" method.

Mutant_Pie

Krest;

You can pick up a decent "vintage" cassette player
at almost any yard sale or thrift shop for pennies.
These are generally sturdy machines and will still
function as new. Best ones that I have found are
made under the GE brand. Don't pay more than $5 for
these. Cassette tapes (blank) are still available
from good ole Radio Shack and also WalMart.

I checked my Apple II technical library and found
no reference whatsoever to an Apple-branded tape
player. Operating references can be found in the
"Apple //e Owners Manual" on pages 16, 53, 98-100,
and 107. There are also illustrations of hardware
on page 17 as well.

Hope this is useful to you. I think that the idea
of using CF or iPods might be the better way to go.

Does it take a special cord? because whenever I looked back there on my IIe it always reminded me of like the Cabel input on the back of a TV, not a tape player adapter cord.

Look again, there are two pictures of a tape cassette back there. One for the output, one for the in. There is an RCA out jack for the monitor too.

Human memory isn't usually reliable. Trust the computer. Obey the computer. Follow the ways of the Apple II. Obey your Apple II. This conversation demonstrates that this is what you should practice.

Mutant_Pie

I know that...

I know, but the plugs dont look like any adapter input I've ever seen!

(bty, I dont have it anymore. lol)

Re-Read the first response. . ..

Mini-phono plugs. Never seen them before? Do you own some ear buds or a stereo head set? If so look at the end of the cable. That's what it looks like.

Mutant_Pie

when I get one again (soon) I'll try it... but where can you get just a simple tape player / recorder with an audio-out port and an audio-in port? Radioshack?... I'll look at Weird Stuff.