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Audio Formats

These are some of the video tape formats we can transfer. You can use this page to identify your tape, if needed, or just have a look at history!

Format
Description
Tape Picture
1/4" reel to reel

Probably the most common reel to reel tape format. It was used both professional and domestic in different configurations.

Variations are in tape speed and number of tracks.
We use Studer B67 for professional full track or half track recordings.
Also available are a Tascam 34 for 4 track recordings and a Sony TC-850 for quarter track recordings.


1/2" reel to reel

This size was often used to recording 8 tracks in a multi-track format.
Not to be confused with 8-track cassettes!

We use a Tascam 38 for this format

Originally the format was designed for 4 tracks with the same track width as 1/4" 2-track. We don't have a machine for that - at the moment.

1" tape

Many different multitrack configurations exist for 1" audio tape.
Initially used by Ampex for 8 track recordings there are also 16 track tapes around.
We are still looking for those machines but have recently acquired a Fostex 1" 24 track machine which currently is being serviced.

Audio cassette

The hit of the 70's and 80's, the humble audio cassette.

We have a range of machines available to transfer audio cassettes to more modern formats.

PCM

In the early days of digital audio recording often PCM (Pulse-Code Modulation) encoders were used to record audio onto video tapes.

Most populare were the Sony F1 Betamax recorder in combination with the PCM-F1 processor.

We have both the PAL and NTSC versions available.
Also available the Sony PCM-501ES and PCM-701ES.

DAT

Digital Audio Tape (DAT or R-DAT) is a signal recording and playback medium developed by Sony and introduced in 1987.
Although intended as a replacement for analog audio compact cassettes, the format was never widely adopted by consumers because of issues of expense and concerns from the music industry about unauthorized high-quality copies.

MiniDisc

MiniDisc was announced by Sony in September 1992 and released that November of that year for sale in Japan and in December in Europe, Canada, the USA and other countries.[2] The music format was originally based on ATRAC audio data compression, but the option of linear PCM digital recording was later introduced to attain audio quality comparable to that of a compact disc.

Vinyl

And yes, we love our vinyl and have several turntables to play all standard vinyl and 78rpm records

     
April 2017