Tape-Image (.CDT) file format (Amstrad specific)
The ".CDT" (CPC Digital Tape) tape image format is the same as the TZX image format.
This document gives some additional information relating to creating CDTs, or how they should be supported by an Amstrad emulator.
NOTE: All timings are in Spectrum T-States.
ID:10 - Standard speed data block
This block MUST be supported and CAN exist in a CDT. Emulators should use standard Spectrum ROM timings for playback.
ID:11 - Turbo Loading Data Block
This block MUST be supported and CAN exist in a CDT.
The timings for playback are stored in the block header.
Details and functionality of this block are the same as described in the official TZX/CDT specification.
ID:13 - Sequence of pulses of different length
This block MUST be supported and CAN exist in a CDT.
The timings for playback are stored in the block header.
Details and functionality of this block are the same as described in the official TZX/CDT specification.
ID:14 - Pure Data Block
This block MUST be supported and CAN exist in a CDT.
The timings for playback are stored in the block header.
Details and functionality of this block are the same as described in the official TZX/CDT specification.
ID:15 - Direct Recording
This block MUST be supported but SHOULD be avoided when creating a CDT by a sample-to-CDT converter. This block can be used by emulators to support writing to CDTs.
The timings for playback are stored in the block header.
Details and functionality of this block are the same as described in the official TZX/CDT specification.
ID : 20 - Pause (Silence) or `Stop the Tape' Command
When the pause is defined as "0" an Amstrad emulator SHOULD NOT 'Stop the Tape', but this value should be treated as "no pause".
ID:2A - Stop tape if in 48K Mode
This block is Spectrum specific.
This block MUST NOT be added to a new CDT. Amstrad emulator's MUST ignore this block, and it MUST NOT have any effect. There will not be a pause, and the tape must not stop.
ID: 33 - Hardware Type
Hardware types of 0x01 (External Storage) to 0x0f (EPROM programmers) MUST not be added to a new CDT. These types ONLY apply to the Spectrum. Hardware type 0x00 (Computers) CAN be used but only as a guideline.
ID:34 - Emulation Info
This block is Spectrum specific.
This block MUST not be added to a new CDT. Amstrad emulator's MUST ignore this block.
ID:40 - Snapshot block
This block is Spectrum specific.
This block MUST not be added to a new CDT. Amstrad emulator's MUST ignore this block.
Tape-Image (.CDT) file format (Spectrum specific)
The ".CDT" tape image file format is identical to the ".TZX" file format designed by Tomaz Kac and used by Spectrum emulators. The filename has a different extension to differentiate between tape-images for use on the Amstrad and tape-images for use on the Spectrum.
The most recent version of this format can be found at World of Spectrum.
ZX TAPE FILE FORMAT v1.13
Last changed by Tomaz Kac, November 2, 1998
This format lets you preserve all (hopefully) of the tapes with turbo or custom loading routines. Even though some of the newer and 'smarter' emulators can find most of the info about the loader from the code itself, this isn't posible if you want to save the file to tape, or to a real Spectrum. And with all this information in the file, the emulators don't have to bother with finding out the baud rate and other things.
This file format was originally written for usage on ZX Spectrum compatible computers only, but as it turned out the SAM Coupe, Amstrad CPC, Jupiter ACE and Enterprise range of computers use the same tape encoding. It can be used for ZX-81 type of computers also, even though the encoding is somewhat different (for now there is no convertor for ZX-81 tapes into TZX). There are some special blocks which can be used on Commodore 64.
There is a table at the end of this file which displays (not totally official) timings for each machine ROM routines use. Also the description of the difference of encoding is written there. If you know of any other machines that have similar encoding that could be used with this file format then let me know.
The latest version of this format can be found at 'World of Spectrum'. You can also find many TZX files at the same address. The URL of 'WOS' is:
http://www.worldofspectrum.org/
The format was first started off by Tomaz Kac who was maintainer until revision 1.13, now this task is taken over by Martijn v.d. Heide ... if you have any questions about the format please e-mail to mheide@worldofspectrum.org.
The default format file extension is "TZX". Hopefully this won't have to change in the future. (For RISC OS, the current TAP filetype will be used.)
Amstrad CPC files should use the extension "CDT" to distinguish them from the ZX Spectrum files. Otherwise the inner structure is totally the same.
- [#intro Intro]
- [#changes Changes Since v1.13]
- [#changesold Changes Since v1.12]
- [#rules The Rules]
- [#blocks The Blocks]
- [#id10 ID 10] - Standard Speed Data Block
- [#id11 ID 11] - Turbo Loading Data Block
- [#id12 ID 12] - Pure Tone
- [#id13 ID 13] - Sequence of Pulses of Different Lengths
- [#id14 ID 14] - Pure Data Block
- [#id15 ID 15] - Direct Recording
- [#id16 ID 16] - C64 ROM Type Data Block
- [#id17 ID 17] - C64 Turbo Tape Data Block
- [#id20 ID 20] - Pause (Silence) or `Stop the Tape' Command
- [#id21 ID 21] - Group Start
- [#id22 ID 22] - Group End
- [#id23 ID 23] - Jump To Block
- [#id24 ID 24] - Loop Start
- [#id25 ID 25] - Loop End
- [#id26 ID 26] - Call Sequence
- [#id27 ID 27] - Return From Sequence
- [#id28 ID 28] - Select Block
- [#id2A ID 2A] - Stop Tape if in 48K Mode
- [#id30 ID 30] - Text Description
- [#id31 ID 31] - Message Block
- [#id32 ID 32] - Archive Info
- [#id33 ID 33] - Hardware Type
- [#id34 ID 34] - Emulation Info
- [#id35 ID 35] - Custom Info Block
- [#id40 ID 40] - Snapshot Block
- [#id5A ID 5A] - (90 dec, ASCII Letter `Z')
- [#machine Machine Specific Information]
- [#hardware Hardware Information]
INTRO
The file is identified with the first 8 bytes being 'ZXTape!' plus the 'end of file' byte 26 (1A hex). This is followed by two bytes containing the major and minor version numbers. (For this format revision: major=01 and minor=13)
To be able to use a TZX file, your program (emulator, utility, or whatever) must be able to handle files of at least its major version number.
