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Journal Article

Tape Flux Measurement Revisited

Authors: McKnight, John G.; Cortez, Benito E.; McKnight, Jeffrey A.

Journal of the Audio Engineering Society · Volume 46 · Issue 10 · pp. 845–858 · October 1998

Abstract

Analog magnetic recording standards specify the recorded signal magnitude in terms of short-circuit flux per unit track width, called fluxivity. Two flux measurement methods are standardized: a direct ac method using a high-efficiency head (AES7/ANSI S4.6) and a transfer-to-dc method using a fluxmeter (German standard DIN 45 520). A transfer-to-dc measurement made in the 1950s is used to calibrate the fluxivity of German calibration tapes. When these tapes are measured by the direct ac method, the fluxivity is 10% less than the stated value. Thus the 1950s German transfer-to-dc measurement was 10% more sensitive than the direct ac measurement. A new comparison of the two measurement methods shows that they actually have the same sensitivity; the experimental error of our measurements is about ±1%. Thus we conclude that the German measurement in the 1950s must have had a 10% error, and that the fluxivity on all of the calibration tapes based on the old German measurement is 10% less than the stated value'tapes identified as 320 nWb/m are actually 288 nWb/m.

Details

Publication
Journal of the Audio Engineering Society
Volume
46
Issue
10
Pages
845–858
Publication date
October 6, 1998
Affiliation
Magnetic Reference Laboratory, Mountain View, CA (See document for exact affiliation information.)
Type
Journal Article