Quantum Audio STT2401A Manuel D’Utilisation

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Introduction 
Chapter 1 
Seagate Travan 40 Product Manual 
Page 3 
 
 
Figure 3 
Sample ATAPI configurations 
Minicartridge technology overview 
Having evolved from the original mass-storage medium—reel-to-reel, one-half-inch 
tape storage—the minicartridge technology of today offers fast, efficient, high-
capacity storage in a compact, easily-removable hard-shell package. In little more 
than a decade, storage capacities have increased from some 60 megabytes 
(Mbytes) on 9 tracks (QIC-24, 1982) to the 40-Gbyte (compressed) capacity 
achievable with a single Travan 40 cartridge. 
The streaming-tape intelligence in the Travan drive provides a continuous tape 
motion with an uninterrupted, precisely coordinated flow of data to and from the 
minicartridge. This "streaming" motion combined with the "serpentine" recording 
method is one element that contributes to the increased storage capacities, 
efficiency, and speed of today's minicartridge technology. 
Use of the "serpentine" recording method exploits the bi-directional capabilities of the 
cartridge. With this method, the tape is not rewound at the end of a track. Instead, 
the write-read heads are logically or mechanically switched to a different position on 
the tape and another track is written or read in the reverse direction. That is, the 
drive first records track 1 in one direction and when the end of the tape is reached, 
the head is moved and the direction of tape motion is reversed to record track 2. 
This serpentine process continues until the entire tape is recorded. The individual 
tracks are sequential to minimize the amount of head motion as the heads change 
position for each track.