If your program can handle (say) version 1.05 and you encounter a file with version number 1.06, your program must be able to handle it, even if it cannot handle all the data in the file. The data it cannot handle should be relatively unimportant.
The main body of the file follows; it consists of a mixture of blocks, each identified by an ID byte. There are currently 20 types of blocks.
The file structure is:
0 "ZXTape!"
7 0x1A
8 Major version number
9 Minor version number
A ID of first block
B Body of first block
...
CHANGES SINCE v1.13
The Commodore 64/128 is now supported by the format. The encoding is the same, but because of different block structure two new block types had to be added, which can be used by other machines too if necessary, but their primary usage is on C-64. The new blocks are [#id16 16] and [#id17 17]. The hardware specific information about the encoding is stored in another file because there is quite a lot of it, but you can also find out from the blocks.
CHANGES SINCE v1.12
- Added the following fields to the '[#id32 Archive Info]' block:
- 05 - Game/Utility Type
- 06 - Price
- 07 - Protection Scheme / Loader
- 08 - Origin
- Added two new types of '[#id35 Custom Info]' block:
- 'ZX-Edit document' - for .ZED files generated by the great ZX-Editor!
- 'Picture ' - for .GIF and .JPEG (.JPG) pictures
- Added the new ID for the Enterprise computer with encoding and timings information (these might not be 100% correct though, Paul Hodgson is working on emulating this computer and will also supply new values when done).
THE RULES
Relevant rules and definitions important for the emulator and utility authors who will support the format:
- Any value requiring more than one byte is stored in little endian format (ie. LSB first).
- All unused bits should be set to zero.
- The timings are given in Z80 clock ticks (T states) unless otherwise stated.1 T state = (1/3500000)s
- The values in the tables are as follows: offset (in hex) length (1 = byte, 2 = short word, etc.) The block IDs are also given in hex.
- All ASCII texts must include only characters from 32 to 127 (decimal), some of them can have several lines, which should be separated by ASCII 13 (dec).
- You might interpret full-period as ----____ or ____----, and half-period as ---- or ____. One half-period will also be referred to as a pulse.
- The values in square brackets [] are the default values for things such as the Spectrum ROM load/save routines - they should be used for all standard loading blocks. These values are in decimal.
- If there is no pause between two data blocks then the second one should follow immediately; not even so much as one T state between them.
- This document refers to 'high' and 'low' pulse levels. Whether this is implemented as ear=1 and ear=0 respectively or the other way around is not important, as long as it is done consistently.
- Zeros and ones in Direct Recording blocks signify low and high pulse levels respectively. The 'current pulse level' after playing a Direct Recording block is the last level played.
- Standard Speed Data blocks, Turbo Loading blocks, Pure Tone blocks and Sequence Of Pulses With Different Timings blocks consists of a (possibly odd) number of pulses. (The 'current pulse level' after playing these blocks is therefore the opposite of the last pulse level played, so that a subsequent pulse will produce an edge.)
- A 'Pause' block consists of a 'low' pulse level of some duration. To ensure that the last edge produced is properly finished there should be atleast 1ms pause of the opposite level and only after that the pulse should go to 'low'. At the end of a 'Pause' block the 'current pulse level' is low. (Note that the first pulse will therefore not immediately produce an edge.) A 'pause' block of zero duration is completely ignored, so the 'current pulse level' will NOT change in this case. This also applies to 'Data' blocks that have some pause duration included in them.
- An emulator should put the 'current pulse level' to 'low' when starting to play a TZX file, either from the start or from a certain position. The writer of a TZX file should ensure that the 'current pulse level' is well-defined in every sequence of blocks where this is important, i.e. in any sequence that includes a Direct Recording block, or that depends on edges generated by Pause blocks. The recommended way of doing this is to include a Pause after each sequence of blocks.
- When creating a Direct Recording block please stick to the standard sampling frequencies of 22050 or 44100 Hz. This will ensure correct playback when using PC's soundcards.
- The length of a block is given in the following format: Numbers in square brackets [] mean that the value must be read from the offset in the brackets. Other values are normal numbers. Example: [02,03]+0A means: get number (a word) from offset 02 and add 0A. All numbers are in hex !
- ALL Custom blocks that will be added after version 1.00 will have the length of the block in first 4 bytes (long word) after the ID (this length does not include these 4 length bytes). This should enable programs that can only handle older versions to skip that block.
