AIT Care and Handling

Proper Care and Handling of Sony AIT Tape
(from Sony Tech Port Article)

Sony’s AIT (Advanced Intelligent Tape) format is intelligently engineered using Advanced Metal Evaporated (AME) media. AME media delivers 100% pure cobalt using a patented process for depositing a pure metal magnetic layer directly on the base film without adhesive or binders. The media surface is protected by a Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) Coating, a smooth coating that is nearly as hard as diamond and 20 times harder than metal oxides. The benefit is maximum reliability and life.

To maximize the longevity of your AIT media, it is advised that you follow the guidelines below for proper care, handling and storage conditions.

Clean Environment
Avoid contaminants, such as dust, moisture, smoke, fingerprints, etc., by using and storing the cartridge in a clean environment.

Cool, Stable Temperature
Store the cartridge at a cool, stable temperature between 41-90 oF (5-32 oC). For long term storage, it is recommended to store at 62.6 - 73.4 oF (17- 23 oC). Extreme changes in temperature, even within the recommended range, should be avoided whenever possible. Do not store the AIT cartridge in direct sunlight or
near equipment that will produce excessive heat.

Low Humidity
Store the cartridge at a relative humidity of 20-60%. The relative humidity for operating conditions is 20-80%.
However, wet bulb must be less than 78.8 oF (26 oC).

Avoid Magnetic Fields
Keep the cartridge away from magnetic fields, such as bulk erasers, speakers, electric motors, or any other magnetic sources. To be precise, magnetic fields should be less than 4000 A/m.

Avoid Physical Shock
Be careful not to drop the cartridge. If the cartridge has been exposed to physical shock, such as being dropped, be sure to carefully examine it prior to use. Look for broken pieces and shake it to see if you hear pieces rattling inside. If the cartridge appears to be damaged, do not insert it into the drive.

Store Upright and In Case
Store the cartridge in its vertical, upright position, either on its side or end, and always keep the cartridge in its protective case when it is not in use.

Use Appropriate Labels
Only use labels designed for AIT cartridges, place them only where they belong on the cartridge, and don’t layer new labels over old labels. Improperly placed labels can interfere with cartridge loading or can peel off inside the recording mechanism.

Don’t Touch the Media
Do not open the tape access door on the cartridge and do not touch the tape media with your fingers or other objects.

Protect the Memory-In-Cassette Surface
Do not handle the Memory-In-Cassette (MIC) surface. Keep it clean by protecting it from dust, stains, fingerprints, and water drops or other liquids. If the surface should become dusty, stained, or wet, gently wipe it off with a soft, dry cloth.

Tape Retensioning
Retensioning an AIT cartridge is not required, however it is recommended if the cartridge has not been used for over 3 years.