Analog simulation of magnetic tape saturation in reel to reel tape recorders

Would a ring core interstage transformer simulate this, being effectively 2 heads touching each other at the air gap.


The interstage transformer can be arranged to be driven at constant current rather than voltage by the high out impedance of an electron tube or JFET (it's output in series with a resistor). Usually a series high KΩ résistance is added in series even on vacuum tubes.


The head or (interstage transformer in our case) plays the role of the Pleiades filter. As frequency rises so does the voltage across it as the voltage drop from the driver stage is continuously reduced by the impedance of the inductor increasing (progressively less short circuit).


So there would be at high levels magnetic saturation at all frequencies. Not only at low frequencies as when using ordinary high inductance input transformers for microphones for example.


And the beauty is that the next amplification stage after magnetic saturation would have to high cut anyway (for flat frequency responce) or integrate.


This high cut rounds off the clipped high peaks. See also interviews on how Mile Oldfield produces his guitar sound or description of Orban analog FM processors and patents.


Is this one main reason why vinyl records and analog tape recording sound so nice?


Would an interstage transformer made for example with a Magnetec Nanoperm core simulate analog magnetic tape recording running at 60ips?


The beauty of analog simulation is that it runs in real time at the speed of light. Nature itself does the computing.


Or rather is.