What is Magnetic Tape?
| Magnetic Tape Preservation |
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The preservation of information on magnetic tape has its own set of criteria. For all the sophisticated technology and electronics that contribute to producing a magnetic recording, the entire process ultimately depends on the magnetic tapes that the information is stored on. Tape-recording technology comprises two independent components, the magnetic media and the recorder. Neither component is designed to last forever. Information recorded on tape can be lost through chemical degradation of the media. Also, access to information on a tape can be lost through format obsolescence and failure to locate a working playback machine. Audio and video collections require specific care and handling to ensure that the recorded information will be preserved. Special storage environments are necessary to ensure that the recorded information is preserved for longer than 10 years. For information that must be preserved indefinitely, periodic transcription from old media to new is necessary, not only because the media are unstable, but also because the recording technology will become obsolete. Film and nonacidic paper can last for centuries with proper care, but magnetic tapes will only last a few decades. As an information storage medium, magnetic tape is not as stable as film or paper. The use of magnetic media for storage is further complicated by the existence of many different formats (due to rapid advances in technology). Each media type has a different tape size, thickness, and tracking or scanning technology unique to that format, whether it is video or audio tape. Tape formulations vary widely and are often specific to a given format. |
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