Magnetic Tapes
In order to make this manageable, we have divided tapes into the following categories:
- Analog audio tapes (reels, cassettes, cartridges)
- Sprocketed magnetic film is addressed with film
- Analog audio on videotapes (VHS HiFi, Beta HiFi)
- Data tapes
- Dedicated digital audio tapes (reels, cassettes, cartridges)
- Digital audio on videotapes (PCM-F1, dbx 700, 1630)
- Instrumentation tapes (analog and digital)
- Logging tapes (analog and digital)
- Video tapes (analog and digital)
We have also produced a number of supplemental pages about magnetic tapes. These apply mostly to analog audio, but for sake of convenience are indexed under this topic:
- Equalization (IEC, NAB, AME, etc.)
- Noise Reduction (Dolby, dbx, Burwen, Telefunken, Nakamichi)
- Reels and Hubs (sizes and mounting)
- Speeds
- Synchronization (SMPTE Time Code, Pilot, etc.)
- Tape Timing Chart
- Tape Winding (Heads out, tails out, A-wind, B-wind, sides)
Information on care and storage of tapes and discussions of tape degradation can be found in the storage-care-handling subcategory of archive operations.