Re: [ARSCLIST] Longevity of half-track reel

[David Heetderks <david.heetderks@xxxxxxxx>]

Dear Mr. Warren,

Thank you for the helpful information.

Regards,
David Heetderks

Quoting Richard Warren <richard.warren@xxxxxxxx>:

> Dear David,
>
> Experience here suggests that the life of tape depends primarily on
> the
> stock used, secondarily on certain qualities of the recording and
> recording
> machine. The principal problem of recording more than one track on a
> tape
> is that multiple tracks are narrower than full tracks and thus more
> susceptible to damage and tracking problems. However, with good stock
> and
> equipment, I've noticed little difference, except in print-through
> (since
> tape is best stored in "played" position, which is only possible of
> course
> for one of two tracks on a 2-track tape, unless one has recorded the
> same
> signal on two parallel half-track channels.
>
> Quarter-track tapes on 1/4-inch tape have such narrow tracks as to
> be
> little better than audiocassettes for longevity and are extremely
> sensitive
> to head alignment and differences between machines. So they are
> certainly
> less reliable than half or full track tapes.
>
> Sincerely, Richard
>
> At 11:57 AM 3/15/2005 -0500, you wrote:
> >----- Forwarded message from djh24@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx -----
> >     Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2005 11:47:15 -0500
> >     From: djh24@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >Reply-To: djh24@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >  Subject: Longevity of half-track reel
> >       To: arsclist@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> >I am writing from Oral History American Music with another
> question
> >about analog reel.  Many years ago, some of our recorded
> interviews
> >were duplicated onto half-track reel.  To conserve space, the
> staff
> >recorded the first half of the recording in mono in the right
> channel,
> >then flipped the reel over and recorded the second half on the
> other
> >channel.
> >
> >Are these reels less stable than those recorded full track mono or
> in
> >stereo?  Is there a danger of print-through?  How about those
> recorded
> >quarter track?
> >
> >One person advised us that half-track recording is generaly not
> >advised, but I would appreciate your opinion.  Thanks in advance
> for
> >any information you can provide.
> >
> >David Heetderks
> >Oral History, American Music
> >
> >----- End forwarded message -----
>