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Re: Crazy terminology. No wonder I am confused

67.9.29.208

Posted by taz on October 22, 2005 at 14:27:40

In Reply to: Re: Tandberg and questions about tracks posted by Doc B. on October 20, 2005 at 08:33:58:

So if I understand correctly, a machine labeled as 2 track 7.5 and 15ips could be a 1/2 track machine or it could actually be a quarter track machine since quarter track is a another possible variant of the two track head.

The designation 2 track is misleading terminology and could imply a right and left channel; 2 tracks for 1/2 track recording and playback in only one direction on the tape, or it could mean two stereo tracks thus allowing recording in both directions by flipping the reel. The latter could also be referred to as quarter track.

Then what would a four track machine be? Would that imply recording four tracks simultaneously in one direction? Could 4 track also refer to quarter track?

Is there a way to look at the tape heads and count the number of tracks? This is crazy.

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