Consumer Electronics

TAPE SPEEDS

Several different tape speeds are used in the studio. Most of the work is done at 15 ips (inches per second) because this speed allows all audio-frequencies at full level without saturating the tape and produces a good signal-to-noise ratio. In addition, this speed spreads out the recording signals far enough apart for easy editing.

Consumer hi-fi tape machines move tape at 7½ ips in order to save tape. As a result most ¼ -inch studio recorders operate at both 15 and 7 ½ ips so that copies can be made for clients at the proper speed. The 7½ ips produces too much of a compromise in signal quality for use in recording multitrack master tapes, so 30 ips is sometimes available as a second speed. Recording at 30 ips produces a signal-to-noise ...