Servo Technology of R-DAT

The CTL tracking method is usually employed in VTRs etc.. in order to make the CTL tracking possible, the CTL signal synchronizing with reference signal is recorded on the tape and, during playback, the tracking servo works to maintain a constant phase between the drum revolution and the CTL signal. The CTL therefore, requires a stationary head to record or read the CTL signal, which opposes to simplify the mechanism. Furthermore, the manual tracking control is necessary, as the mechanical factors (for example, X-value, head mounting accuracy, and so on) introduce tracking error.