Updating the Commodore 64 Datasette from 1982 with 1993 microcassette technology claims TechTuber, offering 1MB storage per tape, a 5-fold increase compared to the initial version.

In an intriguing project that has captured the attention of retro gaming enthusiasts, TechTuber Bitluni has successfully designed, built, and tested a miniaturized Datasette for the Commodore 64 using microcassette technology.

Bitluni's journey began when he acquired an Olympus Pearlcorder L400, which led him to divert from his initial plan of building another M.2 device. The C64 gaming nostalgia proved too strong to resist, and he embarked on a project that would revolutionize the way we store and load data on the classic computer.

The final working tape system, when fully extended, can hold about 1MB of data - a significant leap from the original Datasette's 100KB per 30-minute side. This increase in storage capacity was achieved through the use of frequency shift keying and square waves for data transfer, and a custom PCB featuring a 16-bit DAC, op-amps as buffers, voltage dividers, and a small prototyping breadboard area.

The project, however, was not without its challenges. Multiple trial fittings and refittings of the components caused issues during the development process, and the delicate Olympus flex PCB connector broke at one point. But Bitluni persevered, repairing the damaged cable by soldering 34 hair-thin wires.

The 3D printed housing for the C64 microcassette system was produced using a Bambu Lab 3D printer, and the finished PCB was populated with a USB-C port, key ICs, and op-amp ICs (LM258s).

The video ending of Bitluni's project is a sight to behold, with the tape deck-driven emulator 'running Doom' and some old C64 demos. Bitluni's intention is to store an entire C64 emulator with games on a tape, a testament to the potential of this innovative system.

Despite extensive online searches, no information was found about the person who developed, built, and tested this reduced Datasette for the Commodore 64 based on microcassette technology. However, Bitluni's work is undoubtedly a significant contribution to the world of retro gaming, offering a more compact and efficient way to store and load data on the iconic Commodore 64.

The project took months of Bitluni's time, but the results speak for themselves. With Turbo tape software and fast loaders available for the original Datasette, boosting its capacity to approximately 1MB, the future of microcassette technology for the Commodore 64 looks promising.