two track tape
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KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
It will but you will need to alter the balance and Signal to Noise in one channel will not be as good. Good enough for you to listen to it.
WaynerN
Addicted Member
Why do you say that? Tracks 1 and 3, 2 and 4 are for 1/4 track machines and tracks 1 and 2 on a half track would play tracks 1 and 2 on track 1, 3 and 4 on track 2. I see no reason for one track not being as good a quality....
So the quarter track machine would play what is ever left of track 1 from the half tack and the same for the 2nd track......
So the quarter track machine would play what is ever left of track 1 from the half tack and the same for the 2nd track......
mrdbdigital
The TBS Archives
Look at the above track layout graphic.
When you play an NAB 2 track tape on a consumer 4 track stereo machine, the right channel is only picking up the edge of channel 2 on the 2 track tape, which results in less than normal SNR due to the track width/spacing,
Dave
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WaynerN
Addicted Member
I had no idea that there was that much gap between the 2 tracks on a half track machine. I had a ReVox 1/2 track for about 38 years (recently burnt up), but never did play any 1/4 track stuff on it because there was always stuff recorded in the other direction. I never had a 1/4 track to try a 1/2 track on.
Now it makes sence. Thanks Dave........
Now it makes sence. Thanks Dave........
The tracks on your 2 channel Revox were 2 mm wide and extended to the edges of the tapes, which leaves a 2.3 mm gap in between so no, the figure is correct. This gap allows enough space for an extra track at the centre (pilot, time code or slide sync for instance). Radio oriented machines had 2.75 mm tracks which improved signal/noise ratio and the gap was narrower, but these are professional decks without need for the central track.
mhardy6647
Lunatic Member
I guess the assumption is two track stereo vs. two "track" (i.e., two sided) mono. The latter would not play back properly on a quarter-track stereo deck.
In fact it would, providing you connect both channels of your stereo amplifier to track 1, via a switch if your equipment has one, or via a Y cable. Otherwise you would hear the track you want on the left channel and the other side in reverse on the right channel - but then you would have the same problem if you played such a tape on a 2-channel stereo deck so it's not a 1/4 track vs. 1/2 track issue.
Playing a 1/2 track tape on a 1/4 track deck does not give the best quality, since the narrower playback head causes increased noise (normally 3dB more) and more drop outs. But in this case (track 1 mono) it does work.
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eddisc
Super Member
1/2 tr vs 1/4
burning CD's from a 1/2 tr tape played back on 1/4 tr machine as I type. The MX5050 is DOWN! and the quality is good' nuf (old rockabilly radio show for CMR in G.B.) :yes:
Dave - that EXCELLENT graph belongs in a STICKY. Wkly it - seems - a similar question comes up.
burning CD's from a 1/2 tr tape played back on 1/4 tr machine as I type. The MX5050 is DOWN! and the quality is good' nuf (old rockabilly radio show for CMR in G.B.) :yes:
Dave - that EXCELLENT graph belongs in a STICKY. Wkly it - seems - a similar question comes up.
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mhardy6647
Lunatic Member
burning CD's from a 1/2 tr tape played back on 1/4 tr machine as I type. The MX5050 is DOWN! and the quality is good' nuf (old rockabilly radio show for CMR in G.B.) :yes:
Dave - that EXCELLENT graph belongs in a STICKY. Wkly it - seems - a similar question comes up.
Here's the source:
http://richardhess.com/notes/formats/magnetic-media/magnetic-tapes/analog-audio/025-reel-tape/
And here is a more comprehensive source, with all the values: http://www.iasa-web.org/tc04/replay-equipment-professional-reel-machines. Note that some of the configurations shown there are pretty rare, and a few are apparently missing, but it's still the best source I know on track configurations.
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
Remember those guard bands were wide due to the limitations of early head manufacturing tolerances and old tube record/reproduce electronics. So, consider that. And also remember that head manufacturing tolerances and precision improved over time not to mention record/reproduce electronics. And also the time code track had to have room not to impinge on the audio track and cause crosstalk.
JRhoBurton
All roads lead to music
I'm waking up this thread because I came upon a couple of 2-track tapes that I would like to play on my 4-track Akai 4000DS-MkII. Just want to get them archived as WAVs. As expected, one channel is weak and noisy, whether with normal playback, or when switching the head to 3-2 or 1-4 mode.
Has anyone tried realigning the playback head temporarily to balance things out? I won't bother if it's already known to not work.
The tapes look to be of high quality, 7.5 ips and Dolby tones at the beginning.
Tips appreciated!
John
Has anyone tried realigning the playback head temporarily to balance things out? I won't bother if it's already known to not work.
The tapes look to be of high quality, 7.5 ips and Dolby tones at the beginning.
Tips appreciated!
John
mrdbdigital
The TBS Archives
I could transfer those tapes for you, to pretty much whatever format you want. PM me if you are interested.
Dave
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
Won't work. You need a correct 1/2 track machine. And an outboard NR unit. And to correctly realign it, you would need an alignment tape.
JRhoBurton
All roads lead to music
I do have outboard NR, but Dave has kindly offered to do the transfer for me.
Donuts for everybody!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
Donuts for everybody!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
JRhoBurton
All roads lead to music
Dave did the good deed for me and transferred the two tapes to thumb drive and CD.
He even printed a cool label on the CD.
This is a nice program with lots of classical music in addition to the narration. Dave, if you're snooping around, tell us your process and what deck you used.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
He even printed a cool label on the CD.
This is a nice program with lots of classical music in addition to the narration. Dave, if you're snooping around, tell us your process and what deck you used.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
mrdbdigital
The TBS Archives
I used a Tascam 32 two track machine and transferred the tapes into my computer through a Mackie Onyx Blackjack analog to USB converter. Recorded the audio with Sony Sound Forge. Married the two tapes into one file for the complete program, then loaded the stick and made the CD with Sound Forge, placing track marks at appropriate locations. Printed the CD artwork on an Epson Artisan 50 printer using the Epson software. Got the old picture of the planetarium off the internet after a quick search.
I used the Noise Reduction feature of Sound Forge to take out some of the tape hiss, which was really not bad on the original tape, and some slight EQ to bring up the bass which was a little thin.
I also included files that were untouched by any processing on my part.
Dave
I used the Noise Reduction feature of Sound Forge to take out some of the tape hiss, which was really not bad on the original tape, and some slight EQ to bring up the bass which was a little thin.
I also included files that were untouched by any processing on my part.
Dave
