AS @audioguyintn explained, a 1/2 track machine records and plays back 2 channels in one direction. There is no "other side" You have to rewind it. My father had an interesting machine. It was a 1960ish Ampex 1/2 track that took only 7" reels. It would record and play back 1/2 track but it also would playback (but not record) 1/4 track. In the day they sold 7" prerecorded tapes in 1/4 track at 71/2 ips. There was no Dolby back then and just dropping to 31/4 ips was intolerably hissy. You played them just like a record. One side and then the other. This made skipping songs very difficult. You had to hunt for them in fast-forward or reverse. A record you just place the "needle" were you want it. Playing a 1/4 track 71/2 ips prerecorded tape back then was way superior sonically than any record playing set up. You just got use to that hiss.
What is Half track and quarter track?
.
I used to own a 4 track Dokorder reel-to-reel machine back in the '70s & '80s. I had 4 meters that I could engage all at once, or choose which track I wanted to record on. I never did much with this feature because all I used the machine for was to record my LP's. What the heck is a quarter track and half track machine? Do they use the same width of tape that a two track or 4 track machine would use? Are half track and quarter track machines for consumer use or just for pro use? Were pre-recorded tapes two track?
.
I used to own a 4 track Dokorder reel-to-reel machine back in the '70s & '80s. I had 4 meters that I could engage all at once, or choose which track I wanted to record on. I never did much with this feature because all I used the machine for was to record my LP's. What the heck is a quarter track and half track machine? Do they use the same width of tape that a two track or 4 track machine would use? Are half track and quarter track machines for consumer use or just for pro use? Were pre-recorded tapes two track?
.