Just in case:
MSB = most significant byte LSB = least significant byte MSb = most significant bit LSb = least significant bit
THE BLOCKS
ID : 10 - Standard Speed Data Block (as in TAP files)
This block must be replayed with the standard ROM values for all loading speed variables (values in brackets []).This block can be used for the ROM loading routines AND for custom loading routines that use the same timings as ROM ones do.
00 2 Pause After this block in milliseconds (ms) [1000] 02 2 Length of following data 04 x Data, as in .TAP File
- Length: [02,03]+04
ID : 11 - Turbo Loading Data Block
This block is very similar to the normal TAP block but with some additional info on the timings and other important differences. The same tape encoding is used as for the standard speed data block. If a block should use some non-standard sync or pilot tones (i.e. all sorts of protection schemes) then use the next three blocks to describe it.
00 2 Length of PILOT pulse [2168]
02 2 Length of SYNC First pulse [667]
04 2 Length of SYNC Second pulse [735]
06 2 Length of ZERO bit pulse [855]
08 2 Length of ONE bit pulse [1710]
0A 2 Length of PILOT tone (in PILOT pulses) [8064 Header, 3220 Data]
0C 1 Used bits in last byte (other bits should be 0) [8]
i.e. if this is 6 then the bits (x) used in last byte are: xxxxxx00
0D 2 Pause After this block in milliseconds (ms) [1000]
0F 3 Length of following data
12 x Data; format is as for TAP (MSb first)
- Length: [0F,10,11]+12
ID : 12 - Pure Tone
This will produce a tone which is basically the same as the pilot tone in the first two data blocks. You can define how long the pulse is and how many pulses are in the tone.
00 2 Length of pulse in T-States 02 2 Number of pulses
- Length: 04
ID : 13 - Sequence of Pulses of Different Lengths
This will produce n pulses, each having its own timing. Up to 255 pulses can be stored in this block; this is useful for non-standard sync tones used by some protection schemes.
00 1 Number of pulses 01 2 Length of first pulse in T-States 03 2 Length of second pulse... .. . etc.
- Length: [00]*02+01
ID : 14 - Pure Data Block
This is the same as in the turbo loading data block, except that it has no pilot or sync pulses.
00 2 Length of ZERO bit pulse 02 2 Length of ONE bit pulse 04 1 Used bits in LAST Byte 05 2 Pause after this block in milliseconds (ms) 07 3 Length of following data 0A x Data (MSb first)
- Length: [07,08,09]+0A
ID : 15 - Direct Recording
This block is used for tapes which have some parts in a format such that the turbo loader block cannot be used. This is not like a VOC file, since the information is much more compact. Each sample value is represented by one bit only (0 for low, 1 for high) which means that the block will be at most 1/8 the size of the equivalent VOC.
Please use this block only if you cannot use the turbo load block. The preffered sampling frequencies are 22050 (158 T states) or 44100 Hz (79 T states/sample). Please, if you can, don't use other sampling frequencies.
00 2 Number of T states per sample (bit of data)
02 2 Pause after this block in milliseconds (ms)
04 1 Used bits (samples) in last byte of data (1-8)
i.e. If this is 2 only first two samples of the last byte will be played
05 3 Data length
08 x Data. Each bit represents a state on the EAR port (i.e. one sample);
MSb is played first.
- Length: [05,06,07]+08
ID : 16 - C64 ROM Type Data Block
Well, this block was created to support the Commodore 64 standard ROM and similar tape blocks. It is made so basically anything that uses two or four pulses (which are the same in pairs) per bit can be written with it. Some explanation:
- A wave consists of TWO pulses. In the structure the length of one pulse is written !
- The wave MUST always start with the LOW amplitude ... since the C64 can only detect the transistion HIGH -> LOW !
- If some pulse length is 0 then the whole wave must not be present. This applies to DATA too !
- The XOR checksum (if it is set to 0 or 1) is a XOR of all bits in the byte XOR-ed with the value in this field as the start value.
- Finish Byte waves should be played after each byte EXCEPT last one.
- Finish Data waves should be ONLY played after last byte of data.
- When all the Data has finished there is an optional Trailer Tone, which is standard for the Repeated Blocks in C64 ROM Loader.
The replay procedure looks like this:
- Pilot Tone
- Sync waves
- Data Bytes (with XOR and/or Finish Byte waves)
- Finish Data pulses
- Trailing Tone
The numbers in [] brackets represent the values for C64 ROM loader ! For more information look in the special Commodore 64loader.txt file !
