Digital Tape Recording

Basic methods

The main problem is the wide bandwidth needed. Unlike the 20 kHz of analogue recording, a digital recorder has to cope with frequencies of the order of a few MHz. (This is because, taking a 16-bit system and a 44.1 kHz sampling rate, there have to be 16 × 44100 pulses/s. This works out at about 700000 pulses/s for one channel.) There are two general systems in use:

Stationary head machines. A typical machine uses ¼ inch tape, thinner than conventional analogue tape and with special characteristics. The digital data are spread over several tracks, and can give the equivalent of the very high tape speed needed for the digital bandwidth. Such machines are very expensive at present. They have the advantage ...

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