Greetings, Recorded Music Lovers!

    Hello, My Name Is Bruce, and/ or, "BIGFOOT", and this is my first attempt to post a Guide in eBay.

    This is data I've compiled, over time, to help answer questions for other Open- Reel ("Reel To Reel") Tape, and Tape Recorder Collectors.

   This is long overdue: I was going to add this to my "About ME" page ,but, now, there is an actual "Forum" for this, newly created by eBay.

   Please, wish me luck, and feel absolutely welcome to contact me through eBay, with any questions, and any corrections, and additional information.

    THIS IS A PROJECT UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

    Below is a diagram of sorts, I compiled from others, wandering about in the Internet, and it illustrates the head configuration of half- track (2 - Track), and quarter - track (4 - Track) 1/4" Stereo Tape.

   In this installment, when referring to "Two-Track Stereo Tape", this will be in reference to the more common variety, for playback on "In- Line", or "Stacked" Tape Head Configuration Machines and Tapes.

   (I'll try to address the much less common 2-Track Stereo Tapes, recorded for playback on machines outfitted with "Staggered" or "Offset"/ "Displaced" Heads, in a future Guide Page)

   FIRST>>>>>

    A Two- Track Stereo Tape, for "stacked" or "In-Line"Heads) is playable on the more "Modern/Conventional" 4- Track Stereo Tape Machines.

The Left, or "Upper" Track's signal might  seem to be a bit weaker that the lower/right channel signal-- For a good reference, consult owner's manuals for older, early 4- Track Tape Recorders, for a more professional explanation, for proper Two- Track Stereo Tape Playback .

Even using the more modern/conventional 4-Track Stereo Decks for 2- Track Stereo Tape Playback, it  need not be a serious deterrent, or drawback, and the "weaker" track's signal is easily compensated by adjusting the Output Level Control(s) on your 4-Track, machine, or, merely "bumping" The "Balance" Control a tad to the right, on your playback amplifier/preamplifier/receiver.

...But, on the tape, this "Weaker" track (in 4-Track Playback), is STILL a stronger signal than the thinner "slimmer" or narrower "quarter track" of a 4- Track Tape.

...and, the bottom line, these Two Track Stereo Tapes CAN Sound Fine, even on a 4-Track machine!

   Still, for the more serious Music Lover/ Tape Collector, a dedicated Two Track Stereo Tape Machine is the best way to "read" all of the recorded magnetic information/music, on a Two Track Stereo Tape.

   (With some patch cords, or switching in amplifier input circuits, this can also work very well on  a Four Track, Four CHANNEL ("Quadraphonic"/ "Quad") Multi Track, Multi- Channeled Tape Machine-- This will be covered in a separate Guide, at a later date)

     Two- Track Stereo Tape Machines are readily available, in eBay, and beyond, as these machines were in production, as recently as the final 4- Track machines, as they are ideal for a final mixdown, semi-professional tape, such as a Demo Tape Mixdown, from a Multi- channel "Master" tape!

   Plus-- don't forget all of the really great, classic, earlier Tube Type Two Track Decks- You occasionally find one with a Stacked AND Staggered Head configuration, for the playback of even these very rare Staggered Two-Track Stereo Reel tapes. (I found, and bought, TWO of these "Staggered Head" Machines, right here, in eBay!)

    With 2 Track (Half track) Stereo Tape Recordings, there is more magnetic "Real Estate" covered, i.e, this 2- Tracks' recorded left and right tracks, or channels, have  a larger "Footprint" of almost twice the width of a 4- Track (quarter Track) tape's track, and this yields in a 3-dB  higher Signal To Noise ratio. (Thanks, G.M!)

    This is good, because size DOES matter, here.

    This is one reason Professional Tape decks may use magnetic tape that is up to 2", versus 1/4" in width!

    Try cramming 16,  or 24,  tracks onto a 1/4" width tape.

     This is NOT such a good idea.

     As Both Tracks (left and right channels) on half- track, or two track Stereo Tapes are wider, they  allot more actual area for signal, PLUS...they are in sync!, as there are no "opposing "Tracks (Recorded information in  the opposite direction), as with the quarter track/ or 4 -Track Stereo tapes.

