Thanks, Richard. Your response pretty much clears up the confusion I
was having -- some people referred to tracks, the machine I was looking
at referred to channels, but I couldn't seem to tell much of a
difference in how they were used. I get it now.
Christie Peterson
Project Archivist, Muskie Archives & Special Collections
Bates College
70 Campus Avenue
Lewiston, ME 04240-6018
(t) 207-753-6918
(f) 207-755-5911
Richard L. Hess wrote:
> Hi, Christie,
>
> While they are used interchangeably in many instances, the tracks are
> what are actually on the tape and the channel often refers to the
> electronics chain.
>
> The area where this is most confusing is in consumer formats where the
> bulk of consumer tape machines were quarter track (or four-track)
> STEREO, meaning they only had two channels of electronics.
>
> Another consumer area is the 8-track cartridge. While there were 8
> tracks on the tapes, most players could only play two at a time, while
> some could play four at a time.
>
> But other than this subtlety, I wouldn't worry about it. I think I
> generally use "tracks" more than channels when talking about tape,
> however, as the head lays down tracks on the actual tape.
>
> I think I've referred you to the pictures at
> http://richardhess.com/notes/formats/magnetic-media/magnetic-tapes/analog-audio/025-reel-tape/
>
>
> same graphic, but the other half of the info:
> http://richardhess.com/notes/formats/magnetic-media/magnetic-tapes/analog-audio/025-cartridges/
>
>
> http://richardhess.com/notes/formats/magnetic-media/magnetic-tapes/analog-audio/015-cassettes/
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Richard
>
> At 10:28 AM 10/16/2006, Christie Peterson wrote:
>> Question for today: what, if anything, is the physical difference
>> between a "channel" and a "track" when speaking about magnetic tape?
>> Are the terms just used to describe different ways in which the same
>> physical phenomenon (separate bands of information on the magnetic
>> tape) can be employed, or is there not even a difference on that level?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> --
>> Christie Peterson
>> Project Archivist, Muskie Archives & Special Collections
>> Bates College
>> 70 Campus Avenue
>> Lewiston, ME 04240-6018
>> (t) 207-753-6918
>> (f) 207-755-5911
>>
>
> Richard L. Hess email: [log in to unmask]
> Aurora, Ontario, Canada (905) 713 6733 1-877-TAPE-FIX
> Detailed contact information: http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm
> Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.
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