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{{Short description|Audio recording medium}}
⚫
The '''Dictabelt''',<ref>{{cite book|last=Morton|first=David|title=Off the Record: The Technology and Culture of Sound Recording in America|year=2000|publisher=Rutgers University Press|isbn=0-8135-2747-3}}</ref> in early years and much less commonly also called a '''Memobelt''', is an [[Analog recording|analog audio recording]] medium commercially<!--was in use by the military at least as early as 1945--> introduced by the [[United States|American]] [[Dictaphone]] company in 1947. Having been intended for [[Dictation machine|recording dictation]] and other speech for later transcription, it is a [[write once read many|write-once-read-many]] medium consisting of a {{convert|5|mil|adj=on}} thick transparent [[polyvinyl chloride|vinyl]] plastic belt {{convert|3.5|in}} wide and {{convert|12|in}} around.<ref>{{cite web|last=Curator |first=Museum |url=http://www.obsoletemedia.org/dictabelt/ |title=Dictabelt (1947 – 1980) &#124; Museum Of Obsolete Media |website=Obsoletemedia.org |date=2013-04-30 |accessdate=2017-07-20}}</ref> The belt is loaded onto a pair of metal cylinders, put under tension, then rotated like a [[tank tread]].<ref>http://www.archeophone.org/dictabelt/windex.php</ref> It is inscribed with an audio-signal-modulated [[helix|helical]] groove by a [[stylus]] which is slowly moved across the rotating belt. Unlike the stylus of a record cutter, the Dictabelt stylus is blunt and in recording mode it simply impresses a groove into the plastic rather than engraving it and throwing off a thread of waste material.<ref>http://www.poppyrecords.co.uk/ADM001/S09.htm</ref>
{{Infobox storage medium
| name = Dictabelt
| logo =
| image = Dictabelt MbcFN-120924-145403-s.jpg
| caption =
| type = Grooved belt
| encoding = Analog groove modulation
| capacity = 15 minutes
| read =
| write =
| owner = [[Dictaphone]]
| use = [[Dictation (exercise)|Dictation]], audio storage
| dimensions =
| released = 1947
| discontinued = {{circa|1980}}
}}


⚫
The '''Dictabelt''',<ref>{{cite book|last=Morton|first=David|title=Off the Record: The Technology and Culture of Sound Recording in America|year=2000|publisher=Rutgers University Press|isbn=0-8135-2747-3}}</ref> in early years and much less commonly also called a '''Memobelt''', is an [[Analog recording|analog audio recording]] medium commercially<!--was in use by the military at least as early as 1945--> introduced by the [[United States|American]] [[Dictaphone]] company in 1947. Having been intended for [[Dictation machine|recording dictation]] and other speech for later transcription, it is a [[write once read many|write-once-read-many]] medium consisting of a {{convert|5|mil|adj=on}} thick transparent [[polyvinyl chloride|vinyl]] (according to a 1960s [[Dictaphone]] user manual: [[cellulose acetate butyrate]]) plastic belt {{convert|3.5|in}} wide and {{convert|12|in}} around.<ref>{{cite web|last=Curator |first=Museum |url=http://www.obsoletemedia.org/dictabelt/ |title=Dictabelt (1947 – 1980) &#124; Museum Of Obsolete Media |website=Obsoletemedia.org |date=2013-04-30 |access-date=2017-07-20}}</ref> The belt is loaded onto a pair of metal cylinders, put under tension, then rotated like a [[tank tread]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.archeophone.org/dictabelt/windex.php|title = Dec. 2014 - March 2016 - the digitization of the Rivonia trial dictabelts with the Archeophone phonograph}}</ref> It is inscribed with an audio-signal-modulated [[helix|helical]] groove by a [[stylus]] which is slowly moved across the rotating belt. Unlike the stylus of a record cutter, the Dictabelt stylus is blunt and in recording mode it simply impresses a groove into the plastic rather than engraving it and throwing off a thread of waste material.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.poppyrecords.co.uk/ADM001/S09.htm|title = POPPY RECORDS Dictabelt Transcription services}}</ref> The Dictabelt system was popular, and by 1952, made up 90% of Dictaphone's sales.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Morton |first1=David |title=Off the Record: The Technology and Culture of Sound Recording in America |year=2000 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |url=https://archive.org/details/offrecordtechnol00mort|url-access=registration |quote=dictabelt. }}</ref>
⚫
Dictabelts were more convenient and provide better audio quality than the reusable [[Phonograph cylinder|wax cylinders]] they replaced. The belts can be folded for storage and will fit into an ordinary letter-size envelope. However, the plastic loses flexibility as it ages. If a belt is stored sharply folded for a long time, it will become permanently creased and unplayable without special treatment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.poppyrecords.co.uk/other/Dictabelts/dictabelts.htm |title=Dictabelts |website=Poppyrecords.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2017-07-20}}</ref> Dictabelts were red until 1964, blue from 1964 to 1975, then purple until they were discontinued around 1980. Each has a capacity of about 15 minutes at the standard speed. At least one Dictaphone model featured a half-speed, low-fidelity 30-minute option.