   So, another benefit of the Two Track Stereo tape is this:

   ...all  the  magnetic tape area contains one "Program" (or song, aria, Movement, etc)(L and R Channels), and this means..no "crosstalk", at least, none from the opposing tracks Other Program, as with the quarter track, or 4- Track stereo Tapes, with recorded information on both "sides" (in opposing "directions")

    -- This phenomenon also exists in the case of that other unidirectional favorite, the Four- Track, FOUR CHANNEL (Quadraphonic, or "Quad") open-reel tape! (later, later....)

     ;-)

    Benefits of 4 Track tape are that you are recording narrower tracks, and can double the playing time (Stereo 4 Track), or, for even more data storage/more economy,  quadruple the playback time ( 4- Track, monaural tape), rather than using the entire width of the tape for ONE Program (as with the Two Track Stereo, and Four Track, Four CHANNEL (Quad) tapes.)

    So, in times of old,  Single reel tapes were limited to the capacity of one LP Phonograph record, and no lengthy ones, either!

  "One -Sided" Tapes like Stereo Two Track Tapes, had a maximum time limit of an AVERAGE LP!

1200' = 30 minutes, or, 1800' = 45 minutes, @ 7 1/2  inches per second (19 cm/sec)

  So, for example, my Two Track Stereo Tape of the "My Fair Lady" Original Cast Recording (Columbia TOB 43) is a TWO-REEL BOXED SET, to allow the entire work to be available on Two Track Stereo Tape.

   (unfortunately, this did not extend to every single release.. the 2- Track Jazz "Holy Grail", Miles Davis's Landmark "Kind Of Blue" (Columbia GCB 60), is limited to only THREE of the FIVE Titles/Songs, vs. the Four Track and LP Versions of the earlier era.

    (Included in GCS 60? "So What", "All Blues" and "Blue In Green")

    Omitted/deleted in the GCS 60, but  Included on the Columbia Four Track Stereo Tape, CQ 379?

  "Freddie Freeloader" and "Flamenco Sketches"- Gone from Two Track !-- this is perhaps the Two Track "Purists" Best reason to add Four-Track playback capability to their array of Tape Deck Equipment.

(My Cassette Tape is complete, as well as my CD and Mini-Disc's of "KOB")

   Columbia Records was not the only corporation to employ this tactic in Two Track  Stereo Tape releases.     

     To Their Credit, Many were released in their "Complete" form, on Columbia 4-Track Stereo Tape Releases.

    So, The "Complete" (original complete, anyway) Miles Davis' "Kind Of Blue" is available as a 4-Track Stereo Reel Tape

     Most of the  tapes released by the great Bel Canto Corporation in Two Track format are "missing" at least one, and usually two songs/musical selections. These are on their Four Track Reel issues.

    Other catalogs' artists' material?, We are not as fortunate

    The RCA- Victor "stereo -orthophonic" Two Track Tapes...

     Ummmm.....

    Although I am thankful for a "Complete"  Henry Mancini FPS 241,  The Music From "Peter Gunn"(initially RCA-Victor Living Stereo LP, LSP-1956), I am not as happy with BPS 245, Mancini's  More Music from "Peter Gunn"( initially, RCA-Victor Living Stereo LP, LSP-2040.)

"More Music From Peter Gunn" contains only 6 of the LP's 12 tracks.

Half of the album.

         ;-(

I believe, at the time of release, the RCA-Victor  LP Releases Sold for $3.95 in Monaural, $4.95 in "Living Stereo"

(Collectors, correct me here, if I am wrong- I was 3 years old when Peter Gunn was released, 4 when "More Music From PG" was released. I didn't really begin my record collection until I was almost 5, and I really doubt If I knew the price of anything beyond Discount Stores' $2.88- priced Monaural LP's)

The Mancini Reels?

FPS-241 Listed at $16.95, BPS-245? $ 8.95!

Ouch!

     Unlike Columbia Records' Decision to re-release their "Truncated Two Tracks", as complete programs, in their Four Track Tape issues, RCA Victor NEVER Released Either of the  Late, Great  Henry Mancini's "Peter Gunn" Tapes as "Complete" 4-Track  Tapes.

      (I believe many RCA -Victor Recordings released as Two Track Tapes were never, ever released/ re-issued as Four Track Reel tapes.)

    This was puzzling: Both of these recordings sold very well, especially the (Thankfully, Complete) First "The Music From Peter Gunn" Tape (RCA-Victor Living Stereo LP, # LSP-1956)

 

    But we're talking  "That Old, Sweet Song "here!  Wonderful, Vintage Analog Magnetic tape, The great Tube- Electronics Mastered Recordings!

