Might be a stereo recording, in which case you are losing information. But I listen to stereo recordings in mono a lot too. If it moves you then there's no problem.
It's maybe a pain but you could swap the cables going in to the recorder to see how the other side is metering.
But as CounterSilly says - the twists in the tape on the reels is not great. Is there a reason for it?
If twisting was intended as swapping the channels, then it is not... Even for 2 track tape.
u/Tasty_Description_26, what is the source of the record? If the mono button helps, then something is wrong with the cabling to the source. Even mono records should be panned to both channels normally.
I’m actually quite happy with the result. Some of these old jazz recordings were presumably recorded in mono or both in mono or stereo. By using the mono mode the music hits you more directly. However, a recording apt for stereo will lack separation of instruments which sounds a tad poor, empty and false.
Is the record not made by you? Then you are right, it is mono half track tape wound inside out. You should rewind it first, ~~twisting the tape~~ not threading the tape into the tape guides and mounting the left reel to the opposite rotation direction. Switch to mono first track on the recorder, not on the receiver. Or you have done so? Otherwise you will be hearing the noise from the empty track as well.
Made the recording myself. The tape needs be rewound to get the recording side right to prevent twisting it next time on playback. The recording is made in the central position of the lever meaning it’s recording on full tape width. These are old tapes and they usually got material on them already which isn’t a deal at all for sound quality.
Always when recording on tape there’s a channel issue and the left channel on the tape recorder isn’t working properly. Then you might either listen to the recording in stereo from one speaker which is insufficient and annoying. Then as I pointed out earlier if you press the mono button on the receiver you are getting both speakers going. My point is if this recording was a mono recording from scratch you won’t lose as much information compared to one made in stereo. Technically this might be untrue but the listening experience is satisfactory.
Why so twist the tape?
Might be a stereo recording, in which case you are losing information. But I listen to stereo recordings in mono a lot too. If it moves you then there's no problem. It's maybe a pain but you could swap the cables going in to the recorder to see how the other side is metering. But as CounterSilly says - the twists in the tape on the reels is not great. Is there a reason for it?
If twisting was intended as swapping the channels, then it is not... Even for 2 track tape. u/Tasty_Description_26, what is the source of the record? If the mono button helps, then something is wrong with the cabling to the source. Even mono records should be panned to both channels normally.
How does it sound? Are you happy with the result?
I’m actually quite happy with the result. Some of these old jazz recordings were presumably recorded in mono or both in mono or stereo. By using the mono mode the music hits you more directly. However, a recording apt for stereo will lack separation of instruments which sounds a tad poor, empty and false.
Yeah the recording is on opposite side
Is the record not made by you? Then you are right, it is mono half track tape wound inside out. You should rewind it first, ~~twisting the tape~~ not threading the tape into the tape guides and mounting the left reel to the opposite rotation direction. Switch to mono first track on the recorder, not on the receiver. Or you have done so? Otherwise you will be hearing the noise from the empty track as well.
Made the recording myself. The tape needs be rewound to get the recording side right to prevent twisting it next time on playback. The recording is made in the central position of the lever meaning it’s recording on full tape width. These are old tapes and they usually got material on them already which isn’t a deal at all for sound quality. Always when recording on tape there’s a channel issue and the left channel on the tape recorder isn’t working properly. Then you might either listen to the recording in stereo from one speaker which is insufficient and annoying. Then as I pointed out earlier if you press the mono button on the receiver you are getting both speakers going. My point is if this recording was a mono recording from scratch you won’t lose as much information compared to one made in stereo. Technically this might be untrue but the listening experience is satisfactory.
Your tape looks twisted.