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A recording head is the physical interface between a recording apparatus and a moving recording medium. Recording heads are generally classified according to the physical principle that allows them to impress their data upon their medium. A recording head is often mechanically paired with a playback head, which, though proximal to, is often discrete from the record head.
The two most common forms of recording head are:
- Magnetic - Magnetic recording heads use the principles of electromagnetism to coerce a paramagnetic recording medium, such as iron oxides, to orient in a readable manner. Record heads are constructed of laminated permalloy, ferrite, or sendust. As of 2006 this is by far the most dominant type of head in use.
- Optical - Optical recording heads use the principles of optics and light to impart energy on a recording medium, which accepts the energy in a readable manner, e.g. by melting or photography.
Note that Magneto-optical recording, though using optics and heat, should properly be considered a magnetic process, since the data stored on magneto-optical media is stored magnetically.
Earlier systems, such as phonograph records, used mechanical heads known as styli to physically cut grooves in the recording medium, in a configuration (of size, width, depth and position) recoverable as sound.
See also
External links
- Diagrams and explainations of recording heads and the tape recording process.
- An Ampex recording head, deconstructed.
- A tape recorder, showing the head assemblies.
- Photo of an early recording head as part of a wire recorder.
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 21 June 2008, at 02:40.
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