Frames And Channels

For more information recording, the tape is divided into vertical columns called ‘frames’ and horizontal rows called  ‘channels’ or ‘tracks’. In every frame one character is recorded by using one of the binary computer coding method (BCD, EBCDIC, ASCII etc.). Older tapes have seven tracks for use of 6-bit BCD code format plus the parity bit. Modern magnetic tapes have nine tracks where 8-bit EBCDIC code format is uded for better recording. Additional 1-bit is used for parity checking.