The 3M Technical Data Sheets

These sheets came to us through the kind notice of 3M's William Lund, who was concerned that this "mountain of information" would be unavailable to future engineers. Even though 3M discontinued manufacturing magnetic recording tape on November 14, 1995, Bill felt that this data would be invaluable to those dealing with archival recordings, and to those who wanted to know more about magnetic media.

In their original form, the data sheets were printed and distributed in the normal course of 3M's tape business. Bill had them scanned as an archival precaution, and had the resulting content converted to MS Word for MAC documents. He transmitted them to EUonline as email attachments, and we have taken those Word documents and converted them once again, this time into HTML, and organized them by subject for your convenience.

We have kept the content faithful to the original electronic documents, including matching the font to a Web equivalent. Where necessary, paragraphs have been broken to improve Web readability, and diagrams and illustrations enhanced for intelligibility.

Due to the large number of topics, the conversion to HTML, the proofreading and posting to EUonline is expected to take a number of months in 1998. We have listed all the sheets in our possession here, and as they become available as an HTML file, you will see them listed as a hyperlink. Those topics not underlined as a hyperlink are still awaiting conversion.

Del Eilers (daeilers@mmm.com) and Bill Lund (wflund@mmm.com) are technical service engineers at 3M, and welcome your emailed comments.

**Diagnostic / Operating Procedure Papers**
*Magnetic Tape Recording: Forever?*	Why magnetic recordings deteriorate, and suggested ways to preserve them.
*Tape Recorder Electrical Alignment in 5 Easy Steps*	The electrical alignment of an analog tape recorder can be a confusing task, but it need not be...
*Choosing the Right Operating Level-To Change or Not to Change*	Deciding what operating level to use, let alone understanding the different options of operating level, can be confusing and frustrating. This bulletin should take some of the confusion out of operating level terms and out of choosing what level to use.
*Magnetic Tape Erasure:The Sound of Silence*	This sheet is intended to promote understanding of the erasure process and why erasure is a fundamental step in achieving high-quality recordings.
CD Recordable (CD R) Care and Handling Technical Bulletin	"To maintain the integrity of the [CD-R] disc and and the data stored on the disc, please use the following care and handling guidelines."
3M Audio Mastering Tapes Recording Time (one direction)	A useful table listing the recording times for tapes of various thickness, given a footage amount of tape on a reel of a particular size.
*magnetic tape...Understanding the "PRINT-THROUGH" Phenomenon*	This paper by 3M's Marty Eggerss describes what print-through is, how it is measured, and steps to minimize it.
Analog Audio Mastering Tape Print-Through Technical Bulletin A011194	An illustrated tech bulletin describing print-though and recommended storage practices.
Analog Audio Mastering Tape 2" Tape Mistracking Tech Advisory A020894	Older, wide width analog recorders occasionally have a problem with tape mistracking. The tape will climb between the capstan and pinch roller causing severe output variations on all tracks and major problems with the edge track where the tape will buckle on the tape guides.
Sony PCM 3324 Recorder Insert Errors Technical Advisory	On older models of Sony PCM digital audio recorder (3324 and 3324A versions) high errors sometimes occur in the insert mode. This behavior is often attributed to tape, but 3M has often found that the tape is fine. Plus solution
275LE Digital Audio tape on Nagra D recorders Technical Advisory	There has been some concern about RF waveform quality on the Nagra D recorder while using 3M 275LE Digital Audio Tape. Plus solution
Shipment of U-Matic 1630 Masters Technical Advisory	Some studios who ship 1630/1610 U-Matic digital masters tails out have observed that cassettes occasionally arrive at the CD plant unable to rewind and play. Plus Solution
*Temperature and Humidity Recommendations for VTR Facilities*	A guide to SMPTE recommended practices for video tape handling and care.
*The Day After Magnetic Tape Storage*	A guide for preparing stored video tapes for playback and recovery.
*Setting up and using 3M 393 and 395 Magnetic Film in Your Facility*	Late in 1991, a new set of products derived from the newer oxide technologies was introduced to the film community. This paper illustrates the modifications to Magnetech machines required to use the 393 and 395 tape stock.
*3M Audio Reference Guide*	A September, 1993 guide to the 3M audio tape product line, including packaging and "sell points".

*186 Low Noise Magnetic Tape 7.5ips*	*3M 226 Audio Mastering Tape*	*226/227 Studio Mastering Tape 7.5ips*
*226/227 Studio Mastering Tape 15ips*	*250 Studio Mastering Tape 15ips*	*275 LE Digital Audio Mastering Tape*
*808/809 Low Print Magnetic Tape 15ips*	New Low Print Mastering Tape...3M 908 3M Internal Correspondence	*908 Audio Mastering Tape*
*908 Speech/Effects Mastering Tape 15/7.5ips*	*3M 966 Audio Mastering Tape*	986 Audio Mastering Tape (Formerly 3M 966)
*3M 996 Audio Mastering Tape-15ips*

*Professional DAT Digital Audio Tape*	*SX Studio master Audio Cassettes*	*ASD Audio S-VHS Digital Cassettes*
*AHD Audio Hi8 Digital Cassettes*	*AUD^{^TM} 3/4" Digital Audio Cassette*	*AVX Professional Cassettes*
*AVX/I RC Audio Cassettes*

*337 Magnetic Film*	*338 Magnetic Film*	*340/341 Magnetic Film*
*350/351 Magnetic Film*	*3M 393/395 Magnetic Film*

3M Audio and Video Accessories Overview leader, splicing, film splicing, hold down tape, wiping fabric, head cleaning, dispensers, boxes, and reels	*No. 610 Professional Wiping Fabric*	*No. 41A General Purpose Splicing Tape*
No. 67 Professional General Purpose Splicing Tape	No. 70 Professional Audio and Video High Performance Splicing Tape	*No. 620 Professional Splicing Tape*
No. 8175 Professional Digital Audio Splicing Tape