How to transfer your old tapes to a PC

You need a sound card able to sample at 44 kHz (8 bits, mono) and an utility
to produce .WAV style files (readtape doesn't read the header of the file you
give it, it just assumes each sample is one byte and unsigned. Nor does it
require a special extension to the name of the file).
A few hints to achieve a good sampling of your tapes:
- take care to the range of the samples, use a graphic utility for that. 
If the input signal is too loud, your sound card may suspend your system, but
if the input signal is not loud enough (say samples range from 127 to 129 ;-))
readtape won't recognize anything. Be careful not to cut the signal if it is
very loud, too. An interval of, say 40 between high and low values, will be
enough, I think, but the larger, the better. Don't use a multiply function with
your graphical utility if the signal isn't loud enough, you will not gain
resolution : re-do a better sampling.
- don't start the recording before the tape has started, the motor has to 
achieve its nominal rate.
- try to skip the beginning of the synchro signal, also. You surely were used
to recognize it when listening your programs, it lasts 2 or 3 seconds. (Hey Ma',
I hear a 01101000 there...) Start the recording in the middle of this synchro,
or cut the wave latter with your graphical utility. Don't get rid of all the
synchro, though...
- use the 'stat' utility for the first time, to have a feel of the sanity of
your tape. It measures the length of each up and down, and gives a result
table. You should have two distinct paquets of values : shorter than 14 samples
long, and longer than 14 samples. If you have stat[14]=0 (and even better with
an additional stat[13]=0), it's very good ! (Oh Ma', how good I am...)
Here is what I get with my Ghost Gobbler tape (IJK Software) :

stat[0]=0
stat[1]=0
stat[2]=0
stat[3]=1
stat[4]=0
stat[5]=0
stat[6]=482
stat[7]=29276
stat[8]=57822
stat[9]=118398
stat[10]=90389
stat[11]=58035
stat[12]=8303
stat[13]=3
stat[14]=0
stat[15]=2060
stat[16]=37856
stat[17]=35289
stat[18]=36244
stat[19]=3854
stat[20]=3
stat[21]=0
stat[22]=0
stat[23]=0
stat[24]=0  

In order to have good results with 'stat', stop the recording as soon as the
music is over. Better use your graphical utility to cut the end of the wave
file (oops, Ma', I zap'ed the last bits...)

- If the results are good, you don't need to be so cautious for your next
recording : readtape will not care of noise before the synchro, nor will it
examine past the end of the Oric file. Just keep a good signal level, forget
stat and all the hassle and it should be fine.

It should REALLY work ! For my first try, I just followed these tips and get
a working gobbler ! Why not you ? Did you keep your tapes in the bathroom ?

Good Luck !

PS: if you have problems or any suggestion, mail me (frances@ensica.fr)
Oh, one thing : readtape reads only FAST (2400) tapes, not SLOW (300), since
it was reliable enough.