A SIMPLE GUIDE TO R2RS

Reel-to-reel tapes. AKA, R2R tapes. AKA AKA, open-reel tapes. An old audio recording format that’s now coveted by only the most earnest of music lovers. But if you dig up a bit of history on this format, you'll see what makes it so remarkable - and what makes it still worth investing in.

In fact, reel technology appeared over a hundred years ago! These magnetic tapes were developed back in the 1920s by Germany and used during World War II. After the war, the technology was adapted in the United States, where Hollywood took an interest. It became the standard for professional recordings by studios and music artists that spanned into the 1980s and 90s. [Looking for a deeper history of R2Rs? Check out our article on that here!] Even now, some music lovers prefer reels and reel to reel decks over vinyl and turntables.

But to give context on why, let’s break down what exactly a reel-to-reel is, what it’s constructed of, and the type of audio it offers. And in the process, we'll learn what makes R2Rs so special.

WHAT IS A REEL-TO-REEL?

A reel-to-reel is a tape that’s capable of recording, storing, and playing back audio. It’s made up of two parts: a plastic or metal spool and the tape that’s wrapped around it. Like compact cassettes, they use magnetic tape. This tape is delicate and prone to breaking if not properly maintained. The magnetic tape also degrades over time, something the average listener will pick up on after 200 to 500 plays. The tape doesn’t last much longer than 1,000 play throughs.

However, the audio quality is incredible. It has a natural sound, as analog audio tends to. Historically, it has been used to record political speeches, then played back to a crowd to create the illusion of live speech.

WHAT IS A REEL-TO-REEL TAPE RECORDER?

 

Reel-to-reel tape deck recorders are the machines used to record audio information onto R2R tapes and play it back. These decks are quite large and heavy. The bottom consists of various functions, such as the tape counter, record button, audio dub, audio level meter, audio level controls, and power switch. The top consists of two reels: a supply reel and a take-up reel. The reel-to-reel tape is attached to the left (supply) reel, then it’s fed manually through the machine and attached to the right (take-up) reel. This is done for both recording and playback.

Once the deck is powered on and set to play or record, the reels spin and the tape is transferred from the first reel to the second. Once it’s done, the tape is collected completely on the second reel. However, the tape is on there backwards (the recording is on the inside of the reel rather than the outside), so it needs to be rewound before it can be played again.

SIZES AND MATERIAL

Reels come in different sizes. For amateur recordings, the radii are typically 3, 5, or 7 inches; for professional recordings, the radius is usually either 10.5 or 16 inches. Though other sizes are sometimes used in Europe, these are the most common.

Plastic reels were most common; they were used by professionals and amateurs alike. Later on in the 20th century, thin metal reels were offered commercially as well. Plastic and thinner metal reels were prone to breaking and rusting, however. But sturdy metal reels called NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) became an industry standard for professionals for the use of recording and broadcasting.

CHANNELS

Reel-to-reel audio is typically divided into three different “channels:” mono and stereo and and quadraphonic (oh, my!). Channels are the different ways sound engineers can capture and divide audio in order to create surround sound.

A mono recording is when all the sound is put into a single recording to be played on a single speaker. A stereo recording splits the sound of one recording into two separate channels, which can be played on two speakers. And quadraphonic (also known as multi-track) recording splits the sound into four separate channels, which is played on four speakers to get a 3D audio effect. Mono and stereo are most common, but reel-to-reel tapes can create any of these sound effects by recording on specific tracks.

TRACKS

“Tracks” here doesn’t mean the same thing as it does with a CD, where it typically refers to songs. Instead, reel to reel tracks are the bands that run along the tape. As with channels, there are three common types: full track, half-track, and quarter-track.

A full track tape is a single track that runs along the entire tape; full tracks produce a single mono recording. A half-track tape splits the tape into two separate tracks; half-tracks either produce two mono recordings that run in opposite directions, or a single stereo track that runs in the same direction. A quarter-track divides the tape into four tracks; quarter-tracks can produce four mono recordings that run in opposite directions, two stereo recordings that run in opposite directions together, or a single quadraphonic multi-track recording with all four tracks running in the same direction.

SPEEDS

Along with different channels and tracks, reel-to-reel tapes can also be recorded at different speeds. In general, higher speeds mean more tape used but higher quality; lower speeds mean less tape used but lower audio quality. As such, speeches, stenographic transcriptions, and meetings were typically recorded at the lower speeds to save tape, while professional music recordings were recorded at higher speeds. Measured as ips (inches per second), the most common speeds are1 ⅞, 3 ¾, 7 ½, 15, and 30.

SUMMARY

Reel-to-reel tapes were an incredible technological accomplishment in the realm of audio. They did eventually fall out of vogue thanks to the emergence of cassette tapes, which were portable and convenient, and digital media. But that hasn’t stopped fans of analog audio from coveting reel-to-reel tape decks.

And open reels are resurging in popularity! Vintage lovers new and old have come to recognize the audio fidelity and quality that reel-to-reels offer. Analog recordings do seem to resonate better with us, and R2Rs are special enough to have started it all.

Thanks for reading! We hope you learned something new about reels. And if you’re one of those fans of reel to reel tape decks - or you’re interested in becoming one - you’re in luck! Empty take-up reels, professional music reel tape, and tape decks are incredibly difficult to find in our modern world. But we’ve got you covered! As a shop specializing in vintage equipment and media, we have a wide selection available. You can find all of our tapes here and our reel decks here. Have a great day!

https://spencertified.com/collections/reel-to-reel-machines

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