Why were they called 8 track tapes when they only switched 4 times.

KitchenWitch

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Sun Jun-01-08 11:09 PM
Original message

Why were they called 8 track tapes when they only switched 4 times.

:shrug:

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Sun Jun-01-08 11:10 PM
Response to Original message

1. hmmm

they switched 4 times with two sides? I sort of remember them....:shrug:

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darkstar

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Sun Jun-01-08 11:10 PM
Response to Original message

2. I got this one...

Two tracks (i.e., stereo) on each of the four segments.

God, I hope I've had this right all these years...

:hi:

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newmajority

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Mon Jun-02-08 01:41 AM
Response to Reply #2

12. You are correct.

They had 4 track mono tapes in the same cartridge format originally. Though that was before my time, so I've never actually seen one.

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krispos42

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Mon Jun-02-08 02:19 AM
Response to Reply #2

14. I always thought that's what it was as well

I had "Snoopy's Christmas" on 8-track that I played on a JC Penny all-in-one stereo.

Not very much, though. I had Bill Cosby on cassette, so I was pretty happy with that.

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huskerlaw

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Sun Jun-01-08 11:11 PM
Response to Original message

3. They did...

what, now??

I remember I once saw an 8-track tape at my grandparent's house and I thought it was some sort of old-school Atari game. :rofl:

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texanwitch

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Sun Jun-01-08 11:15 PM
Response to Original message

4. I knew 8 track tapes wouldn't last.

You couldn't pick songs, just had listen to whole tape.

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greenbriar

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Mon Jun-02-08 12:42 AM
Response to Reply #4

5. and sometimes you could hear two songs at once

and not even have to change tracks

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texanwitch

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Mon Jun-02-08 12:47 AM
Response to Reply #5

6. That to.

I never even bought one.

My friends had them, I stayed with my records.

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RoyGBiv

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Mon Jun-02-08 12:52 AM
Response to Reply #4

8. Not only that ...

But they *split* songs so that they'd fade-out at the end of one track and fade-in when the track changed.

Maddening.

I remember our combo radio/record player/8-track machine ... weighed about 200 pounds and took up the space where the piano once stood.

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texanwitch

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Mon Jun-02-08 12:58 AM
Response to Reply #8

9. My father had this huge TV combo with all the above.

The TV was color, color TV.

He put the huge monster on wheels to clean around it.

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texanwitch

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Mon Jun-02-08 12:58 AM
Response to Reply #8

10. My father had this huge TV combo with all the above.

The TV was color, color TV.

He put the huge monster on wheels to clean around it.

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texanwitch

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Mon Jun-02-08 12:58 AM
Response to Reply #8

11. My father had this huge TV combo with all the above.

The TV was color, color TV.

He put the huge monster on wheels to clean around it.

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LSK

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Mon Jun-02-08 12:52 AM
Response to Original message

7. whats an 8 track?

Does it hold 8 mp3s???

:hide: :hide: :hide:

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Deep13

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Mon Jun-02-08 08:41 AM
Response to Reply #7

16. It's a raceway for slot cars with an intersection. nt

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WCGreen

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Mon Jun-02-08 01:51 AM
Response to Original message

13. And they use to jump songs indiscriminately

I remember my friends Zeppelin Tape faded out in the middle of the Stairway to Heaven solo, click clacked and then faded back to the solo.

Of course we were all so stoned to even take notice.

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Deep13

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Mon Jun-02-08 08:40 AM
Response to Original message

15. The tape moved in an figure-8 endless loop.

Unlike cassettes or open reel tapes, 8-tracks only moved in one direction (when they worked at all).

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(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Jun-02-08 09:03 AM
Response to Original message

17. boy 8-track sucked, but it was all there was for mobile music for awhile.

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CreekDog

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Mon Jun-02-08 09:52 AM
Response to Original message

18. ever notice the "fast forward" button on the 8-track player?

i think it's only purpose was to cut off the volume. :think:

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Montauk6

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Mon Jun-02-08 09:57 AM
Response to Original message

19. The switched 4 times this is true...

But each time was accompanied by a "CHUNK-CHUNK"... one track per CHUNK?...

:rofl:

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Rabrrrrrr

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Mon Jun-02-08 10:39 AM
Response to Original message

20. 4 bands of 2 tracks (right and left channels) in each band

So a total of 8 recorded tracks on each tape.

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