Recording image data compressed signals on magnetic media

The information content of a television image is highly redundant. Exploiting this redundancy by image data compression allows the recording of these television signals on a digital VTR whose data rate is chosen to provide optimum performance and is less than the input image data rate. Almost transparent results can be achieved when a sophisticated compression scheme and mild compression ratios are used. The recorder data channel differs from the conventional digital VTR channel significantly in order to process the signal in which the image redundancy has been removed without any defects. Powerful forward error correction is employed. The tape media used requires special attention during the manufacturing process to eliminate the causes of surface debris that could produce momentary head clogs that may possibly exceed the error correction range. Automatic systems are used to ensure perfect insert editing under all environmental and interchange conditions