Sony NT-2 Operating Instructions Manual page 32

m What is the NT (Non-Tracking) format?
The Non-Tracking format
With the conventional helical scan system of tape tracking, a rotary head must
precisely trace each recorded track of the tape during playback. This tracking
method requires highly precise mechanical components, which makes it
difficult to reduce the size of the recorder.
track
tape
head
tape direction
The head rotates in this direction.
On the other hand, with the NT (Non-Tracking) format, a rotary head is not
required to precisely trace the recorded track during playback. Therefore, the
number of mechanical parts has been reduced. And this makes the compact
size of the recorder possible.
Instead of tracing each track one by one, the rotary head reads several tracks
at a time.
head
a recorded track
data recorded in a track
data picked up at a time
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