Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Gittins
The main question is whether you need a 2-track or 4-track machine (speeds can be corrected in software if necessary).
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A tape recorded on a 2-track machine can be replayed on a 4-track machine using the 'Track 1-4' setting. It will not give the best quality (as you are only reading half the track width) but it will work. I think Sony made a machine where the (1/4-track-width) head could be mechically shifted to the middle of the track on a 2-track tape, but I suspect such a machine is going to be very hard to find and probably not worth it.
If you play a 2-track tape on a 4 track machine on the 'Track 3-2' setting you will get the other track playing _backwards_. This will do no damage to the machine or tape but it will let you know that it was originally recorded on a 2-track machine