Date:         Tue, 13 Apr 2004 16:54:00 -0400
Reply-To:     Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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Sender:       Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:         Joel Bresler <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: 4-track tapes
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Hi, Mike and others. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll find out what I can
about the formats. That would seem an important first step, and I'm sorry I
don't know, since all I have is the MP3s that resulted from the library's
attempt to play them back.

Will report back as I know more. No, I'm not at the LOC. I'm sure that they
don't make such elementary mistakes! <G>

Joel

At 01:35 PM 4/13/2004 -0700, you wrote:
>At 01:27 PM 4/13/2004 -0400, Joel Bresler wrote:
>>Dear friends:
>>
>>A sound library I am collaborating with has a collection of what I believe
>>to be home-recorded 4-track tapes. Played back on a conventional machine,
>>it sounds as if there are two different selections playing at once. These
>>tapes were made in California, and so I am wondering if they could be the
>>4-track system mentioned in the various articles below, one of which
>>mentions California as one of the few locales that used the system broadly.
>
>Home recording was almost certainly open-reel. Muntz (I knew him well,
>though I never had one of his cars) promoted only cartridges.
>
>When you say a "conventional machine", you have many opportunities for
>error. The logical ones are that you're using two-track heads (unlikely) or
>that you're playing four-track monaural as though stereo (very probable).
>The first step (excuse me if it sounds simple-minded) is simply to pull out
>each connector in turn and see if the other channel makes sense. If so, you
>have four-track mono and playback (and recording) is straightforward. The
>cheap way is to pick up a Y cable at Radio Shack and use it to connect one
>channel of output to both channels of input. I use an 'elaborate' scheme: I
>bought a three-to-one switch box, opened it and rewired it to feed left,
>right and stereo from a single input to a single output.
>
>I am in Southern California and while I'm not prepared to deal with any
>substantial collection, give me a call at 310-477-7969 and we'll see if I
>can at least check out the format for you.
>
>(And if you are at LoC, please give my regards to Charles Sens. I owe him
>at least an e-mail and am embarassed by my tardiness.)
>
>
>Mike
>--
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>http://www.mrichter.com/



Joel Bresler
250 E. Emerson Rd.
Lexington, MA 02420
USA

781-862-4104 (Telephone & FAX)
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