Revox A77 2 track or 4 track?
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I LIKE MUSIC
Super Member
Look at the tape heads. See the picture below.
I hope that this helps.
I hope that this helps.
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
Also, the speed range you have is a major clue as well. Usually if you have a 7 1/2-15 IPS high speed model, you have a 2 track most of the time. If you have a low speed model with 3 3 3/4-7 1/2 IPS speeds, most of those are 4 track models. About the only users who would have ordered a A or B 77 with 2 track and low speeds would be a radio station.
twiiii
Lunatic Member
If you have 4 heads on a B-77 you can have two quarter track heads , but one of them will have a noticeable change in elevation to center the 1/4 trk head in the middle of the tape. I used a 1/4 and a 2trk head with a micro switch to make the proper selection. I had a HS model with variable speed attachment so could also play 1/2 trk Tape athon 2 ips tapes. 15 ips 1/4 trk tapes as well as 3 3/4 ips tapes. But I could not play the old two track staggered head tapes.
LAB3
AK Member
Old thread but maybe someone can help me. I am looking for the play back and record head part# for my A-77 MK IV D. IIRC it was LE 609 and LE 620. I have misplaced the parts list I printed years ago. Looking at a set of NOS heads and want to make sure I am not buying knockoff heads.
twiiii
Lunatic Member
We sold a lot of A-77 and they were all 1/4 trk. B-77 on the other hand we sold quite a few HS 2 trk. That doesn't mean the A-77 couldn't be 2 trk, but I seriously doubt it. Look on the panel with the AC cord it might have the model number. I don't have my Revox manuals any more.
Gary Douglas
New Member
The question (same as mine) is how to tell if it's a 2 track or a 4 track---yet the answer given by I Like Music is that it's a HALF track or QUARTER track. Does the term HALF track correspond to "2 track" and QUARTER track correspond to "4 track"? Or vice-versa?????????
dhnash
Super Member
The diagram below shows the various track formats for 1/4" tape and illustrates the difference in the appearance of 2 track and 4 track heads. The term 2 track and half track are often used interchangeably since the width of the tracks for this format is about half the width of the tape with a guard band separating the two tracks. The terms 4 track and quarter track were also used interchangeably when referring to many pre-recorded tapes but the 4 track term can apply to 2 channel (stereo) format or 4 channel (quadraphonic) format as shown in the diagram.
100LL
Member
Reviving this old thread which I’ve found useful as I just purchased an A77 that arrived yesterday. I bought it from a nice fellow who included several 10.5” reels with recorded stuff on them.
I’ll admit a little confusion, and maybe I’ll post this question in its own thread, but I am curious about the track number convention when recording 4 tracks on 1/4” tape. Stereo pairs and perhaps even mono tracks.
what’s the proper way to write a label to put on the box?
Then there’s some other points of confusion which I’ll save for later.
I’ll admit a little confusion, and maybe I’ll post this question in its own thread, but I am curious about the track number convention when recording 4 tracks on 1/4” tape. Stereo pairs and perhaps even mono tracks.
what’s the proper way to write a label to put on the box?
Then there’s some other points of confusion which I’ll save for later.
Side A, Side B.
Two track/half track can’t be flipped, it’ll just play backwards. The lion’s share of A77 were quarter track decks unless high speed, though I still have one or two standard speed half track machines.
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
We need more info on your question.
I label tape boxes with a number and have all the content info on a sheet inside with numbers in an index. Leader frequently has different colors for outside and inside of the tape when new.
What are you looking for as far as this label is concerned?
A 2-track tape will be (can be) stereo one sided tape no flipping over, play one way store tail out so rewind before play.
A 4-track tape can be a two sided stereo tape. Put it on and press play, flip and play the other side.
I label tape boxes with a number and have all the content info on a sheet inside with numbers in an index. Leader frequently has different colors for outside and inside of the tape when new.
What are you looking for as far as this label is concerned?
