Re: Different makes of tape?
Quote:
As far as magnetic pattern retention is concerned, digital tape has little of the problems that we lived with in analogue tape use. The tape does not need to have linear magnetic properties, so it is designed for maximum coercitivity and only the field at the erase and record heads will move any underlying patterns. Of course, if the heads are faulty or worn out, they won't perform properly but we are considering equipment that is functioning within its normal parameters. A tape will shed much more coating on its first pass than on the succeeding passes until it is nearing the end of its life. That life should be many passes downstream even for consumer tapes, whether they are still being used to play the first recording made on them or the last of a succession of writes. |
Re: Different makes of tape?
Pro tape is also likely subject to a higher quality control standard.
Quality magnetic tape is reliable and generaly has a long life if not subjected to environmental abuse. I have VHS tape that was recorded in 1979 that still plays, as well audio tape from the 1960s. The problem may be finding a player for that rare recording. In the 1990 there were several serious magazine reviews of tape, including its multi-pass properties. E.g., signal properties after 100 playings. Losses generally were small. However, sitting on pause will eat tape. That is why most camcorders had a time out - to reduce head and tape wear. |
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