One of my brothers had an 8-track recorder in his home hi-fi system... I don't remember what brand it was, but a quick Google Image search found a Realistic, a JVC, and an Akai that appear similar to my foggy memory of what it looked like...
He recorded lots of his records to 8-track. FAR better sound quality than the prerecorded tapes, and FAR better resistance to tangling, etc.
Also, when one of his home-recorded tapes switched tracks mid-song, it was a quick fade, fast near-silent track switch, then play on. No more than a couple seconds in total. I think the home tapes played nearly as well in the car deck, too. This was MUCH better than the "fade, five seconds later, CLUNK of the track change, five seconds later, play on" of the commercially-made tapes.
I think there were more-expensive models that had the ability for the user to avoid mid-song track changes altogether.
This Canadian recalls buying BLANK 8-track tapes: they were sold as "Super 8s". I recorded my precious vinyl lps on them, and decided my personal challenge was to time the recording of songs to end as close as possible to the point when the recorder would shift or "click" to the next channel. We experience long winters and sometimes present psychological issues. I don't recall the retail price of these large beauties, however, I do remember purchasing them in the summer of 1980.
When I worked for a music distributor back in the 70s there was a price difference between 8-tracks and cassettes. The cassettes were a couple of dollars less, but at that time the cassette format was less popular.
I had an 8 track in a couple of my vehicles, and at one time had 8 track recorder, My wife and I still have 8 track players, and cartriges, cassettes came after 8 track, I don't know if I still have the recorder, I was into 8 tracks in the 70's
In 1966 I had a Lear 4 track car tape player, the predecessor to 8 track. There was no way to fast forward or reverse. There was one electronics store in town, St. Louis, that had a 4 track recorder and sold blank 4 track tapes. I went there several times with a stack of LP's that I transferred to 4 track tape. Eventually my unit was stolen and a few months later, so was its replacement. By then I gave up.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall anyone having an 8-track recorder. You couldn't make your own mix tape, as you could with cassettes. Cassettes definitely preceded 8-tracks, but their quality and that of their players was not good enough for hi-fi music reproduction. Cassettes -- their formulation, mechanical construction, noise reduction, wow/flutter,, etc., all underwent significant improvement until they were eventually overtaken by CDs (which, again, hardly anyone could record themselves for several years).
Having worked at my college's radio station, I was familiar with "carts" and their operation, saw no benefit whatsoever in the 8-track variety, and thus never had a player. But a friend recently gave me three "blank" 8-track tape cartridges. I have no idea what's on them; it's a tantalizing mystery. I'm torn between offering them, unplayed, on eBay, and hunting down a player to check 'em out first.
I hated 8 tracks from the get-go. If you had one favorite song, you had to let it play through so you could listen to it again. Thank God for cassettes and, eventually, cds!!
I have a 1970s Wood stereo- one of those that you could use as a coffee table or knick-knack shelf when it wasn't in use as a record player, 8 track player, or AM-FM radio.
In 1973 a friend lent me an 8-track player. I rigged it up but we only had one tape to listen to during the whole 250 mile round trip to Ocean City, MD and back. At least it was a good one, Deep Purple "In Rock". I later had a Radio Shack "Realistic" 8-track recorder. Wow, that was state of the art for the time!
Registered users can log in to post comments or submit items for the galleries.
Registered users can log in to post comments or submit items for the galleries.
There are 17 comments for this item.
He recorded lots of his records to 8-track. FAR better sound quality than the prerecorded tapes, and FAR better resistance to tangling, etc.
Also, when one of his home-recorded tapes switched tracks mid-song, it was a quick fade, fast near-silent track switch, then play on. No more than a couple seconds in total. I think the home tapes played nearly as well in the car deck, too. This was MUCH better than the "fade, five seconds later, CLUNK of the track change, five seconds later, play on" of the commercially-made tapes.
I think there were more-expensive models that had the ability for the user to avoid mid-song track changes altogether.
Registered users can log in to post comments or submit items for the galleries.