A 2-track tape will be (can be) stereo one sided tape no flipping over, play one way store tail out so rewind before play.
A 4-track tape can be a two sided stereo tape. Put it on and press play, flip and play the other side.
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
you can use both. Time is consistent but in FF and REW time flies at a different speed so knowing you are going to 47:35 is pure guess work unless you have a machine with real time counter.
Counters are different machine to machine. Maybe similar going from one Teac A-3300sx to another Teac A-3300sx but my Crown and Tandberg are different.
Your choice. But let me help you out. I have a small ringed binder with pages for tape indexing. Here are the instructions and sample pages for a tape and for the artists.
After those 5 are pics of how I have done it. Numbered tapes, an index sheet with artists and album and individual tape sheets with more details. This last page is duplicated an one is on the inside front of the tape itself.
I know what speed I used and that they are stereo recording from a quarter track machine. I have a few tapes recorded at 15 and those are noted, otherwise, 7½ips.
Counters are different machine to machine. Maybe similar going from one Teac A-3300sx to another Teac A-3300sx but my Crown and Tandberg are different.
Your choice. But let me help you out. I have a small ringed binder with pages for tape indexing. Here are the instructions and sample pages for a tape and for the artists.
After those 5 are pics of how I have done it. Numbered tapes, an index sheet with artists and album and individual tape sheets with more details. This last page is duplicated an one is on the inside front of the tape itself.
I know what speed I used and that they are stereo recording from a quarter track machine. I have a few tapes recorded at 15 and those are noted, otherwise, 7½ips.
Attachments
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
You can see on the one page for Tape 21 I used the leader color. Mostly Maxell tapes and they are two different colors. Not always the same since I have two-three different Maxell tapes in the collection.
For the Tape Index I don't need to concern myself with which side as that info is in the tape itself, the contents page and when I open the box, I see what side will play next and can either play it or rewind before play as needed.
The Quantegy tapes I have did not come with leaders and I added them and put sharpie labels on them for side identification.
For the Tape Index I don't need to concern myself with which side as that info is in the tape itself, the contents page and when I open the box, I see what side will play next and can either play it or rewind before play as needed.
The Quantegy tapes I have did not come with leaders and I added them and put sharpie labels on them for side identification.
Hi Y'all
I'm a newcomer. I remember reel to reel when I was growing up in the 1960s and 1970s. No high quality system was complete without one.
I own a couple of vintage Revox radio tuners. Very nice machines. I love the Revox craftsmanship.
The other day I bought a Revox A-77 MK III. It was sold as a TWO TRACK. I haven't yet unpacked it to look at the tape heads to make sure. The maximum speed is 7.5 ips.
Kent posted above that such a configuration is possible, but that it was a fairly rare combination that was mostly used by radio stations. That chimes in with what the seller said about the machine having been used at a radio station. I have read elsewhere that DJs at radio stations used these kind of machines to play commercials or other material dubbed onto magnetic tape.
So, my questions are:
1. Can I play back pre-recorded tapes? I saw some vintage ones for sale on E-Bay ... but they all seem to be four track. Thus incompatible? Or maybe I lose half the content?
2. Are there any newer two track prerecorded tapes for sale that play at 7.5 ips? I have seen a few new "master quality" pre-recorded two track 15 ips tapes for sale -- pricey !
3. Does my machine lose or gain value compared to the more common FOUR TRACK Revox A-77s?
4. Is it possible to convert an A-77 to run at 15 ips? It would seem I already have the more suitable heads.
Thanks for bringing me "up to speed".
Neilbo75
I'm a newcomer. I remember reel to reel when I was growing up in the 1960s and 1970s. No high quality system was complete without one.
I own a couple of vintage Revox radio tuners. Very nice machines. I love the Revox craftsmanship.
The other day I bought a Revox A-77 MK III. It was sold as a TWO TRACK. I haven't yet unpacked it to look at the tape heads to make sure. The maximum speed is 7.5 ips.
