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 the other when the tape was turned over.

As for compatibility, in normal circumstances, a half-track machine won't be able to play quarter-track tapes, and, similarly, quarter track machines won't accommodate half track tapes. However, if the machine is fitted with additional heads it can accommodate the alternative format. Some reel to reel models came with this facility as an option.

Speeds can range between 1.875 and 15 ips (inches per second) although on rare occasions 30ips has been known to be used, but only on the bigger multi tracks and half-inch mastering machines. Domestic machines would typically have two speeds of 3.75 and 7.5 ips, although the option of a slower speed (1.875 ips) was common on a lot of machines and some analogue players offered three speeds instead of two.

Professional machines use typical speeds of 7.5 and 15 ips.

Generally speaking 1/4inch mono or stereo appliances were the norm for domestic applications, while the professionals used quarter inch, half inch, one inch and two inch mono, stereo and multi-track tape machines and because of the quality of sound produced, still do.

There were many recorder manufacturers in the heyday of the analogue tape machines, such as Akai, Studer/Revox, Ampex, Pioneer, Teac and many others, but the cheaper cassette players came into being and many opted for this easier to use option. The advantages of a reel to reel tape recorder, however, is the quality of recorded sound and the ability and relative ease of editing your tapes

A good many of these machines have had a hard life, especially the machines that have been used professionally and, although parts are relatively available a cheap machine can become expensive . However, good quality machines are widely available and are still immensely popular amongst people who cherish the more harmonious and fuller sound of these players.