Magnetic Tape Recorder Spectral Purity

Abstract

The data recovery and reduction processes of various telemetering systems have clearly demonstrated the critical role of flutter and time errors in instrumentation recording and reproduction. One of the effects of these errors is that of "frequency smearing" of individual recorded/reproduced sine wave components. The advent of precision tape speed servo control has reduced these errors to a point where a detailed examination of the residual effect becomes both possible and profitable. The detailed measurements of the resultant spectrum of a recorded/reproduced sine wave component are described. These are quantitatively analyzed and interpreted in terms of the flutter and time error characteristics of the recording/reproduction system.