RT-909 Four track recording?!

[QSilver]

Hey,

Was just reading through an article on the SPEC audio series and it mentioned that the RT-909 could do four track recordings. I didn't think this was possible as the record head has two tracks and the play heads have 2 channels each.

Can anyone clear this up for me?

Thanks
QSilver

 

[vinyldavid]

yes, it is four track, *two channel*. That means it can record on two sides of the tape. 4 track *four channel* is what you are thinking of.

 

[Ben-'JAMIN]

yes, it is four track, *two channel*. That means it can record on two sides of the tape. 4 track *four channel* is what you are thinking of.

in that case the 707 is exactly the same correct?

 

[pustelniakr]

in that case the 707 is exactly the same correct?

In that regard...yes.

Enjoy,
Rich P

 

[vinyldavid]

in that case the 707 is exactly the same correct?

Yep.

To make this a complete discourse on 1/4" common tape recording formats, here is:

Full track mono-using the whole tape in one pass ex. Nagra III
half track mono/two track mono: mono, both sides. Each pass uses one half of the tape. ex. lots of cheaper home recorders from the fifties
two track stereo/half track stereo: stereo one pass. Each channel uses half the tape width. ex. Studer A-80

the 909 and 707 are quarter track stereo machines.
An example of a 4 track, 4 channel machine is the Teac A-3340S

 

[QSilver]

I thought so, just the wording of the article made it sound like it could record 4 channels at once and playback 4 at once too. Just wanted to check it out.

Also, a two track machine such as the Revox B-77 MkII and the RT-909 can't be compatible in terms of one recording and the other playing can they?

Thanks,
Qsilver

 

[vinyldavid]

I thought so, just the wording of the article made it sound like it could record 4 channels at once and playback 4 at once too. Just wanted to check it out.

Also, a two track machine such as the Revox B-77 MkII and the RT-909 can't be compatible in terms of one recording and the other playing can they?

Thanks,
Qsilver

B77's can be had in 4 track two channel as well.

You can play back a 2 track stereo tape on a 4 track stereo machine, but there will be a gain offset on one channel-I think the left will be down by 3-6db. For normal playback, you should be fine, but for archiving and transfers, I would highly suggest getting the proper machine.

But the reverse is not true, a 2 track deck will pick up all 4 tracks of a 4 track tape.

 

[pustelniakr]

4-track, 2-channel machines are compatible, one with another. There is a standard as to which tracks are to contain what information. In order to play 4channel information, the deck must have 4 playback amplifier channels, and the ability to monitor all 4 tracks during single direction play. In order to record 4-channel tapes, the deck must have 4 record amplifier channels and the ability to feed all four tracks at once. The RT-909 and RT-707 are not able to record or playback 4-channel (quad) tapes. But, they are able to play and record 2-channel (stereo) tapes, in both directions, using all four tape tracks. The RT-1020L/H are able to record in stereo, and play back in stereo, in both directions, as well as playing 4-channel (quad) tapes recorded in a different machine, in one direction only.

The RT-1050 is a 2 track machine, recording in the pro style, dividing the tape into only 2 tracks, for stereo record and playback in a single direction, but at higher speed and performance specs.

Enjoy,
Rich P