Dds Backup Tape Standard

The standard of DAT (digital audio tape) was developed in 1987 and it offered digital sound of up to 3 hours on single data tape. This technology used the rotating heads (helical scan) which was same as that utilized in the VCR (video cassette recorder). DDS was based on the standard of digital audio tape and it also utilized the similar mechanism and technology. The design of the tape cartridge is similar but the tape formulations are different. The error correction of digital audio tape has 2 levels known as C-1 and C-2. On the other hand the DDS tape format has another third level of error correction C-3. This third level recovers the errors that are much severe for the digital audio tape (DAT). Error correction C-1 and C-2 perform their function at track while the third level C-3 works over track group.

The capacity has reached threshold of 20 GB in the DDS-4 backup tape format. Media of DDS4 follows familiar data tape model with increased tape length and more advanced formulation of MP-media. Output of the metal particle MP+++ formulation is also on the higher side and was designed for supporting the higher DDS-4 tape format’s track densities. Need arose to formulate tape media having the ability to generate superior output signals as the track pitch was reduced. So improvements and advancements were made in several areas of DDS4 data tape media besides its MP formulation as its media thickness was also lowered to 5.9µm. This made possible to increase the length of the DDS-4 tape reel to 150m from its previous tape length of 125m.

The tape of DDS4 was made thinner but it was essential that the rigidity and strength of the tape should be same as that of its previous DDS tape media had. Its durability was also increased so that it could tolerate the higher speed of the rotational drums that are essential for the increased data speed. The conflicting needs were resolved by the back coating the tape media layers and by enhancements in base film. The base film was made smoother for resolving issues of signal dropout and noise modulation in helical scan as its speeds of head to tape is very high. Its base film is also very tough and therefore it can bear the high speed editing & searching.

Modulation noise is reduced and the ratio of signal to noise is also enhanced in the base film of DDS-4 backup tape format. Tough base film of DDS-4 limits the contraction and expansion of the data tape in extreme temperatures (both very low and high). Smooth tape surface and back coating lowers the noise, maximizes the efficiency and achieves higher friction coefficient. Back-coating of DDS4 data media is specifically designed for helping the DDS data tape in achieving ideal friction that perfectly fulfills the conditions with DDS data tape drive. Back coating of DDS-4 media is very conductive in nature and it protects the tape from the errors, dropouts and prevents electric charges from attracting dust.

DAT-72 tape media is based on the foundation technology of previous media format of DDS for achieving 36 GB native recording capacity. Metal particle formulation (MP++++) is used in the DAT72 tape media. The recording capacity of DAT-72 tape format is almost 80 percent more than the DDS4 technology because of the advancements in four major areas. These areas of advancements are the increased 170m tape length, increased density of tracks, advancement in the recording density and increasing it to 162 KBpi from 122 KBpi, and higher transitioning of MP formulation’s output. 

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