00 4 Length of the WHOLE block including the data (extension rule)
04 2 PILOT TONE pulse length [616]
06 2 Number of waves in PILOT TONE
08 2 SYNC 1st wave pulse length [1176]
0A 2 SYNC 2nd wave pulse length [896]
0C 2 ZERO bit 1st wave pulse length [616]
0E 2 ZERO bit 2nd wave pulse length [896]
10 2 ONE bit 1st wave pulse length [896]
12 2 ONE bit 2nd wave pulse length [616]
14 1 XOR Checksum bit for each Data byte: [1]
00 - Start XOR checksum with value 0
01 - Start XOR checksum with value 1
FF - No checksum bit
15 2 FINISH BYTE 1st wave pulse length [1176]
17 2 FINISH BYTE 2nd wave pulse length [896]
19 2 FINISH DATA 1st wave pulse length [1176]
1B 2 FINISH DATA 2nd wave pulse length [616]
1D 2 TRAILING TONE pulse length [616]
1F 2 Number of waves in TRAILING TONE
21 1 Used bits in LAST byte [8]
22 1 General Purpose, bit-mapped: [1]
bit 0 - Data Endianess : Set - Most Significant bit first
Reset - Least Significant bit first
23 2 Pause after this block in milliseconds (ms)
25 3 Length of the Data
28 x Data
- Length: [00,01,02,03]
ID : 17 - C64 Turbo Tape Data Block
This block is made to support another type of encoding that is commonly used by the C64. Most of the commercial software uses this type of encoding, i.e. the Pilot tone is not made from one type of Wave only, but it is made from actual Data byte which is repeated many times. As the Sync value another, different, Data byte is sent to signal the start of the data. The Data Bits are made from ONE wave only and there is NO XOR checksum either! Trailing byte is played AFTER the DATA has ended.
00 4 Length of the WHOLE block including the data (extension rule)
04 2 ZERO bit pulse
06 2 ONE bit pulse
08 1 Additional Bits in Bytes (bit-mapped):
bits 0-1 : Number of bits (0-3)
2 : 0 - Play additional bit(s) BEFORE the Byte
1 - Play additional bit(s) AFTER the Byte
3 : 0 - Value of additional bit(s) is 0
1 - Value of additional bit(s) is 1
09 2 Number of Lead-In Bytes
0B 1 Lead-In Byte
0C 1 Used bits in LAST byte [8]
0D 1 General Purpose, bit-mapped: [0]
bit 0 - Data Endianess : Set - Most Significant bit first
Reset - Least Significant bit first
0E 2 Number of Trailing Bytes
10 1 Trailing Byte
11 2 Pause after this block in milliseconds (ms)
13 3 Length of the Data
16 x Data
- Length: [00,01,02,03]
ID : 20 - Pause (Silence) or `Stop the Tape' Command
This will make a silence (low amplitude level (0)) for a given time in milliseconds. If the value is 0 then the emulator or utility should (in effect) STOP THE TAPE, i.e. not continue loading until the user or emulator requests it.
00 2 Value of the pause in milliseconds (ms)
- Length: 02
ID : 21 - Group Start
This block marks the start of a group of blocks which are to be treated as one single (composite) block. This is very handy for tapes that use protected blocks like Speedlock 1 (which has around 64 pure tone blocks) or Bleeploads (which may well have over 160 custom loading blocks). You can also give the group a name (example 'Speedlock 1 Block').
For each group start block, there must be a group end block. Nesting of groups is not allowed.
00 1 Length of the Group Name 01 x Group name in ASCII (please keep it under 30 characters long)
- Length: [00]+01
ID : 22 - Group End
This indicates the end of a group. This block type has no body!
- Length: 00
ID : 23 - Jump To Block
This block will enable you to jump from one block to another within the file. The value is a signed short word (usually 'signed short' in C); eg. Some examples:
Jump 0 = 'Loop Forever' - this should never happen
Jump 1 = 'Go to the next block' - it is like NOP in assembler ;)
Jump 2 = 'Skip one block'
Jump -1 = 'Go to the previous block'
All blocks are included in the block count !
00 2 Relative jump value
- Length: 02
ID : 24 - Loop Start
If you have a sequence of identical blocks, or of identical groups of blocks, you can use this block to tell how many times they should be repeated.
This block is the same as the FOR statement in BASIC.
For simplicity reasons don't nest Loop blocks!
00 2 Number of repetitions (greater than 1)
- Length: 02
ID : 25 - Loop End
This is the same as BASIC's NEXT statement. It means that the utility should jump back to the start of the loop if it hasn't been run for the specified number of times.
This block is also without any body!
- Length: 00
ID : 26 - Call Sequence
This block is analogue of the CALL Subroutine statement. It basically executes a sequence of blocks that are somewhere else and then goes back to the next block. Because more than one call can be normally used you can include a list of sequences to be called.
The 'nesting' of call blocks is also not allowed for the same reasons. You can, of course, use the CALL blocks in the LOOP sequences and vice versa ...
The value is relative for the obvious reasons - so you can add some blocks in the beginning of the file without disturbing the call values. Please take a look at '[#jumps Jump To Block]' for reference on the values ...
00 2 Number of Calls to be made 00 2 Call 1 block number (relative signed offset) .. . Next Call block number
- Length: [00,01]*02+02
ID : 27 - Return From Sequence
This block indicates the end of the Called Sequence. The next block played will be the block after the last CALL block (or the next Call, if the Call block had multiple calls).
Again, this block has no body.
- Length: 00
ID : 28 - Select Block
This block is useful when the tape consists of two or more separately-loadable parts. With this block, you are able to select one of the parts and the utility/emulator will start loading from that block. For example you can use it when the game has a separate Trainer or when it is a multiload. Of course, to make some use of it the emulator/utility has to show a menu with the selections when it encounters such a block. All offsets ar [#jumps relative] signed words.
00 2 Length of the whole block (without these two bytes)
02 1 Number of Selections
03 2 Relative Offset of Selection 1
05 1 Length of the Description 1 Text
06 x Description 1 Text in ASCII
Please use only one line per Selection and limit it to 30 characters!
