Why Are Analogue Reel to Reel Tape Recorders Still Popular?
When looking to get into the world of analogue reel to reel recorders there are one or two questions that will come to mind. Are all recorders and players compatible? What different tape speeds are there? What tape sizes are there and what is the significance? And why are analogue recorders still so popular. Reel to reel recorders come in a variety of recording formats, shapes and sizes. And although most of the major manufacturers no longer make these appliances there are many still available, maintenance is easy, parts are freely available and there are plenty of specialist repairers around. Professional players are usually stereo half-track recorders for stereo recording, meaning that the left channel occupies half the tape width, and the right channel the other half. Whereas, players intended for domestic use, tended to be quarter track machines meaning they recorded two channels in one direction, each track occupying slightly less than a quarter of the total tape width, and two in