   But, with its limitations, there were drawbacks for Two Track Tape Collectors.

    There were few, if Any, Complete Operas, and (To My Knowledge,) No Complete Mahler Symphonies, either.

    (Jason? Are you "listening?" You will know this!)

     In 1955 to 1959, a "45 Minute" Two-Track, single reel tape listed for as much as $18.95!

      That was "Serious Money", no matter WHICH "Price Index" you use!

      For example, in "1957 Dollars", $18.95 would be somewhere from $99.89 (using the GPD Deflator), to an astounding, disturbing $451.41 (!), using the "Relative Share of GPD"...a mere $124.11, using the more commonly known "Consumer Price Index", in "2003 Dollars"

   This was quite an EXPENSIVE "Hobby" back then! (Maybe it eases the pain of paying $200-$375 for a decent Columbia GPS 60, But, any way you look at it, that is still...

   ...three-fifths of a "MILES"..., or, $66.66- $125.00 Per "Kind Of Blue" "Song"

   Makes one....Kind of...Blue?

   (You saw that one  coming!! You Did, too!)

                            :-!

    These are  LIMITED EDITION REEL TAPES,  for a very simple reason:

...Look how EXPENSIVE these were, "in their time!"

   Few could, or would, spring for this indulgence, as the LP's were, by contrast, very affordable, and easier to share with neighbors than by lugging two 40+ Pound "portable" cabinets to a friend's pad, and stringing all of those crazy wires, man!

    A Two Track Stereo Tape Machine cost anywhere from $300.00, to maybe $1000.00,  in "1957 Dollars"

  Do The math.

   Anyway...

   Down from the soapbox.

   A Two Track tape has no "Side One" or "Side Two"...you CAN "Play" The "Other side" of a Two Track Stereo Tape ... but, on either a Two Track, or a Four Track Stereo Tape Machine...It plays...backwards. (see the track diagram, below)

(Backwards Recordings? See "The White Album")

 

                                     ;-)

     If My text and diagrams are confusing, please clear this off the screen, (Help me here, Pros!), or...allow me to enhance the confusion, with text AND Diagrams that discuss Multi- Track Tape and Head Configurations!

     I am only concentrating on what applies to 2 track, and 4 track Stereo Open Reel (Or, Reel To Reel) 1/4" Magnetic, analog tapes.

 For Now.

See below.

Diagram of half track recording. This diagram is of quarter inch tape, so that I may compare it with quarter track tape, below  Half- Track is the same for any tape width (Stacked head!), so this diagram is accurate for 1/4, 1/2 an 1 inch tape.

Left Track>>>>>>>>>>>

Right Track>>>>>>>>>>

 

 

Diagram of quarter inch recording...most consumer reel to reels are set up like this. Cassettes are NOT set up like this, Cassette tapes use 1/8 inch wide tape, and the top two tracks are side two, left and right, and the bottom two are side one, left and right. This allowed compatibility with Mono and Stereo Recorders and players that recorded one program on each side, instead of two.

Left Side One >>>>>>>>

Right Side Two <<<<<<<

Right Side One >>>>>>>

Left Side Two <<<<<<<

 (Reel collectors may actually recognize these lousy  diagrams of the 4-Track Tape head layout/head track configuration, as similar to the logo used by Columbia, and other manufacturers 4 Track tape "logos", printed on their earlier tape boxes!

I hope this helps.

Fell welcome, to contact me, directly, for anything I can either explain, correct, or further murk the waters with!

Any and all corrections and additions are not merely "allowed"...

...They are WELCOMED, WITH OPEN ARMS, AND A SMILE ON MY FACE!

And, as the old school says,  always remember...

"...Keep your tails OUT and your Heads CLEAN!"

Please also visit our eBay Store, "BIGFOOT-Triple-S-Ranch", and the eBay "Music-Other Formats" ("Reel To Reel Tapes" sub-category), for more of these amazing Musical and Analog Audio Treasures

Thank You, all, for your patience, and time.

Bruce R. / "BIGFOOT"

-BIGFOOT-Triple-S-Ranch-

--Home to well over 35,000 Phonograph Records...

...and WAY TOO MANY "Record Players"

( 29 March, 2006.)