.. . Next Selection Offset
- Length: [00,01]+02
ID : 2A - Stop Tape if in 48K Mode
When this block is encountered, the tape will stop ONLY if the machine is an 48K Spectrum.
This block is to be used for multiloading games that load one level at a time in 48K mode, but load the entire tape at once if in 128K mode.
This block has no body of its own, but follows the extension rule:
00 4 Length of the whole block (0)
- Length: 4
ID : 30 - Text Description
This is meant to identify parts of the tape, so you know where level 1 starts, where to rewind to when the game ends, etc. This description is not guaranteed to be shown while the tape is playing, but can be read while browsing the tape or changing the tape pointer.
The description can be up to 255 characters long but please keep it down to about 30 so the programs can show it in one line (where this is appropriate).
Please use '[#id32 Archive Info]' block for title, authors, publisher,...
00 1 Length of the Text 01 x Text in ASCII
- Length: [00]+01
ID : 31 - Message Block
This will enable the emulators to display a message for a given time. This should not stop the tape and it should not make silence. If the time is 0 then the emulator should wait for the user to press a key.
It is not guaranteed that the emulator will actually display the message.
00 1 Time for which the message should be displayed in seconds (s)
01 1 Length of the message
02 x Message that should be displayed (in ASCII)
Suggested format:
- Stick to a maximum of 30 chars per line
- Use single 0x0D (13 decimal) to separate lines.
- Stick to a maximum of 8 lines.
If you do not obey these rules, emulators may display your message in
any way they like!
- Length: [01]+02
ID : 32 - Archive Info
Use this block at the beginning of the tape to identify the title of the game, author, publisher, year of publication, price (including the currency), type of software (Arcade Adventure, Puzzle, Word Processor, ...), protection scheme it uses (Speedlock 1, Alkatraz, ...) and its origin (Original, Budget re-release, ...), etc. This block is built in a way that allows easy future expansion. The block consists of a series of text strings. Each text has its identification number (which tells us what the text means) and then the ASCII text. To make it possible to skip this block, if needed, the length of the whole block is on the start of it.
If all texts in the tape are in English language then you don't have to supply the 'Language' field
The information about what hardware the tape uses is in the 'Hardware Type' block, so no need for it here.
00 2 Length of the block (without these two bytes)
02 1 Number of text strings
03 x Text strings:
00 1 Text Identification byte: 00 - Full Title
01 - Software House / Publisher
02 - Author(s)
03 - Year of Publication
04 - Language
05 - Game/Utility Type
06 - Price
07 - Protection Scheme / Loader
08 - Origin
FF - Comment(s)
01 1 Length of text
02 x Text in ASCII format
.. . Next Text
- Length: [00,01]+02
ID : 33 - Hardware Type
This selects what hardware the programs on this tape use. Please include only machines and hardware for which you are 100% sure that it either runs (or doesn't run) on or with, or you know it uses (or doesn't use) the hardware or special features of that machine.
If the tape runs only on the ZX81 (and TS1000, etc.) then it clearly won't work on any Spectrum or Spectrum variant, so there's no need to list this information.
If you are not sure or you haven't tested a tape on some particular machine/hardware combination then do not include it in the list.
00 1 Number of machines and hardware types for which info is supplied
01 x List of machines and hardware:
00 1 Hardware type
01 1 Hardware ID
02 1 Value
00 - The tape RUNS on this machine or with this hardware, but may
or may not use the hardware or special features of the
machine.
01 - The tape USES the hardware or special features of the
machine, such as extra memory or a sound chip.
02 - The tape RUNS but it DOESN'T use the hardware or special
features of the machine.
03 - The tape DOESN'T RUN on this machine or with this hardware.
.. . Next Machine/Hardware Info (if any)
The list of types and IDs is somewhat large, and may be found at the
end of the format description.
- Length: [00]*03+01
ID : 34 - Emulation Info
This is a special block that would normally be generated only by emulators. For now it contains info on everything I could find that other formats support. Please inform me of any additions/corrections since this is a very important part for emulators.
Those bits that are not used by the emulator that stored the info, should be left at their DEFAULT values.
00 2 General Emulation Flags
Bit 0 : R-register emulation [1]
1 : LDIR emulation [1]
2 : High Resolution Color emulation with True Interrupt Freq. [1]
3,4 : Video Synchronisation : 1=High, 3=Low, 0,2=Normal [0]
5 : Fast Loading when ROM load routine is used [1]
6 : Border emulation [1]
7 : Screen Refresh mode (1: ON, 0: OFF) [1]
8 : Start Playing the tape Immediately [0]
If this is 0 then the emulator should only load the info
blocks and WAIT when it encounters first DATA block
9 : Auto type LOAD""<ENTER> or press <ENTER> when in 128k mode [0]
02 1 Screen Refresh Delay : 1 - 255 (Interrupts between refreshes) [1]
(used when Screen Refresh Mode is ON)
03 2 Interrupt Frequency : 0 - 999 Hz [50]
05 3 Reserved for future expansion
- Length: 08
ID : 35 - Custom Info Block
This block can be used to save any information you want. For example, it might contain some information written by a utility, extra settings required by a particular emulator, the title screen, the cover art or even poke data.
Of course, some of the uses of this block may become standardised...
