THE ENCYCLOPEDIA / 02
Tracks & compatibility
Same tape width. Very different recordings.
Half-track stereo →
L →R →
Two broad tracks. One stereo programme in one direction.
Quarter-track stereo ⇄
1 · L →2 · R ←3 · R →4 · L ←
Tracks 1 + 3 in one direction; 2 + 4 on the return pass. Schematic, not to scale.
| Format | Typical purpose | Practical consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Full-track mono | Early mono / broadcast | One signal across almost the full width. |
| Half-track mono | Two mono sides | Not the same programme layout as half-track stereo. |
| Half-track stereo | Studio and modern tape editions | Two channels use most of the tape width; normally no second stereo side. |
| Quarter-track stereo | Domestic music collections | Two stereo sides; greater playing economy, narrower tracks. |
| Four-track / four-channel | Multitrack or quadraphonic | Four simultaneous channels require suitable heads and electronics. |
Before pressing Play
Does four-track always mean four-channel?
No. Domestic four-track stereo commonly means four physical tracks carrying two stereo programmes in opposite directions. Four-channel recording uses four channels simultaneously.
Can I turn every reel over?
Only when the recording format provides a return programme. Turning over a half-track stereo album does not reveal another stereo side.
Are all two-track machines interchangeable?
Check tape width, track dimensions, mono/stereo configuration, speed, EQ and any timecode or pilot track. Model names alone are insufficient.