Cassette Tape

[Oliver]

Is cassette tape classed as 2-track tape, because it is stereo, or am I totally confused. I often hear about 2-track, 4-track tape etc. What are they? Is it that the heads have 2 tracks on or whatever? Help!!!

[Pinotage]

I'm not sure in connection you are asking this. Multi tracked tape was used for professional recording - 8, 16 etc so each track could record a different instrument, singer etc.

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Domestic cassette tapes actually use four tracks, one for left speaker, one for right on each side of the cassette. IE the machine has two read/write heads, turn the tape over in the other direction and the head are now in different positions on the tape.

[TheHitMaker]

As Pinotage says the term 'tracks' refers to the number of data channels on the tape - there are 4 on cassette tapes, two played in either direction. There are 4 track cassette recorders which use all 4 at once to allow home recording.