Computer Fundamentals Index

Computer Introduction Types of computer Characteristics of computer Uses of computer History of Computers

Computer Languages

Low Level language Middle level Language High level language

Computer Generation

Generation of Computers First Generation of Computer Second generation of Computers Third generation of Computers Fourth generation of Computers Fifth generation of Computers Sixth Generation of Computer

Peripheral Devices

Input devices Output device

Components

Block diagram and basic components Control processing unit (CPU) Software Hardware

Memory

Computer Memory Registers Memory Hierarchy RAM Vs ROM Understanding file sizes (Bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB, PB, EB, ZB, YB)

Computer Network

Types of Network Types of Area Networks (LAN, WAN, MAN) TCP Flags

Computer Virus

Computer Virus

Computer Ports

Computer Ports

How

How to hack a computer How much do Computer Programmers make How does a Computer work How to associate a file with a program How does a computer convert text into binary How does a computer process data into information How to fix a CD-ROM DVD How to fix the no input signal How to install computer memory How to associate a file with a program How to log out of your operating system How do I change my name on Google How to installation or uninstallation Microsoft Paint How to fix a not a valid Win32 application error How to fix missing Microsoft Windows .dll files How to use a computer keyboard How to erase my hard drive and start over How can I test how many words I can write a minute How to shut down a computer How do I open and edit the Windows registry How to edit the registry from the command line How to restart Microsoft Windows How to install a computer processor How to open Microsoft Paint How to fix problems in Windows after installing new software How to enable or disable the preview pane of Microsoft Outlook How to open a Microsoft .wps or Works file in Word How to view the HTML source code in Microsoft Word How to View or Change the Screen Resolution of a Monitor How to Connect and Install a Computer Keyboard How to Delete Temporary Files in Windows 10 How to determine Which Version of Microsoft Office I'm using How to find out how much hard drive space is available How to Fix PC Stuck on Verifying DMI Pool Data How to choose which items show in the notification area How to find similar images using Search by Image How to fix Low Memory and out of memory errors How To Replace the CMOS Battery How do I Update my Antivirus Program How to fix a general protection fault How to Identify problems in the Windows Device Manager How can the Base be Shown How to test if a Website or Web Page is down How Much is 1 Byte, Kilobyte, Megabyte, Gigabyte, etc How to fix a CMOS checksum error How to Fix a Windows CD-ROM, DVD, or Disc Drive Issue How to Open Safe Mode How to Password Protect Files and Folders in Windows How to Reset CMOS or BIOS Settings How to use Computer Keyboard How to create a text file How to enable or disable DHCP in Windows How to test computer memory to determine if its bad How do double space or change line spacing in Microsoft Word How do I know if I have Windows Administrator Rights How many cores does my computer have How to Create a Directory or Folder How to Enter and Exit the BIOS or CMOS Setup How to change Windows Compatibility mode How to clear your internet browser history How to Connect Computer Speakers How to Copy a Web Page Link or URL How to install a Hard Drive or SSD How to Open the Windows Control Panel How to split a screen in Windows How to copy text from a scanned PDF

