[Vintage-Audio] 2Track Vs 4 Track

[Mark - AA6DX]

Cross talk is indeed an issue.  One may never hear crosstalk on a properly
aligned 4 track, but, if you purchase pre- recorded tapes, or the product
comes from a different recorder, you may well have your recording invaded by
other way sound.  Industry standard test tapes are designed to eliminate
this problem, but a lot of audiophiles never bothered, because the tapes
played back swell on their own machine.  Signal to noise is very
important... but so is equalization and head room.  As an aside, most home
users did not set their equalization to match their chosen brand and
specific blank tape, and lost much of the quality they hoped to gain by the
expenditure for the "high priced spread".

Why do you suppose the broadcast industry universally uses half track?
Surely not so they can spend more money on tape!  If your local radio
station gets its ads (hopefully for your favorite presidential candidate)
via ancient reel to reel tape, it will be half track.

15 IPS and half track was (or is, I don't know) the professional standard
for high fidelity stereo content using 1/4" tape.  One inch tape if you were
serious, and could afford the hardware.

I spent 10 years in the sales part of audio, and 10 years in Broadcast, and
throw in a few years in the advertising agency business.  But there are
those who know more than I.

Far West Mark