00 10 Identification string (in ASCII) 10 4 Length of the custom info 14 x Custom info
- Length: [10,11,12,13]+14
Standardised Custom Info Blocks
- POKEs blockThe purpose of this Custom block is to hold any amount of different trainers for the game. Each trainer can have a description and any number of POKEs...In addition you can supply the memory Page number and/or the Original value of the address (if you want to restore it some way through the game). Normally you would enter these pokes with the help of some freezer-type tool like Multiface, but hopefully in the future the emulators will support this block directly... in which case you could use the 'User Inserts the POKE Value' feature. You can specify the point at which to insert the POKEs in the 'General Description'. 0 10 'POKEs ' - Custom Block ID
10 4 Length of the following Data
14 1 General Description Length
15 x General Description in ASCII format
1 Number of trainers
1 Trainer 1 Description Length
x Trainer 1 Description in ASCII format
1 Trainer 1 Number of POKEs
1 POKE 1 Type: bit 0-2 : Memory Page Number
3 : Ignore Memory Page Number ?
4 : User Inserts the POKE Value ?
5 : Unknown Original Value ?
2 POKE 1 Address
1 POKE 1 Value (leave at 0 if User Inserts it)
1 POKE 1 Original Value (leave at 0 if it is Unknown)
. Next POKE (if any)
. Next Trainer (if any)
NOTE: All ASCII Descriptions can use more than one line ... please use only up to 30 characters per line and separate the line by one CR (13 dec).
- Instructions blockThis block can hold any general .TXT file... with the main purpose of storing the instructions to the program or game that is in the tape. 0 10 'Instructions ' - Custom Block ID
10 4 Length of the following Data
14 x Instructions Text in ASCII format
To ensure consistency with all other ASCII texts in this format please use a single CR character (13 dec) to separate lines, also please use only up to 80 characters per line.
- Spectrum Screen blockIf the game in the tape is not an original and lacks the original Loading screen then you can supply it sperately within this block. This is also very handly when you want the loading screen stored separately because the original is either encrypted (like with the 'SpeedLock' or 'Alkatraz' loaders) or it is corrupted by some on-screen info (like the 'BleepLoad' loader). Ofcourse not only loading screens can be stored here... you can use it to store maps or any other picture that is in Spectrum Video format (that's why the Description is there for), but because the Loading Screen will be the most common you can just set the Length of the Description to 0 when you use it for that. Also the Border colour can be specified. 0 10 'Spectrum Screen ' - Custom Block ID
10 4 Length of the following Data
14 1 Description Length (if this is 0 then handle it as 'Loading Screen')
15 x Description of the Picture in ASCII format
1 BORDER Colour (0=Black, 1=Blue, ... in Spectrum Coulour Format)
x Screen in Standard Spectrum Video format, always 6912 bytes long
- ZX-Edit document blockThis block can hold files created with the new utility called ZX-Editor.This utility gives documents the look and feel of ZX-Spectrum and its documents can contain text, graphics (with Spectrum attributes), different type faces, colours, etc. Normally these files use extension .ZED. Also the description is added, in case you want to use it for something else than 'Instructions' - you can use it for MAPs, etc.Please check on the official TZX format site for the .ZED format description. (hopefully it will be available soon) 0 10 'ZX-Edit document' - Custom Block ID
10 4 Length of the following Data
14 1 Description Length (if this is 0 then handle it as 'Instructions')
15 x Description of the Document in ASCII format
x The ZX-Editor document (.ZED file)
- Picture blockFinally you can include any picture (in supported formats) in the TZX file too. So Cover pictures, maps, etc. can now be included in full colour (or whatever the formats supports).The best way for utilities to use this block is to spawn an external viewer, or the authors can write their own viewers (yeah, right ;) ).For Inlay Cards and other pictures that have zillions of colours use the JPEG format, for more simple pictures (drawing, maps, etc.) use the GIF format. 0 10 'Picture ' - Custom Block ID
10 4 Length of the following Data
14 1 Picture format:
00 - GIF
01 - JPEG
15 1 Description Length (if this is 0 then handle it as 'Inlay Card')
16 x Description of the Document in ASCII format
x The picture itself
ID : 40 - Snapshot Block
This would enable one to snapshot the game at the start and still have all the tape blocks (level data, etc.) in the same file. Only .Z80 and .SNA snapshots are supported for compatibility reasons!
The emulator should take care of that the snapshot is not taken while the actual Tape loading is taking place (which doesn't do much sense). And when an emulator encounters the snapshot block it should load it and then continue with the next block.
00 1 Snapshot type: 00 - Z80 (Z80 Emulator, Warajevo, Z80Em ...)
01 - SNA (JPP, Amiga Spectrum Emulator, Z80Em ...)
01 3 Snapshot length
04 x Snapshot itself
- Length: [01,02,03]+04
ID : 5A (90 dec, ASCII letter 'Z')
This block is generated when you merge two ZX Tape files together. It is here so you can easily copy the files together and use them. Of course, this means that resulting file would be 10 bytes longer than if this block was not used. All you have to do if you encounter this block ID is to skip next 9 bytes.
If you can avoid using this block for this purpose, then do so; it is preferable to use a utility to join the two files and ensure that they are both of the higher version number
00 9 'XTape!' 0x1A MajR MinR
Just skip these 9 bytes and you will end up on the next ID.