Kent posted above that such a configuration is possible, but that it was a fairly rare combination that was mostly used by radio stations. That chimes in with what the seller said about the machine having been used at a radio station. I have read elsewhere that DJs at radio stations used these kind of machines to play commercials or other material dubbed onto magnetic tape.
So, my questions are:
1. Can I play back pre-recorded tapes? I saw some vintage ones for sale on E-Bay ... but they all seem to be four track. Thus incompatible? Or maybe I lose half the content?
2. Are there any newer two track prerecorded tapes for sale that play at 7.5 ips? I have seen a few new "master quality" pre-recorded two track 15 ips tapes for sale -- pricey !
3. Does my machine lose or gain value compared to the more common FOUR TRACK Revox A-77s?
4. Is it possible to convert an A-77 to run at 15 ips? It would seem I already have the more suitable heads.
Thanks for bringing me "up to speed".
Neilbo75
paul bi
Member
Hi although I don’t have any recent experience with the A77
I currently have and use a B77 halftrack slow speed 3 ¾ and 7 ½
1/ Regarding the pre recorded tapes for the domestic market
First was mono half track most wear at 3 3/4 then moved to 7 ½ for stereo
then we had half track staggered Stereo this is a Paine and I would not recommend trying to play it
then we had half track in line Stereo this is the standard for all early stereo recordings for the 60 ‘s
Then we had the quarter track tapes so the recordings from the 1975 era tend to be quarter track
If you play a half track tape on a quarter track machine it will play OK but at reduced quality
If you have a quarter track tape recorded in both directions then you cannot play it back on a halftrack machine
2/ Yes as you say there are a lot of New pre-recorded half track stereo tapes available but expensive I have believe I have seen them also in 7 3/4
Personally my preferred format is half track 7 ¾ as this can be played back on the faster halftrack machines and also a quarter track machine
3/ Regarding the value of machines this is a big question when tape was at its most popular for the domestic market quarter track lead the way but the semi professional used half track except for Quarter track 4 channel recordings as this allowed 4 channels for mixing more instruments and vocals onto new track also referred to as bouncing
4/ To change the speed you have to change the capstan / motor but the cost of a second machine probably wouldn’t be much more
Regarding the B77 and I think the same goes for the A77 There is a solution that people haven’t exploited and that there is space for a fourth head this was for running a slide show but could be used for the quarter track play back head it would have to be another make as I don’t think there is enough room for a revox head the electronics can hold for another day if required
Regards Paul
I currently have and use a B77 halftrack slow speed 3 ¾ and 7 ½
1/ Regarding the pre recorded tapes for the domestic market
First was mono half track most wear at 3 3/4 then moved to 7 ½ for stereo
then we had half track staggered Stereo this is a Paine and I would not recommend trying to play it
then we had half track in line Stereo this is the standard for all early stereo recordings for the 60 ‘s
Then we had the quarter track tapes so the recordings from the 1975 era tend to be quarter track
If you play a half track tape on a quarter track machine it will play OK but at reduced quality
If you have a quarter track tape recorded in both directions then you cannot play it back on a halftrack machine
2/ Yes as you say there are a lot of New pre-recorded half track stereo tapes available but expensive I have believe I have seen them also in 7 3/4
Personally my preferred format is half track 7 ¾ as this can be played back on the faster halftrack machines and also a quarter track machine
3/ Regarding the value of machines this is a big question when tape was at its most popular for the domestic market quarter track lead the way but the semi professional used half track except for Quarter track 4 channel recordings as this allowed 4 channels for mixing more instruments and vocals onto new track also referred to as bouncing
4/ To change the speed you have to change the capstan / motor but the cost of a second machine probably wouldn’t be much more
Regarding the B77 and I think the same goes for the A77 There is a solution that people haven’t exploited and that there is space for a fourth head this was for running a slide show but could be used for the quarter track play back head it would have to be another make as I don’t think there is enough room for a revox head the electronics can hold for another day if required
Regards Paul