Questions

Who invented Computer What are the advantages of the Internet? What are the disadvantages of the Internet? Is my computer 64 bit? What is Edge Computing? What is a Router? What is Monitor What is Printer What is a Web Browser What is Microphone What is a Webcam What is PC What is Keyboard What is Motherboard What is WAP What is URL What is a Digital Assistant When was the first Computer Invented What is Modem What is Firmware What is Imperative Programming What is Protocol What is Safe Mode What is Device Driver What is Hybrid Topology What is Mesh Topology What is Procedural language What is a hyperlink What is a Username Who invented the Internet What is Video Card What is Sound Card What is Binary What does Alt+B do What does Alt+D do What does Alt+E do What does Alt+Esc do What does Alt+R do What does ALT + Q do What does Alt + Tab do What is Data Manipulation What is a touch screen What is Back Panel What is Analog Monitor What is AR lens What is an ATX Style Connector What is a File System What is Hard Disk Drive (HDD) What is a boot device What is accessibility What is Line In What is network Interface card (NIC) What is Optical Disk Where can I ask questions on the internet What is Auto Rotate What is CAD (Computer-aided design) What is Cable Modem What is Home Page What is boot menu What is braille reader What is flash memory What is Windows What is Clipboard What is Cyber Warfare What is Myspace Why has my IP address changed What is Jacquard Loom My computer is running slow, what steps can I do to fix it What is a Kensington Lock What is a multicore processor What is automation Are smartphones and tablets computers What is a Login Script What is a Loosely Typed Language What is Multitasking? Why my computer monitor shows no display or black screen What is REM What is Parallelization What is Overtype mode What is open with What is Bracket What is an Online Service What is REM What is Parallelization What is Overtype mode What is open with What is Bracket What is an Online Service What is the Pg Dn Key (Page Down Key) What is the Pg up Key (Page up Key) What is Palmtop Computer What is a Processing Device What is a Print Preview What is the Print Screen Key What can I do if my computer or laptop is lost or stolen What is a Model Number What are the currently available antivirus programs What are Toggle keys What is a Case fan What is a Silicon Chip What is a Slate PC What is a TAB stop What is an Octothorpe What is Task Pane What is Task View What is the svchost.exe file used for in Windows Where can I find free online virus scanners Why am I unable to increase the resolution in Windows What is Autofill When I click my mouse, it sometimes double-clicks What is Scratch What is UDIMM What is MsConfig What is an Expansion Card What is an Executable File What is an Elevated Command Prompt What is an AC Adapter What is AIMBOT What is a Software Suite What is a LED Monitor What does Alt + X do What does alt + space do What does Alt + O do Now that I’ve got a Computer, what can i do What is a Punch Card What is RDIMM What is Select All What is Serial number What is Thermos flask What programs can I use for speech recognition What are the Advantages of Computers What are the Disadvantages of Computers What does Alt + T do What Hardware Device Drivers should be Updated What is a Desktop What is a Ring Topology What is CMOS What is a Directory What is a Mechanical Mouse What is a Plotter What is a Variable What is an Icon What is Data What is HDMI What is Remote What is Right-Click What is SMPS Why does my Laptop not turn on What is a Copyright What is a Cordless Mouse What is a CSV file What is a Joystick What is a Start Button What is a Taskbar What is an Alignment What is an Output Device What is Cat 5 What is Google Chrome What is Post What are Recordable DVD Drives What Does Alt + F4 Do What Does Alt + L Do What is a bit (Binary Digit) What is a cable What is a Calculator What is a capacitor What is a Cold Boot What is a Dialog Box What is a Dual-boot What is a Slide What is A4 What is AM What is Barcode Reader What is EHCI What is a Header What is a Joystick What is a Secondary Storage Device What is Access Time What is Account Sharing What is an Asterisk What is Asynchronous DRAM What is Back Quote What is BIOS What is Borderless Printing What is Case Badge What is CD-ROM What is Chat Slang What is Composite What is RJ Cable What Are Bottom Row Keys What is SAN What is Tray What is VDU What Does Alt + M Do What Does Alt + P Do What is a Cell What is a Command Key What is a key Combination What is a Menu Bar What is a Startup What is a T What is Chat What are the F1 through F12 keys What does Alt + Enter do What Does Alt + Home DO What does Alt + R do What does Ctrl + B do What Does Ctrl + Enter Do What Does Ctrl + R Do What does Ctrl + G do What does Ctrl + 9 do What does Ctrl + End do What does Ctrl + O do What Does Ctrl + P do What Does Ctrl + Q do What is a Colon What is a Core What is Apple Touch Icon What is Clock What is Code What is Computer Crime What is Ctrl What is DAT What is Data diddling What is Date Why won't my computer turn on What Does Alt + N Do What does ctrl + 2 do What does ctrl + space do What does Ctrl + W do What does Ctrl + T Do What Does Ctrl + 2 do What does Ctrl + 5 Do What are the most common file types and file extensions What are Sticky keys What Does Ctrl + Shift + Esc Do What is Settings What is Task Manager What is Taskbar What is a DNS Resolver What does ctrl + 1 do What does ctrl + 0 do How to install software What is a Folder What is a Legend What is a MAC Address What is a Path What is a Ruler What is a Toolbar What is an Intranet Meaning and Differences with Internet What is an SSD What is Inheritance What is Tablet What is Depth What is Docking Station What is Double Click What is a Solid Ink Printer What is a Temporary File What is Backup and Restore What is Electronic Payment Systems Eps What is Marshalling

Difference

Difference between hardware and software Difference between multiprocessor and distributed systems Difference between Desktop and Laptop Difference between File and folder Difference between Hard Copy and Soft Copy Open Source Programs vs Closed Source Programs Difference between Optical Fibre and Coaxial Cable Difference between Website and Webpage Difference between Classes and Objects Input VS Output Difference between Primary and Secondary Storage with Examples