- Length: 09
MACHINE SPECIFIC INFORMATION
Currently supported machines are: ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, SAM Coupe, ZX-81 Jupiter ACE and Enterprise. Only ZX-81 (or the old Timex 1000) and Jupiter ACE use different tape encoding than the others.
The Commodore 64 encoding is described in a separate file 64loader.txt!
ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, SAM Coupe, Jupiter ACE & Enterprise Tape Encoding
These computers share the same tape encoding, which is normal Frequency type encoding. Each bit is represented by one 'wave' of different duration for bit 0 and bit 1. Normally bit 1 is twice as big as bit 0. In the blocks, the timings are presented with Z80 T-states (cycles) per pulse. One wave is made from two pulses.
IMPORTANT
Z80 Clock rate is always timed at 3.5 MHz, so if the tape should be used on an Amstrad CPC with 4MHz clock then you should multiply ALL timings with 4/3.5 when you use that tape (this should be trivial), similary goes for SAM Coupe, that uses a 6MHz clock and Jupiter ACE that uses 3.2448 MHz and Enterprise that uses 4 MHz!
The Standard data blocks have always the same structure: First there is the Pilot Tone, then the two SYNC pulses (one wave) and after that the actual data (which can include a FLAG byte at the beginning and a Check-Sum byte at the end).
Here is a table showing the pulse timings for each part of the standard ROM load/save routine for wach of these machines. If you have more accurate information then I would be glad to include it here. Enterprise has two loading speeds so timings for both are included. (more accurate timings and more info on Pilot length for the Enterprise will be provided in the next release of this format).
Machine Pilot pulse, length Sync1 Sync2 Bit-0 Bit-1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ZX Spectrum 2168 (1) 667 735 855 1710
SAM Coupe 58+19*W 6000 58+9*H 113+9*H 10+8*W 42+15*W (*)
Amstrad CPC Bit-1 4096 Bit-0 Bit-0 (2) (2)
Jupiter ACE 2011 (3) 600 790 801 1591
Enterprise (fast) 742 ? 1280 1280 882 602 (**)
Enterprise (slow) 1750 ? 2800 2800 1982 1400 (**)
(1) The Spectrum uses different Pilot Lengths for Header and Data blocks. Header blocks have 8064 and data blocks have 3220 pilot pulses.
(2) Amstrad CPC ROM Load/Save routine can use variable speed for loading, so the Bit-1 pulse must be read from the Pilot Tone and Bit-0 can be read from the Sync pulses, and is always half the size of Bit-1. The Check-Sum is also different than the other two machines. The speed can vary from 1000 to 2000 baud.
(3) Jupiter ACE also uses different Pilot Lengths for Header and Data blocks. Header blocks have 8192 and Data blocks have 1024 pilot pulses. The last byte of the data is a XOR of all previous bytes (as in Spectrum). Also, at the end of everything there is a pulse of 762 T-states. The Header block has Sync byte (first byte after Sync pulses) 0 and the Data blocks can have anything but 0.
(*) The SAM Coupe timings can be user selected by a System Variable... the standard value being at 112, which is VERY close to ZX Spectrum loading speed, and therefore the 'Standard Speed Data' block can be used for those blocks. However if this System Variable is changed then the timings will change accordingly... in the above table the value of this variable is given as 'W', the 'H' value is 'W/2'. Of course the best way to determine it is to calculate it from the timings you get when sampling the Pilot tone... The values in the table could be by a fraction off the real ones, but it should not matter. Note: All timings are written in 3.5MHz clock. Also, there might be some junk bits (usually 7 or 8) AFTER the CheckSum (XOR) byte at the end of the block... they can just be ignored...
(**) The Enterprise stores data in a different way than all other computers do. It stores the Least Significant Bit first, but the Data blocks require the data to be Most Significant Bit first. This might lead to some confusion, but if the same mechanism is used to replay data for all machines then there will be no problem. Just store the data as Most Significant Bit first, but if you want to view the raw data in the TZX file then you will have to mirror each byte to get the correct values.
NOTE: The ZXTape format has ALL timings written according to a 3.5MHz clock... when you want to use it on a, for example, 4MHz clock based computer you should multiply ALL timings with 1.142857 (Do NOT use 4MHz or 6MHz base clock to store the timings in a TZX file!)
ZX-81 (and compatibles) Tape Encoding
ZX-81 uses tape encoding which makes loading A LOT slowe than the other machines. Unfortunately this type of encoding can not be described with the 'Custom Loading Data' block, but with a series of 'Pure Tone' and 'Pause' blocks. Since no custom loaders were used on it, All ZX-81 tapes used this encoding and therefore the 'Standard Speed Data' block can be used for it.
Main difference is that the encoding is not frequency-based, it is rather based on the number of waves. Bit-0 is represented by 3 to 5 (normally 4) waves and Bit-1 is represented by 6 to 9 waves (normally 8). The frequency of the waves is 12kHz (each pulse is ~637 T-states long). After each series of waves there is a small pause (approximately the same duration as Bit-0).
So the 01 sequence would look like this (~~__ is one wave, --- is pause):
---~~__~~__~~__~~__---------~~__~~__~~__~~__~~__~~__~~__~~__---------~~__~~...
The Pilot Tone seems to be structured as the following sequence: 10101010 (the same timing as the data), after which the Data follows imemdiately (no Sync pulses are present between them).
