reel-to-reel tape

Reel-to-reel tape is an analog audio recording system using large magnetic tapes wound on two reels. Audio signals are transformed into magnetic patterns on the tape as it passes through a tape deck, which includes a recording and playback head. During recording, the head magnetizes the tape in patterns corresponding to sound; during replay, it detects these magnetic variations to reproduce audio. Used primarily from the 1950s to the 1980s, reel-to-reel offered high-fidelity sound quality suitable for professional studios and advanced home audio setups. Its design emphasizes durability, sound clarity, and unlimited re-recording capability.