Editing Tape recorder (section)

===Tape recording at the BBC===
[[File:BTR2 1961-11-12.jpg|thumb|EMI BTR2 machines in a BBC recording room, 12 November 1961.]]
[[File:Studer1969.jpg|thumb|Early model Studer professional tape recorder, 1969]]
The [[BBC]] acquired some Magnetophon machines in 1946 on an experimental basis, and they were used in the early stages of the new [[Third Programme]] to record and play back performances of operas from Germany. Delivery of tape was preferred as live relays over landlines were unreliable in the immediate post-war period. These machines were used until 1952, though most of the work continued to be done using the established media.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

In 1948, a new British model became available from EMI: the BTR1. Though in many ways clumsy, its quality was good, and as it wasn't possible to obtain any more Magnetophons it was an obvious choice.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

In the early 1950s, the EMI BTR 2 became available; a much-improved machine and generally liked. The machines were responsive, could run up to speed quite quickly, had light-touch operating buttons, forward-facing heads (The BTR 1s had rear-facing heads which made editing difficult), and were quick and easy to do fine editing. It became the standard in recording rooms for many years and was in use until the end of the 1960s.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

In 1963, [[the Beatles]] were allowed to enhance their recordings at the BBC by overdubbing. The BBC didn't have any multi-track equipment; Overdubbing was accomplished by copying onto another tape.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

The tape speed was eventually standardized at 15&nbsp;[[Inch per second|ips]] for almost all work at Broadcasting House, and at 15&nbsp;ips for music and 7½&nbsp;ips for speech at Bush House.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

Broadcasting House also used the EMI TR90 and a Philips machine which was lightweight but very easy and quick to use. Bush House used several Leevers-Rich models.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

The Studer range of machines had become the studio recording industry standard by the 1970s, gradually replacing the aging BTR2s in recording rooms and studios. By the mid-2000s tape was pretty well out of use and had been replaced by digital playout<ref>[http://rfwilmut.net/broadcast/recording8.html Web page about digital playout]</ref> systems.<ref>Information in this section from 'BBC Engineering 1922-1972' by Edward Pawley, p387ff and 488ff plus personal experience.</ref>