| Hi
In describing the heads there are several configurations. You say you have 2 tracks of mono. Are there 2 different songs on the 2 tracks? Do you know what machine it was recorded on?
There were 2 track stereo heads where you turned the tape over and if you try to replay these you will get a bit of extra noise since the head will be 'listening' to half of the intended track and half that would be 'the other side' if you get my meaning.
Quarter inch 2 track has recording widths of just under one eighth of an inch (there is a guard band).
2 track stereo where you turn the tape over (domestic types) have rather less than one sixteenth track width (3 guard bands) .
Whatever you do in the digital domain will be rather better than from analogue at this point so if you can get any 'reference' sounds (known instruments) off the tape, EQ it to them.
It may be worth scouting around to see if you can borrow a machine (or blag some 'not quite studio time') with a machine at the right speed however many studios will not be maintaining their old machines so may be worse than yours.
Good luck
Matt |