Teac A-1250S - Recording Information

General Recording Information
Sound recordings are made in a strip on the magnetic surface
of a recording tape. This magnetized strip is called the
“Track”. The full tape width divided by two is called a
“2” track recording, and the full tape width divided into
quarters is called a “4” track recording.
“2” Track recording
2 Track recording is mainly employed in Radio Stations
and professional recording studios for stereo recording, in
this case both tracks are recorded simultaneously and in the
same direction. 2 track recording in the home is usually
done one track at a time and is played back monaurally.
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2
Track
recording
(
Monaural
)
“*4” Track recording (Monaural)
In this mode, each of the four tracks is recorded individually.
At the end of the tape the reels are interrecorded. The order
in
which
the
tracks
are
recorded
is
#1,
#4,
#3
and
lastly
#2.
(Note)
With
tape
threaded
on
the
machine
the
tracks
are
numbered ] through 4, from the top to the bottom, viewed
- from the base side of the tape.
Four track recording gives maximum playback time, how-
ever, the benefits of stereo reproduction are lost.
“4” Track recording (Stereophonic)
In
this
mode
two
tracks
are
recorded
simultaneously,
on
the
first
pass
of
the
tape,
tracks
#1
and
#3
are
recorded.
The
left
and
right
reels
are
then
interchanged
and
tracks
#2
and
"#4
are
recorded.
The
left
channel
sound
will
be
on
tracks
#1
and
#4
and
the
right
channel
sound
will
be
on
tracks
#2
and
#3.
Four
track
recording
in
stereo
will
provide
the
best
possible
stereophonic
reproduction
and
is
the
most
widely
used
recording
method
today.
4
Track
recording
(
Stereophonic)
4 Track recording ( Stereophonic)
Playback compatibility
A four track stereo tape deck can play back both 4 track
and 2 track tapes and from the point of compatibility has
the widest possible range of utilization. When playing a 2
track stereo tape on a 4 track recorder, track #1 will be
completely covered by the head, track #2 however will be
slightly off alignment but stereo can still be enjoyed by
compensating for the slight loss of #2 track volume with
the volume or balance controls. On the other hand a four
track tape cannot be played back on a two track (Monaural)
recorder as both tracks #1 and #2 will be reproduced
together resulting in mixed unintelligible sound.