Re: [ARSCLIST] 4-track tapes

["Richard L. Hess" <arclists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi, Joel,

I have a business doing transfers of exactly the type of tapes you describe
(among others).

I like to say if it's 1-4 tracks, on 0.150, 0.250, or 0.500 inch tape, I can
play it. I can also play 8 tracks on 0.150 tape.

In the digital world, I can play PCM-F1, DCC, Minidisk, and DAT.

All gets transferred to CD-R or DVD-R either as files or "red book" audio on the
CD.

Four track is a bit convoluted. Please see my Web site at
http://www.richardhess.com/tape/tips.htm for a drawing showing the various
track formats on a tape.

If you can imagine, on 1/4-inch tape, there are 7 (not quite equal) bands: four
"tracks" and three slightly narrower "guard bands"

We number these from top to bottom.

Open reel, RCA two-hub cartridges (like a cassette on steroids), and I believe
the Muntz continuous loop cartridges all used the same track format:

1 & 3 was program one stereo
2 & 4 was program two stereo

In the Muntz, left was always the lower numbered track. On the reels and in the
RCA cartridges, 1 & 4 were left and 3 & 2 were right. This comes from the fact
that you physically flip the tape over.

One other format (with very slightly different spacing) the Elcaset used the
same layout as the standard cassette with 1&2 being program one and 3&4 being
program 2. Again, 1 & 4 are left, and 2 & 3 are right, as this format flipped
over as well.

Where the real fun comes in (as Mike mentioned) is when you decide to use each
half of a stereo program for a separate mono program. This could happen in open
reel and on the RCA Cartridges (I've transferred both--and made the reels in my
younger days).

The USUAL order of things was 1-4-3-2 with programs 4 & 2 running backward
referenced to 1 & 3.

Relatively few 4-channel 1/4-inch machines were sold relative to the
quarter-track stereo machines.

The best thing to do is to get a 4-channel 1/4-inch machine to check out the
tape. I use an Otari MTR-12 for this purpose with a 1/4-inch head I set up.
Sony and Teac made such units, and they sometimes show up on eBay.

I am in the process of creating a higher-quality (than the Otari) playback deck
for four channels utilizing two Sony APR-5003Vs. I'm trying to focus all my
playback on the APRs and the Studer A810s.

When you say a "conventional" tape machine, one could assume that you might have
a two-track player and you're getting two programs (one forward, one reverse)
on each track. What Mike described is also possible.

I prefer to modify (I do it internally, but you can do it with a couple of "Y"
cords externally) a Radio Shack audio switch box so that you have stereo, left
to both, right to both, reverse (if you have the fourth switch), but to test
the concept, certainly the plugging works. I see Mike and I have similar
thought processes about the switch box.

The other thing I have is a series of four-position "mults" wired in my
jackfield. I created them just by plugging patch cords on the rear, and
positoning the jacks in the proper orientation...I may have thrown some
soldered jumpers on each board. I forget now.

In any event, if you have external patching, that's an easy way to address it.

Having several of these "mults" (I think it's 8) allows me to feed one machine
to several as well.

Anyway, good luck and let me know if I can be of any assistance. I, too, am in
Southern California, far away from Lexington, MA.

My main Web page is http://www.richardhess.com/tape/

Cheers,

Richard
--

Richard L. Hess
http://www.richardhess.com/tape/


Quoting Joel Bresler <joel.br@xxxxxxxxxxx>:

> Hi, Mike and others. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll find out what I can
> about the formats. That would seem an important first step, and I'm sorry I
> don't know, since all I have is the MP3s that resulted from the library's
> attempt to play them back.
>
> Will report back as I know more. No, I'm not at the LOC. I'm sure that they
> don't make such elementary mistakes! <G>