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The internal mechanism is identical – only the media is virtual.
Understanding how ZX copy software works is not just nostalgia. It reveals:
Moreover, many core principles apply today: bit-perfect disc imaging for retro consoles, audio-based data transfer for SDR, and cycle-accurate replication for security research.
Tape-to-Disk / Disk-to-Tape
Disk Duplicators (for ZX Spectrum +3, +2A, etc.)
Modern PC-based ZX Copy Tools
For those wanting to experiment today:
| Name | Type | Best For | |------|------|----------| | Trans Express | Tape copier | Most protected games (Speedlock, etc.) | | Backup (2088) | Universal duplicator | Fast tape-to-tape copies | | +3 Copy Manager | Disk copier | +3 disk protection | | OTLA | Tape analysis | Converting real tapes to TZX | | Tape2TZX (modern PC) | Digital copy | Restore real tapes via sound card |
All of these embody the "zk copy software work" principle: capture exact timing, replay without interpretation.
ZX Spectrum cassettes store data using a simple but robust encoding: pulse length modulation (a variant of frequency shift keying). A binary 0 is a short pulse (~855 µs), a binary 1 is a long pulse (~1710 µs). Data is organized in:
