Re: [ARSCLIST] Magnetic Tape Terminology

[Christie Peterson <cpeterso@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks, Richard.  Your response pretty much clears up the confusion I 
was having -- some people referred to tracks, the machine I was looking 
at referred to channels, but I couldn't seem to tell much of a 
difference in how they were used.  I get it now.

Christie Peterson
Project Archivist, Muskie Archives & Special Collections
Bates College
70 Campus Avenue
Lewiston, ME 04240-6018
(t) 207-753-6918
(f) 207-755-5911



Richard L. Hess wrote:
> Hi, Christie,
>
> While they are used interchangeably in many instances, the tracks are 
> what are actually on the tape and the channel often refers to the 
> electronics chain.
>
> The area where this is most confusing is in consumer formats where the 
> bulk of consumer tape machines were quarter track (or four-track) 
> STEREO, meaning they only had two channels of electronics.
>
> Another consumer area is the 8-track cartridge. While there were 8 
> tracks on the tapes, most players could only play two at a time, while 
> some could play four at a time.
>
> But other than this subtlety, I wouldn't worry about it. I think I 
> generally use "tracks" more than channels when talking about tape, 
> however, as the head lays down tracks on the actual tape.
>
> I think I've referred you to the pictures at
> http://richardhess.com/notes/formats/magnetic-media/magnetic-tapes/analog-audio/025-reel-tape/ 
>
>
> same graphic, but the other half of the info:
> http://richardhess.com/notes/formats/magnetic-media/magnetic-tapes/analog-audio/025-cartridges/ 
>
>
> http://richardhess.com/notes/formats/magnetic-media/magnetic-tapes/analog-audio/015-cassettes/ 
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Richard
>
> At 10:28 AM 10/16/2006, Christie Peterson wrote:
> > Question for today:  what, if anything, is the physical difference 
> > between a "channel" and a "track" when speaking about magnetic tape?
> > Are the terms just used to describe different ways in which the same 
> > physical phenomenon (separate bands of information on the magnetic 
> > tape) can be employed, or is there not even a difference on that level?
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > --
> > Christie Peterson
> > Project Archivist, Muskie Archives & Special Collections
> > Bates College
> > 70 Campus Avenue
> > Lewiston, ME 04240-6018
> > (t) 207-753-6918
> > (f) 207-755-5911
>
> Richard L. Hess                   email: richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Aurora, Ontario, Canada       (905) 713 6733     1-877-TAPE-FIX
> Detailed contact information: http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm
> Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.