12/29/2023 0 Comments Cassette tape case![]() Paper/Paperboard: Neutral pH, lignin-free, buffered materials recommended.Plastic: Polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyester (a.k.a.All storage materials should pass the Photographic Activity Test (PAT) as specified in ISO Standard 18916:2007 and must be chemically and physically stable. Each item should have its own enclosure to protect it from dust, handling damage, and changes in environmental conditions. Allowable Fluctuation: ☒☏ ±5% RHĪcid-free enclosures are strongly advised. If nitrate or acetate base is suspected, colder storage is necessary. While some base variation for this format is possible, polyester is by far the most common, and guidelines are given assuming a polyester base. As analog tape and equipment are obsolete, digital capture has become the archival standard. Prior to digital technology, ¼" open reel tape was considered the standard audio preservation medium. ![]() Quarter-inch open reel tapes were used in home recording and other semi-pro and consumer markets. Quarter-inch was the most common and affordable open reel width. After World War II, it began to gain worldwide popularity and was further developed in the US by Ampex and EMI. Background Patented first in 1928, open reel audiotape was first demonstrated to the public in 1935 in Germany. See Magnetic Audio Playback for more information about tape speed and track configurations. In addition to the proper playback head configuration, playback equipment must have a tape transport able to support the tape's full width in order to read all the tracks encoded on it. In order to play back a tape properly, you must know the tape track configuration and recording speed. Playback Reel-to-reel audio playback equipment and media are becoming scarce, although there are a few manufacturers that are still filling the needs of professional audio studios. Risk Level Since magnetic media is a dying medium with a limited lifespan, these tapes should be reformatted based on the content value. Both blocking and pinning can result in loss of information by damaging the tape layers or by preventing playback. Blocking involves large sections of tape adhered together, while pinning involves small sections. Tapes are also prone to blocking or pinning, which occurs when layers of tape adhere to adjacent layers. Tapes with thinner widths are more susceptible to information loss when the tape edge is damaged, as magnetic track configurations are smaller and placed more closely to the tape edge. Unevenly wound tapes can cause the tape to warp and lose its shape, which will affect playback sound quality. An uneven tape pack can allow dirt to come in contact with and abrade the tape's surface and edges. Tapes should be wound tightly and evenly. Quarter-inch tape may be thinner and more fragile than other kinds of tape, and it is more susceptible to stretching and breaking during playback. Like other types of magnetic media, it is prone to risks such as mold, binder deterioration, physical damage, signal drop-outs, and, in the case of acetate-based tapes, base deterioration. Quarter-inch open reel audio is susceptible to risks associated with age, hardware, and equipment obsolescence. Composition Magnetic tape (acetate, paper, polyester, or PVC) on a hub or reel Deterioration Reel size can vary, measuring from 2 or 3 inches to 10.5 inches in diameter (14-inch diameters are also possible), with 5, 7, and 10.5 inches being the most common sizes found in archives. Hold the reel up to a light source - if light "pipes" through, the base is most likely acetate. Acetate bases can be differentiated from polyester bases by conducting a quick light test. Cellulose acetate was the most common tape base during the 1940s and 1950s. The quarter-inch size, which was the standard width of open reel tape until the 1950s, is the most common open reel tape width, particularly among amateur recordings. The tape is composed of magnetic particles, binder, and a base of either acetate, paper, polyester, or PVC. ![]() 1935 – 1980s Common Size(s) Tape width: ¼" Reel diameter: 2" 3" 5" 7" 10.5" Description Quarter-inch open reel audio is the earliest type of magnetic tape-based recorded sound format. ¼" open reel audiotape with crinkled leader. ¼" open reel audiotape manufacturer's box (Scotch brand). Courtesy of UCLA Library Special Collections. Image by Lori Dedeyan, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license ( CC BY-NC-SA 2.0). Image courtesy of Aaron Coe, The Cutting Corporation. ![]() ¼" open reel audiotape on varying reel diameters: 3", 5", and 7".
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