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>In the professional field, the idea of using two tracks, each half the >width of the tape, provided a single-direction way of recording in >stereo. This was known as two-track or half-track stereo, and like >full-track mono is only recorded and played in one direction. This >configuration was not limited to "pure stereo" recordings; it was >common practice at EMI in the late 50s and early 60s, to record takes >with all the instruments on one track and vocals on the other track, >for convenience in making a mono mixdown. In my carefully-considered haste, I neglected to mention that two track stereo on a 1/4" machine would most likely be limited to broadcast and "serious amateur" usage. Big recording studios usually used wider tape - 1/2" for two tracks, 1" for four tracks, in general keeping each track 1/4" wide. This went all the way up to 2" eight-track tape, before track sizes started shrinking and we started getting 16- and 24- tracks (and more) onto a 2" tape... MS