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data transfer between PC/MAC and Sharp PC-1350 / PC-1360

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Introduction
To endable editing of Sharp programs on a PC I had to find a way to transfer programs between the SHarp PC-1350/PC-1360 and the PC. For me the following topics where most relevant:
  • the data transfer should be as easy as possible. Ideally there's no additional component needed on the Sharp.
  • My target was to transfer programs from the PC to the PC-1350/PC-1360. This includes basic and machine language programs. The opposite direction (Shapr -> PC) is used rarely so I accept more manual work for this. I don't need to transfer other data types of formats than basic and machine language.
  • As it's not possible to transfer programs without additional hardware I wanted to use an interface that could be bought (in Germany) or build by myself withmy limitd knowledge for electronics. Idealy I already own such an interface.
All these points lead to the decision to use the cassett interface of the Sharp.
The interface is built in the CE-126P, it's also available on eBay (in year 2025) for a resonable price (named CE-120 oder CE-124). And if needed later I also could built one by myself using some simple to handle (non SMD) parts.
A circuit diagram can be found on the internet: The pocket computer museum
 
Using the cassett/audio-interface is independant of any operating system and no additional software is needed on the Sharp. It is working with both (PC-1350/PC-1360) and the only requirement on the PC side is an audio interface with physicle audio jack.
 
The program used to convert the audio signal to source code or memory dump (Pocket Tools) are open source and can be converted and used on any device I like.
 
The interfaces I used before stopped working after some years. I started with a self made interface to the C64 (obviously it only wothk on a C64). This interface was adapted to the PC using the parallel port. So it stopped working as Windows/Linux got relevant and blocked the exclusive access to the parallel port. Audio transfer also would work in a browser and after converting the Pocket Tools to Java Script it would be possible to convert my programs on every OS.
Data transfer
Data between the Sharp and a PC is trasfered using the cassette interface and the audio interface on the PC-
  • Transfer PC -> Sharp
    Connect the headphone connector of the PC with the tape interface, play the WAV file with any sound player (e.g. VLC) and start "CLOAD" oder "CLOAD M" on the Sharp. If the Sharp stops with an error adjust the volume on the PC.
     
  • Transfer Sharp -> PC
    First you meight have to enable microphone input for your device on the PC.

    Now you can start recording on the PC (als WAV) and start the transfer on the Sharp then CSAVE or CSAVE M&xxxx,&yyyy.

    You also meight have to experiment with the microphone amplification of the Pocket Tools can't convert the recording or if you can't trandsfer it back to the Sharp.

  • Audiosoftware (Windows/Linux)
    Often Audacity is named as the PC software to record and play the WAV files. This meight be true if you prefer a GUI tool (but why use a Sharp and require a full audio editor an the PC?).
    I use VLC (VideoLAN) to play the WAV files and FFmpeg for recording (also on Windows).

    Using ffmpeg you first must identify the audio device after conecting the audio cable to the mic port on the PC:
    ffmpeg -list_devices true -f dshow -i dummy
    This will list all audio devices, e.g. "Mikrofon (Realtek(R) Audio)"

    The recording now can be started at the command line with:
    ffmpeg -f dshow -i audio="Mikrofon (Realtek(R) Audio)" -ac 1 -ar 44100 c:\temp\programm1360.wav
    As the recording is not stoped automatically you have to do this by pressing CTRL+C.

Data conversion
The conversion from/to WAV can be done using the Pocket Tools (newest version at Pocket Tools for SHARP Pocket Computers).
  • Convert WAV -> Basic (test file)
    wav2bin --utf8=no --type=bas --pc=1360 file.wav output.bas
     
  • Convert WAV -> binary file (machine code)
    wav2bin --type=bin --pc=1360 file.wav file.bin

    As the starting address is not stored into <file.bin> you have to write it down if you need it again to convert and transfer the file back to the PC-1360.

  • Convert Basic (text file) -> WAV
    bas2img --type=img --pc=1360 file.bas file.img
    bin2wav --type=img --pc=1360 file.img file.wav
     
  • Convert binary file (machine code) -> WAV
    bin2wav --type=bin --addr=0x8800 --pc=1360 file.bin file.wav

    The --addr= must be replaced with the correct dtrat address of the <file.bin>.

For the PC-1350 the option --pc=1360 must be replaced by --pc=1350.

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Author:  Bernhard Schwall last change: 01.01.2026