A Rotary Head High Density Digital Audio Tape Recorder

An exclusive rotary head type digital audio recorder (DAT) for consumer use has been developed. Guard-bandless azimuth digital recording method used in the captioned recorder has achieved the world's highest area recording density of 120 MBPI2 (λ=0.66μ, T.P= llμ). As a result, the experiment system enables recording of 2 CH 16-bit PCM signal at 44.1 kHz sampling frequency at a tape speed of 6 mm/s, using a 3.81 mm wide tape. The size of the cassette has been reduced to half the size of compact cassettes, while enabling three hours of continucus reccrding/playback. Simultaneously, the small drum (ϕ30) and 90°wrap mechanism have realized quick access at 200 times normal speed and simplified compact-size.