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Description
This connector allows you to save or load program data to an audio cassette. Data are backed up at 1200 or 2400 baud with Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) in the standard "Kansas City" format.
The Data Recorder connector is defined as a mandatory requirement in the MSX Standard Definition, up until and including the MSX2+. As such almost all MSX machines have the connector.
Pinouts
Standard MSX connector
The MSX Data Recorder (Tape/Cassette) connection uses a female 8-pin DIN (DIN45326) connector on the MSX side, with the following pin mapping:
| Pin | Name | Type | Description |
| 1 | GND | Signal Ground | |
| 2 | GND | Signal Ground | |
| 3 | GND | Signal Ground | |
| 4 | CMTOUT | O | Sound Output (to connect to the mono/left headphone input) |
| 5 | CMTIN | I | Sound Input (to connect to the mono/left microphone output) |
| 6 | REM+ | O | Remote control (from relay) |
| 7 | REM- | O | Remote control (from relay) |
| 8 | GND | Signal Ground |
Note that a switch on the Philips VG-8240 allows to get stereo input for superimposing.
Exceptions
Some Casio computers
The Casio MX-10, MX-101 and PV-7 require the CMT I/F package FA-32 as adapter to use a standard tape recorder.
Frael Bruc 100
The cassette port of the Frael Bruc 100, an hidden MSX, is not 100% MSX compatible, the middle pin (GND) is missing.
Gradiente Expert computers
The Gradiente Expert computers use a female 5-pin DIN connector, the pins are used as follows:
| Pin | Name | Type | Description |
| 1 | REM | O | Remote control (from relay) |
| 2 | GND | Signal Ground | |
| 3 | REM | O | Remote control (from relay) |
| 4 | CMTIN | I | Sound Input |
| 5 | CMTOUT | O | Sound Output |
Sanno SPCmk-II
The Sanno SPCmk-II is actually a rebranded Casio PV-7, as such it also requires the CMT I/F FA-32 package as adapter to use a standard tape recorder.
Machines without Data Recorder connector
- the MSX turbo R computers (besides, there's no any tape support in the BIOS)
- the MSX2+ Panasonic FS-A1WSX: the Data Recorder connector is replaced by a S-Video output; the cassette port on this machine is combined with the RGB connector, it is possible to load/save via this connector, but the volume is very low by comparison with the normal tape interface
- the MSX2 NTT Captain Multi-Station and Sony HB-T600
- the hybrid MSX1/Sega Sakhr AX-990 machine
- a few MSX1 computers with built-in data recorder: Sanyo PHC-30, PHC-30N, PHC-30N (FR), PHC-30N (GE), PHC-33 and Sony HB-501F
- the Game Consoles that Daewoo made under their Zemmix brand: CPC-50, CPC-50A, CPC-50B, CPC-51, CPC-61, CPG-120 and DTX-1493FW
- most of the Hidden MSX machines
- newly created machines like the Kimoan KimoHachi, One Chip MSX and Zemmix Neo