On 18/12/2010 12:36, Keith G wrote:

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
Keith G wrote:

Just don't buy it on magnetic tape or the silence will 'print through'
from the next layer of tape down if it is stored long enough!

Not a problem with digital tape. ;-)

Is that so? I wouldn't have thought it would be any different to analogue...??

In principle, it isn't. The magnetic signal can be degraded by being reduced
in amplitude, whether in analogue or digital.

But the digital effect would not be to turn down the volume (as with analogue
tape). It would be manifested as a perfect signal until the degradation
reached a certain point, when the signal would become incoherent. Just as
happens with a TV aerial being used to recieve and transfer digital
transmission into a digital TV. Or like with a CD with a fingerprint of
strawberry jam on it.