If the tape should be used for any other computer than ZX-Spectrum then it should have the 'Hardware Info' block as the first block in which the computer type should be described.
Because the Standard Loading data blocks of ZX-Spectrum. SAM Coupe and ZX-81 are so unique (i.e. they are always the same) the 'Standard Loading Data' block can be used for their description. Amstrad CPC tapes should always use the 'Custom Loading Data' block, since the speed is not always the same.
HARDWARE INFORMATION
This is the list of all Hardware Types and Hardware Identification ID's that are used in the 'Hardware Info' block. Please send any additions you might have to me so they can be included.
By Default you don't have to write any of the information if the game is made for the ZX Spectrum and complies with the following:
- Runs on ZX Spectrum 48K
- Runs on, but doesn't use any of the special hardware of ZX Spectrum 128K
- Doesn't run on ZX Spectrum 16K
If, for example, game works on BOTH ZX 48K and 128K, and uses the hardware of the 128K Spectrum, then you would just include the 128K Spectrum in the list (because by default it has to work on 48K too)...
If the game is 128K ONLY then you would include two entries: The game works on AND uses the hardware of a 128K Spectrum AND the game DOESN'T work on a 48K Spectrum.
If the game works on both 48K and 128K Spectrum, but it only uses the Sound chip (AY) of the 128K Spectrum and none of its extra memory then you would only include the entry that says that the game uses the 'Classic AY Hardware (Spectrum 128 Compatible Sound Device)'.
These were only some examples of the usage of this block.
Hardware Type Hardware ID
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
00 - Computers 00 - ZX Spectrum 16k
01 - ZX Spectrum 48k, Plus
02 - ZX Spectrum 48k ISSUE 1
03 - ZX Spectrum 128k (Sinclair)
04 - ZX Spectrum 128k +2 (Grey case)
05 - ZX Spectrum 128k +2A, +3
06 - Timex Sinclair TC-2048
07 - Timex Sinclair TS-2068
08 - Pentagon 128
09 - Sam Coupe
0A - Didaktik M
0B - Didaktik Gama
0C - ZX-81 with 1k RAM
0D - ZX-81 with 16k RAM or more
0E - ZX Spectrum 128k, Spanish version
0F - ZX Spectrum, Arabic version
10 - TK 90-X
11 - TK 95
12 - Byte
13 - Elwro
14 - ZS Scorpion
15 - Amstrad CPC 464
16 - Amstrad CPC 664
17 - Amstrad CPC 6128
18 - Amstrad CPC 464+
19 - Amstrad CPC 6128+
1A - Jupiter ACE
1B - Enterprise
1C - Commodore 64
1D - Commodore 128
01 - External storage 00 - Microdrive
01 - Opus Discovery
02 - Disciple
03 - Plus-D
04 - Rotronics Wafadrive
05 - TR-DOS (BetaDisk)
06 - Byte Drive
07 - Watsford
08 - FIZ
09 - Radofin
0A - Didaktik disk drives
0B - BS-DOS (MB-02)
0C - ZX Spectrum +3 disk drive
0D - JLO (Oliger) disk interface
0E - FDD3000
0F - Zebra disk drive
10 - Ramex Millenia
11 - Larken
02 - ROM/RAM type add-ons 00 - Sam Ram
01 - Multiface
02 - Multiface 128k
03 - Multiface +3
04 - MultiPrint
05 - MB-02 ROM/RAM expansion
03 - Sound devices 00 - Classic AY hardware (compatible with 128k ZXs)
01 - Fuller Box AY sound hardware
02 - Currah microSpeech
03 - SpecDrum
04 - AY ACB stereo (A+C=left, B+C=right); Melodik
05 - AY ABC stereo (A+B=left, B+C=right)
04 - Joysticks 00 - Kempston
01 - Cursor, Protek, AGF
02 - Sinclair 2 Left (12345)
03 - Sinclair 1 Right (67890)
04 - Fuller
05 - Mice 00 - AMX mouse
01 - Kempston mouse
06 - Other controllers 00 - Trickstick
01 - ZX Light Gun
02 - Zebra Graphics Tablet
07 - Serial Ports 00 - ZX Interface 1
01 - ZX Spectrum 128k
08 - Parallel ports 00 - Kempston S
01 - Kempston E
02 - ZX Spectrum +3
03 - Tasman
04 - DK'Tronics
05 - Hilderbay
06 - INES Printerface
07 - ZX LPrint Interface 3
08 - MultiPrint
09 - Opus Discovery
0A - Standard 8255 chip with ports 31,63,95
09 - Printers 00 - ZX Printer, Alphacom 32 & compatibles
01 - Generic Printer
02 - EPSON Compatible
0A - Modems 00 - VTX 5000
01 - T/S 2050 or Westridge 2050
0B - Digitisers 00 - RD Digital Tracer
01 - DK'Tronics Light Pen
02 - British MicroGraph Pad
0C - Network adapters 00 - ZX Interface 1
0D - Keyboards & keypads 00 - Keypad for ZX Spectrum 128k
0E - AD/DA converters 00 - Harley Systems ADC 8.2
01 - Blackboard Electronics
0F - EPROM Programmers 00 - Orme Electronics
Format devised by Tomaz Kac, sep 1997. HTML-ed by Martijn v.d. Heide, sep 1997