Beginning the challenge, all we are given is a MysteryTape.wav.

What is this?

The challenge description mentions the 80s and ‘Basic Programs #1.’, let’s see if we can identify what that might be!

Considering it’s the 80s, it is probably talking about some older computers that used tape. From a quick search these include the Commodore 64, Apple II and BBC Micro. I decided to pursue the Commodore 64 just because a lecturer had talked about it before :p (you know who you are…)

The next step became, how can we emulate this?

Emulation

The first result is the Emulation Wiki where it suggests the ‘VICE’ emulator.

After installing VICE from SourceForge (I used the GTK3 version), the application boots with a delightfully dated UI:

Using the controls down the bottom, we can load tapes:

I try to load the MysteryTape.wav, but it doesn’t work…

Converting to tap

With some research, I find VICE and most other emulators seem to use .tap files for tapes. A program to convert a WAV to TAP is WAV-PRG.

Opening the program, we are met with another delightfully ancient UI:

I press ‘Create a TAP file’ and then ‘from an audio file (WAV or similar)’ and then ‘OK’. Then I select the MysteryTape.wav.

After that, we get a MysteryTap.wav!

Emulation (again)

I attach the MysteryTap.tap with the ‘Autostart’ option and press Play.

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