Steel tape recorders

guid0 · 24th July 2008

The 3-track recorder thread got me interested in reading about the history of analog tape recording and during my little googlefest I stumbled upon this in a wikipedia article:

On Christmas day 1932 the British Broadcasting Corporation first used a tape recorder for their broadcasts. The device used was a Marconi-Stille recorder, a huge tape machine which used steel razor tape 3 mm wide and 0.08 mm thick. In order to reproduce the higher audio frequencies it was necessary to run the tape at a 90 metres per minute past the recording and reproducing heads. This meant that the length of tape required for a half-hour programme was nearly 3 kilometres and a full reel weighed 25 kg. For safety reasons these machines would only be operated in a locked room by remote control. Due to the tape's speed, springiness and razor-like sharp edges, if the tape broke while in operation, it could unspool, fly off and cause serious injury. Besides this, the methods of recording could lead to massive data loss and poor audio quality because of their nature.

Imagine being the tape-op.

Now that's dedication to your profession!

Sigma · 24th July 2008

a take off on the paulson wire recorder?

24th July 2008	#1
guid0 Gear maniac Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 291 Thread Starter	Steel tape recorders The 3-track recorder thread got me interested in reading about the history of analog tape recording and during my little googlefest I stumbled upon this in a wikipedia article: On Christmas day 1932 the British Broadcasting Corporation first used a tape recorder for their broadcasts. The device used was a Marconi-Stille recorder, a huge tape machine which used steel razor tape 3 mm wide and 0.08 mm thick. In order to reproduce the higher audio frequencies it was necessary to run the tape at a 90 metres per minute past the recording and reproducing heads. This meant that the length of tape required for a half-hour programme was nearly 3 kilometres and a full reel weighed 25 kg. For safety reasons these machines would only be operated in a locked room by remote control. Due to the tape's speed, springiness and razor-like sharp edges, if the tape broke while in operation, it could unspool, fly off and cause serious injury. Besides this, the methods of recording could lead to massive data loss and poor audio quality because of their nature. Imagine being the tape-op. Now that's dedication to your profession! __________________ When in doubt, yodel.

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24th July 2008	#2
Sigma Lives for gear Joined: May 2006 Location: phallicdelphia Posts: 4,618	a take off on the paulson wire recorder?