Recording head

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 such as magnetic tape. Record heads are constructed of laminated permalloy, ferrite, or sendust. As of 2006, this is 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. Image:D6-VTR-Scanner.jpg | [[D6 HDTV VTR]] Scanner and video head, removed Image:D6-VTR-Tape Deck-inside.jpg | Inside a D6 HDTV VTR Tape Deck, VTR Scanner and video head in place. Image:Bcn-scanner-head.jpg|[[Type B videotape]] video Scanner Head Image:BCN-20-VTR-CLOSEUP.jpg|Type B VTR, BCN 20 Tape Desk and video Scanner Image:Ampex-quad-video-head.jpg|[[Quadruplex videotape]] Ampex AVR-2 Video Head Image:Sony U-Matic VO-5850 Video head - slip-ring flying head pickup with dust cover.JPG | [[Sony]] U-Matic Video head Image:Ampex recorder internals.jpg |[[Ampex]] audio recorder Image:VHS diagram.svg | [[VHS]] heads Image:NAGRA--TYPE3---PL-GR.jpg |[[Nagra]] audio heads: erase, record and play Image:SONY_UVW-1400P_Betacam_SP_video_heads_01.