Misc

Quantum Computing Computer Software Autoexec.bat and config.sys info Update an Antivirus Use of Internet Advantages and disadvantages of Email Computing Power Internet Explorer Shortcut Keys Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) Augmented Reality Infrastructure Readiness Check Top 10 Internet tips and tricks Introduction and Features of FoxPro Features of Multimedia Top 10 online services and applications Receiving S.M.A.R.T. status bad backup and replacing error Version Control System Uninstalling Software or Apps in Windows Data Warehouse Increase or decrease font size in Word using keyboard shortcuts Mouse not detected or working in Windows Computer Cleaning Information and Steps Function Keys on Keyboard Windows 7 Alt+Tab won’t stay on top or stick 10 Essential Examples of Web Browsers Binary Subtraction using 2’s Complement Case Sensitive Languages Computer Pioneers and people who are CEO Microsoft Word Shortcut Keys Parts of Computers Names, Definitions and Images ROM and its Types Basics of Information Technology Characteristics of a Good Software Design Characteristics of Management Information System Classification of Management Information System Implementation of MIS Input Devices of Computer Definition Limitations of Management Information System 3 Types Of Network in Computer Block Diagram Of Control Unit Difference Between Computer and Embedded System Difference Between Hard Disk and Floppy Disk Abstraction in OOAD Hardware and Software Devices Optomechanical Mouse CMOS Memory What is a Terminal? What is Graphic Design? What is Load? What is Passcode? What is Reboot? What is Registry? What is Safe Mode? What is Standby? What is SYN (Synchronize)? What is Task Manager? Attribute Computing BPS in Computer Bulletin Board System Light Pen Input Device 3 TYPES OF NETWORK IN COMPUTER Block diagram of control unit What is a Solid Ink Printer? What is a Temporary File? What is an App launcher? What is Backup and Restore? What is a Tab Character? What is the Core i3? What is Paint? What is a Workbook? Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Education What is a String? What is a VDU (Visible Display Unit)? 50 Uses of Computer What is Workspace? What is a Procedural Language? What is VGA (Video Graphics Array)?

What is DAT?

Digital Audio Tape (DAT) was introduced by the Japanese company Sony as a professional digital recording format for audio in 1987. It was designed to offer high-quality digital recording sound in a compact and portable form. It significantly improved over the analog tape formats commonly used for audio recording at the time.

What is DAT

Analog tapes, such as the cassette and reel-to-reel formats, suffered from limitations such as noise, distortion, and degradation of the signal over time. Digital recording, on the other hand, offered a much cleaner and more accurate representation of the audio signal. It also offered several advantages over other digital audio formats available at the time, such as CD-quality audio and digital audio tape recorders used in studios. DAT tapes were portable and relatively affordable compared to bulky and expensive studio equipment.

The introduction of DAT significantly impacted the professional audio industry, providing a new level of sound quality and convenience for recording and archiving audio. However, the format faced challenges, including concerns over copyright infringement and piracy, as DAT recorders could make perfect digital copies of audio recordings. Additionally, the high cost of DAT recorders and tapes limited their adoption by the general public for personal use.

Composition of Digital Audio Tape (DAT)

  • Base Film: The base film of a DAT tape is made of a thin layer of polyester or polypropylene. It provides a stable platform for the other layers and ensures that the tape moves smoothly through the recording and playback mechanisms of the DAT recorder.
  • Magnetic Coating: The magnetic coating is a thin layer of magnetic particles evenly spread across the surface of the base film. The magnetic coating is responsible for recording and storing digital audio signals in a highly precise and accurate manner.
  • Lubricant: A thin layer of oil is applied to the magnetic coating to reduce friction and wear on the tape during playback and recording. It helps to extend the life of the video and ensure that it maintains its performance over time.
  • Back coating: Back coating is a thin layer of material applied to the back of the tape. It helps reduce static electricity and ensures the video moves smoothly through the recorder.
  • Protective Layer: A protective layer is applied to the surface of the tape to protect it from damage and wear. This layer is usually made of a thin carbon or diamond-like material layer.
  • Cassette Housing: The DAT tape is housed in a plastic cassette that protects the tape from dust, debris, and other contaminants. The cassette also includes mechanisms for controlling the movement of the video during recording and playback.

