Digital tape drive

Abstract

One aspect of the invention is a digital audio tape (DAT) drive having a plurality of read and write heads. Each of the read and write heads has its own parameters, such as a cut-off frequency and a boost value of a read head, a write current of a write head, etc. The parameters of each head are stored in registers and used when an electrical signal representing digital data is to be written to or read from a magnetic tape is processed. When the electrical signal to be written or to have been read by a specific head is processed, the parameters of the specific head will be provided to an equalizer or a pre-amplifier. In the reading process, because the optimum cut-off frequency and boost value are used for a specific read head, the processed electrical signal more accurately represents the digital data recorded on the magnetic tape. In the writing process, the optimum write current to a specific write head makes the write head generate a sufficient magnetic field to magnetize the write head. Therefore, the reliability of read and write operations of a DAT drive is greatly improved.