[78-L] Stereo half-track tapes

[Sammy Jones]

Robert M. Bratcher wrote:  
"You just have to turn the balance control over some to 
level out one channel being too loud on playback. but then thats with 
every 2 track commercial tape played on a 4 track machine."

It's certainly possible to play a half-track stereo tape like that, but I think you're getting seriously compromised audio.  Because the stereo half tracks don't line up exactly with the quarter track heads, the left channel head is not hitting the left track in the same place that the right channel head is hitting the right track.

In addition to the volume problem, you may also be getting audio that is going in and out of phase.  Also the pre-emphasis EQ is not the same for half track as it is for quarter track.

Of course you may be perfectly happy with the sound you're getting, but I'd recommend a machine that will play both half- and quarter-tracks with the same head assembly, like the Technics 1500 or 1520.

Sammy Jones