History of Digital Audio Tape (DAT)

The history of Digital Audio Tape (DAT) began in the late 1970s when Sony started developing the technology as a successor to the analog cassette tape format. Sony's goal was to create a portable digital recording system that could offer the same level of quality as the studio-quality digital recording equipment of the time. After several years of research and development, Sony introduced the first DAT recorder, the PCM-1600, in 1982.

However, it was not until 1987 that Sony released the first commercial DAT recorder, the PCM-501ES. The PCM-501ES was a professional-grade recorder that offered high-quality digital recording capabilities in a portable package. Other DAT recorders followed it, including Tascam, Panasonic, and Fostex models. DAT became popular as a high-quality and convenient digital recording format in the professional audio industry. It was used for recording and archiving a wide range of audio, including music, sound effects, and voice-over recordings for films and television. However, DAT faced several challenges, including copyright infringement and piracy concerns. The format could make perfect digital copies of audio recordings, leading to concerns among copyright holders about the potential for unauthorized duplication and distribution. 

Uses of Digital Audio Tape (DAT)

Digital Audio Tape (DAT) was primarily used in the professional audio industry as a high-quality digital recording format. Some of the main uses of DAT include:

  • Music Recording: DAT was widely used in the music industry for recording high-quality digital audio. It recorded music, including studio albums, live performances, and demos.
  • Sound Effects and Foley Recording: DAT was also commonly used in the film and television industry for recording sound effects and foley (i.e., sound effects created by Foley artists). The high-quality digital recording capabilities of DAT made it well-suited for capturing detailed sound effects and ambient noise.
  • Voice-Over Recording: DAT was also used for recording voice-over narration for films, television shows, and commercials. Its high-quality recording capabilities made it a popular choice for voice-over work requiring clarity and precision.
  • Archival Purposes: DAT was also used for archival purposes, as it offered a compact and reliable digital storage format for audio recordings. Many archives and libraries still hold DAT tapes as part of their audio collections.

Advantages of Digital Audio Tape (DAT)

Digital Audio Tape (DAT) offers several advantages over analog recording formats. Some of the key benefits of DAT include the following:

  1. High-Quality Sound: DAT offered high-quality digital recording capabilities that were superior to the sound quality of analog tape formats. The digital recording process eliminated many inherent noise and distortion problems associated with analog tape recording, resulting in a cleaner, more accurate audio signal.
  2. Durability: DAT tapes were durable and long lasting, making them well-suited for archival purposes. They were less prone to degradation and damage over time than analog tape formats, and the protective cassette housing helped to protect the tape from dust, debris, and other contaminants.
  3. Compact Size: DAT tapes were small and compact, making them convenient for storage and transportation. They were much smaller than analog tape formats, and the cassette housing made them easy to handle and load into recording equipment.
  4. Editability: DAT offered a high degree of editability, making it easy to edit and manipulate digital audio recordings. This was particularly useful in the professional audio industry, where precise editing and post-production work was required.
  5. High Capacity: DAT tapes had a high recording capacity, with videos ranging from 30 to 180 minutes. This made them well-suited for recording longer audio programs, such as live concerts or extended studio sessions.

Disadvantages of Digital Audio Tape (DAT)

While Digital Audio Tape (DAT) offered several advantages over analog tape formats, it also had some disadvantages that limited its adoption and use. Some of the key weaknesses of DAT include the following:

  1. High Cost: DAT recorders and tapes were initially very expensive, which limited their adoption by smaller studios and individual musicians. Even after the cost of DAT equipment came down, DAT tapes remained relatively high, making them an expensive recording format.
  2. Copy Protection: DAT could make perfect digital copies of audio recordings, which raised concerns about copyright infringement and piracy. In response, DAT recorders were equipped with copy protection mechanisms that limited the ability to make digital copies, but this also made it more difficult to use for legitimate purposes.
  3. Limited Capacity: While DAT tapes had a high recording capacity compared to analog tape formats, they had a limited overall power compared to newer digital recording technologies like hard disk recorders. This made them less well-suited for recording longer audio programs, such as full-length albums or extended live performances.
  4. Limited Compatibility: DAT tapes required specialized playback equipment, which limited their compatibility with other audio equipment. This made using DAT tapes with other recording or playback equipment difficult, which could limit their overall usefulness.
  5. Fragility: DAT tapes were more durable than analog tape formats but were still susceptible to damage and degradation. It was particularly true if the tapes were exposed to maximum temperatures or humidity, which could cause the video to deteriorate and lose quality over time.