Why tape?

Gramophone records, the staple format for the distribution of recorded music until the end of the 1940s, had several problems, all of which were related to the accumulation of physical defects; many of which were nigh-on impossible to completely avoid over time or during normal use. We know these all too well as scratches, crackle and distortion. In the early years of the gramophone industry, the actual master recordings themselves were made directly to disc with no tape involved - which naturally limited the number of takes it was possible to perform and made editing impossible - meaning many finished records still contained fluffs because very rarely would a single performance be perfect.

World War II showed Germany to be pioneers in the use of flexible magnetic tape (iron oxide particles applied to a paper base - which was later replaced with acetate for durability) which allowed them to timeshift radio broadcasts and speeches from the Führer! When the allies finally gained control of these facilities, companies were quick to seize upon this new technology as a way to improve the recording process.

For the select few members of the public who took to making recordings to tape, it stood to reason that eventually a demand would grow for record companies to make their product available on the new medium. This would give them an enhanced listening experience with better sound quality, and freedom from the risks of scratching, jumping or sticking.

There are three main types of recorded tape format - those which proved to be commercially viable in the long-term. There are of course some of the more obscure tape formats which disappeared almost as quickly as they were launched. Hopefully though what you will see here will bring back happy memories if you were once a proud collector of these techo-marvels of the time, the only ways in which you could avail yourself of high-quality sound in the days before CDs were heard of.

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The original way of making recording tape - wind it on a reel, put it on a machine, have it spool around from the reel its on, to another reel on the other side. Rewind it back onto the original reel after use!