Ron Schilling
New member
Hi,
I enjoyed the 70s way too much, and it continues to affect my comparable understanding of how cassettes and reel to reel recording heads are set up. So, here goes:
On a cassette, you can flip the tape over, continue recording, and not erase the recordings on the "other side" of the tape. I, not knowing any better, figured this would work on my A3340S 4 track when I first bought the machine. So, when I ran out of tape I simply flipped the tape by moving the now full takeup reel to the other side, and put the original, now empty reel, where the takeup was. The end result, was, of course, that I erased the first recording and replaced it with the second recording. This continues to confuse me.
Anyway, here's the question: Does a cassette recorder actually record on "both sides" of the tape, or does it simply use 1/2 of one side of the tape first, then, when the cassette is flipped, use the other 1/2 of the "same side" of the tape (which would make for some mighty small heads)?
On the 3340S, it appear that all the record heads use the same side of the tape--true?
Another way to put it is, do tape recorders use "both sides" of a recording tape, or is only one side recordable (you'd think they'd explain all this in the manuals)? Or, are cassette tapes configured for two side recording, and reel tapes for one side?
All this stems from not quite understanding the term "1/2 track recorder." I had assumed all these years that a studio grade 1/2 track machine using a 1/4" tape format would have two 1/4" heads, one for the top of the tape, and one for the bottom of the tape, and that this was what distinguished studio grade 1/2 track reel to reels from consumer grade "stereo" reel to reels that would put both the L and R tracks on the same side of the tape, allowing the consumer to flip the tape to the other side (by now you should be able to tell the 70s really were fun). Are the terms "1/2 track" and "stereo" really synonymous?
Anyway, I am obviously confused, and appreciate your insight.
Thanks,
Ron
I enjoyed the 70s way too much, and it continues to affect my comparable understanding of how cassettes and reel to reel recording heads are set up. So, here goes:
On a cassette, you can flip the tape over, continue recording, and not erase the recordings on the "other side" of the tape. I, not knowing any better, figured this would work on my A3340S 4 track when I first bought the machine. So, when I ran out of tape I simply flipped the tape by moving the now full takeup reel to the other side, and put the original, now empty reel, where the takeup was. The end result, was, of course, that I erased the first recording and replaced it with the second recording. This continues to confuse me.
Anyway, here's the question: Does a cassette recorder actually record on "both sides" of the tape, or does it simply use 1/2 of one side of the tape first, then, when the cassette is flipped, use the other 1/2 of the "same side" of the tape (which would make for some mighty small heads)?
On the 3340S, it appear that all the record heads use the same side of the tape--true?
Another way to put it is, do tape recorders use "both sides" of a recording tape, or is only one side recordable (you'd think they'd explain all this in the manuals)? Or, are cassette tapes configured for two side recording, and reel tapes for one side?
All this stems from not quite understanding the term "1/2 track recorder." I had assumed all these years that a studio grade 1/2 track machine using a 1/4" tape format would have two 1/4" heads, one for the top of the tape, and one for the bottom of the tape, and that this was what distinguished studio grade 1/2 track reel to reels from consumer grade "stereo" reel to reels that would put both the L and R tracks on the same side of the tape, allowing the consumer to flip the tape to the other side (by now you should be able to tell the 70s really were fun). Are the terms "1/2 track" and "stereo" really synonymous?
Anyway, I am obviously confused, and appreciate your insight.
Thanks,
Ron