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digital audio tape

sound recording
Also known as: DAT

Quick Summary

Digital audio tape (DAT) is a magnetic tape recording format for storing digital audio signals. Introduced in the late 1980s, DAT recorders convert analog audio signals into digital data, which is then recorded onto a magnetic tape cassette. This digital information can be converted back into analog audio signals for playback through a stereo system.1

Digital sound recording, in general, transforms audio signals into binary digits (0s and 1s). This method offers higher fidelity than analog recording because digital signals are less susceptible to noise and distortion. DAT recorders utilize this technology for both recording and playback.1

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. DAT
  2. digital sound recording

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