MehrspurTonbandmaschinen

Mehrspurtonband, or multitrack tape, is an analog magnetic tape recording system that records multiple discrete audio tracks on a single reel. The technology enabled separate recording of different instruments or voices, allowing overdubs, editing, and precise mixing in a single production chain. Development began in the 1950s and expanded through the 1960s from two-track stereo to four-, eight-, and higher track configurations. Common formats used 1/2, 1, or 2 inch wide tape at speeds such as 7.5, 15, or 30 inches per second, with higher speeds offering better signal-to-noise and dynamic range. Tape machines included multiple record and playback heads, erase heads, and a control console for routing signals to individual channels, along with a mechanism for aligning timing between tracks.

In practice, a multitrack setup assigns each instrument to its own track, enabling independent level, equalization, and panning during mixdown. Techniques such as bounce-down (submixing) and punch-in overdubs became common features. As track counts grew—24-track and beyond—the physical limitations of tape width and machine design shaped recording workflows and studio acoustics.

With the rise of digital audio workstations, multitrack tape usage declined in mainstream music production, though many studios still preserve and repair vintage machines for their characteristic compression, saturation, and archival value. Proper maintenance—bias calibration, tape cleaning, and humidity control—is essential to sustain performance and tape longevity.