Ampex 351 - Page 30

BASIC CONCEPTS OF
MAGNETIC TAPE RECORDING
FOREWORD
,A"i i
GENERAL
1
Let it be understood to start with that you are not
going to be bored by the long, drawn out. discussion
of the history of magnetic recording which is the
seemingly inevitable preface to any attempts to ex 
plain the basic theory of this process. But it seems
pertinent to point out that the first patent on a mag 
netic recording device was issued some 60 years ago.
and it was originally anticipated that its main use
would be in the telephone and telegraph industries.
So magnetic sound is not a recent innovation.
It is also interesting to note that probably the
first magnetic recorder to use tape (steel tape, that is)
Typical professional quality recorder/reproducer in
portable case. Ampex Model PR-10-2 fits either a por 
table carrying case or will mount without modification
in a normal 19-inch rack.
Fundamental Theory And Design Considerations For Professional Audio Equipment
Copyright 1960 by A mpex C orporation
instead of wire as the recording medium was de 
veloped for a motion picture application. About 1920
a British producer named Louis Blattner acquired
patent rights to manufacture magnetic recording
equipment for use in the entertainment field. His
machine, the “ Blattnerphone, ” supplied synchronous
sound for some of the first talking pictures in Eng 
land.
This discussion is intended only as an introduc 
tion to magnetic tape recording, an attempt to ex 
plain the fundamental theory in the simplest pos 
sible terms. As in any such endeavor there will no
doubt be areas which are over-simplified, and in these
instances it is requested that you remember the basic
objective stated above.
Information presented here was obtained from
various sources by the Technical Publication Section
of A mpex P rofessional P roducts C o .. Audio Divi 
sion. Included in the Appendix is a bibliography which
lists the published works used. Other sources utilized
were A mpex Engineering Reports (not available for
general distribution), and personal interviews with
A mpex engineering personnel.