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Recalling the 8-track tape

Stereo 8-track cartridges or 8 maintained a level of popularity for nearly two decades, is a format that is still recognized, even if it passed the practical application. Since the mid-60s to his laptop early 80's, affordable to millions of people.

I know there are many people out there who are too young to know much about the 8-tracks. Thus, for a quick introduction, I say 8-track tape that never ended. There were four programs, but there was one side or both as a disc. Instead, the tape was an endless loop – each end, the band is joined by a seal plate. As the metal sheet passing over a sensor on 8-track machine, the program will automatically move to the next. The four 8-track tape programs have been generally ˝ 11 minutes for a total of 46 minutes. Longer periods were available media as white.

Inventing the 8-track cartridge

Tape Cartridges endless loop had been in use since it was invented in 1952 by Bernard Cousino. A year later and an advance, a businessman named Earl Muntz sold what he called "Stereo Pak" (also known as the 4-track cartridge). It was his version the endless loop cartridge systems for your car stereo. Bill Lear followed this by doubling the number of tracks on tape, and called the Stereo "8" who was best known as the 8-track tape.

In recent years, there was a format war between the 8-track and 4 track cartridges. Stereo-Pak offers sound quality a little better, because the tapes were only four tracks instead of eight in the same amount of tape. The four tracks also imitated the music Original Media formats (LPs game) better, while the 8-track often had to be reorganized playlist to avoid long silences between songs. Also to avoid silence, sometimes the bonus tracks and solo guitar and piano were added between songs. Some even had a song repeated cartridges in other parts of the band. Worse, however, the songs are sometimes divided into two parts. While playing a song in the middle, you could hear the song fade out, the "ka-chunk" sound of the player to change programs, and then weakening again song to end his life. At other times, however, just put a little silence.

8-track market

Stereo 8 began its life as an AutoFormat. In September 1965, Ford Motor Company has announced the 8-track player upgrade of its main models. This partnership has catapulted to the head of 8-track format and shoulders above its competitors. Stereo 8 format has gained popularity and became a bestseller. Demand has increased for the new format, 8-track stereo systems at home began to be manufactured. Would end car radios, stereos, phones and stereo sound systems in everywhere. But unlike the film, 8-track ever sold more records.

Poor design and the disappearance of the 8-track tape

At a time, convenience and portability of 8-track player overshadowed mechanical problems for players and bands. However, there was an impending threat to the success of the 8-track on the horizon – that is, the tape and growing problems of old tape decks and cartridges themselves.

There were no standards of quality control to maintain a certain level format not acceptable and increasingly, owners of 8 tracks that players who are in need of maintenance newspaper.

In addition, stereo tape decks 8 are not the most convenient to all – especially today's standards. Rewind it was not possible due to the design of the cartridge loop. Even fast-forward was not available in many teams and has always been a bit a risk to fast forward anyway. The two reel to reel tapes and were capable of such "engineering achievements high, and 8-track tapes were laptops. The stereo has 8 players many questions, but look at the cartridge itself.

Because tape was an endless loop that would be a joint celebration of the band together. With continued use (and time) who split time doing the tape was lost inside the cartridge or eaten by the cassette deck. eight-track cartridges that what is called a rolling pressure on them to advance the tape. These pressure rollers have been a great source of fear for many machine owners stereo cassette 8. As the rollers pressure rubber old and rotten, a sticky substance that is created makes a mess of a VCR. A final issue to note is that Due to the design of the endless loop, causing the tension build to stop the belt and / or rest. This is because the belt speed exiting the center reel was not the same as the band towards the outer edge of the coil. The band was more – plus the possibility of an accumulation of fatigue and was damage.

The problems with players and cassettes, as well as efforts by record companies limit the number of formats, leading to lower whether the average of the 8 tracks. When sales of the 8-track began to fall, the major record companies were quick to abandon format. the compact cassette (standard cassette) began to gain momentum in the market, giving the music business even less incentive for 8-track in life.

Gone but not forgotten

Although the 8-track is less common in the eighties among users home, portable format clung to life through record clubs – "Get 12 bands for a ˘" – until the late eighties. Since during the 8-track has been synonymous with almost everything becoming obsolete. Trying to impress someone in the obsolescence of something – to mention only the 8-track always seems to do the job.

About the Author

Audible Forensics provides audio transfer services and can transfer many audio formats including reel to reel, 8-tracks, micro and standard cassettes. In addition, we provide audio forensics and restoration services.

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