⚫
Dictabelts were more convenient and provide better audio quality than the reusable [[Phonograph cylinder|wax cylinders]] they replaced. The belts can be folded for storage and will fit into an ordinary letter-size envelope. However, the plastic loses flexibility as it ages. If a belt is stored sharply folded for a long time, it will become permanently creased and unplayable without special treatment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.poppyrecords.co.uk/other/Dictabelts/dictabelts.htm |title=Dictabelts |website=Poppyrecords.co.uk |access-date=2017-07-20}}</ref> Dictabelts were red until 1964, blue from 1964 to 1975, then purple until they were discontinued around 1980. Each has a capacity of about 15 minutes at the standard speed. At least one Dictaphone model featured a half-speed, low-fidelity 30-minute option.
⚫
In the 1960s, [[Virginia]] required that all of [[Virginia Circuit Court|its circuit courts]] be outfitted with Dictabelt machines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dictabeltrerecord.com/about.htm |title=about |publisher=Dictabelt Rerecord |date= |accessdate=2017-07-20}}</ref>

⚫
In the 1960s, [[Virginia]] required that all of [[Virginia Circuit Court|its circuit courts]] be outfitted with Dictabelt machines.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dictabeltrerecord.com/about.htm |title=about |publisher=Dictabelt Rerecord |access-date=2017-07-20 |archive-date=2017-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213191317/http://www.dictabeltrerecord.com/about.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>


Along with a [[Gray Audograph]] sound recorder, a Dictabelt recorded the police department radio channels in Dallas, Texas, during the [[John F. Kennedy assassination]].
Along with a [[Gray Audograph]] sound recorder, a Dictabelt recorded the police department radio channels in Dallas, Texas, during the [[John F. Kennedy assassination]].
These recordings were reviewed by the [[United States House Select Committee on Assassinations]].
These recordings were reviewed by the [[United States House Select Committee on Assassinations]] (HSCA).


==See also==
==See also==
Line 15: Line 33:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.recording-history.org/HTML/dicta_biz6.php Image] - ''History of the Dictation Equipment'' Industry [dead link]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160826223132/http://www.recording-history.org/HTML/dicta_biz6.php Image] - ''History of the Dictation Equipment'' Industry (archived)
*[http://creativepro.com/scanning-around-gene-funny-doesn-t-sound-me/ Funny, That Doesn’t Sound Like Me] - Article with several images
*[http://creativepro.com/scanning-around-gene-funny-doesn-t-sound-me/ Funny, That Doesn’t Sound Like Me] - Article with several images
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb0yENdMQeI Vintage Tech: Dictaphone Dictabelt 800 Record Cutter], ''databits'' via YouTube, uploaded on 2 July 2016
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb0yENdMQeI Vintage Tech: Dictaphone Dictabelt 800 Record Cutter], ''databits'' via YouTube, uploaded on 2 July 2016 <!--3800 views -->
* [https://tay.rhp.mybluehost.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2005-Dictabelts-Lutz-Yerly.pdf Studies of Mechanical Recording Media with 3D Surface Profiling Methods: Data Collection and Analysis]


{{Audio format}}
{{Audio format}}
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[[Category:1947 in technology]]
[[Category:1947 in technology]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 1947]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 1947]]



{{Product-stub}}
{{Product-stub}}

Latest revision as of 16:39, 1 June 2024

Dictabelt
Media typeGrooved belt
EncodingAnalog groove modulation
Capacity15 minutes
Developed byDictaphone
UsageDictation, audio storage
Released1947
Discontinuedc. 1980

The Dictabelt,[1] in early years and much less commonly also called a Memobelt, is an analog audio recording medium commercially introduced by the American Dictaphone company in 1947. Having been intended for recording dictation and other speech for later transcription, it is a write-once-read-many medium consisting of a 5-mil (0.13 mm) thick transparent vinyl (according to a 1960s Dictaphone user manual: cellulose acetate butyrate) plastic belt 3.5 inches (89 mm) wide and 12 inches (300 mm) around.[2] The belt is loaded onto a pair of metal cylinders, put under tension, then rotated like a tank tread.[3] It is inscribed with an audio-signal-modulated helical groove by a stylus which is slowly moved across the rotating belt. Unlike the stylus of a record cutter, the Dictabelt stylus is blunt and in recording mode it simply impresses a groove into the plastic rather than engraving it and throwing off a thread of waste material.[4] The Dictabelt system was popular, and by 1952, made up 90% of Dictaphone's sales.[5]

Dictabelts were more convenient and provide better audio quality than the reusable wax cylinders they replaced. The belts can be folded for storage and will fit into an ordinary letter-size envelope. However, the plastic loses flexibility as it ages. If a belt is stored sharply folded for a long time, it will become permanently creased and unplayable without special treatment.[6] Dictabelts were red until 1964, blue from 1964 to 1975, then purple until they were discontinued around 1980. Each has a capacity of about 15 minutes at the standard speed. At least one Dictaphone model featured a half-speed, low-fidelity 30-minute option.

In the 1960s, Virginia required that all of its circuit courts be outfitted with Dictabelt machines.[7]

Along with a Gray Audograph sound recorder, a Dictabelt recorded the police department radio channels in Dallas, Texas, during the John F. Kennedy assassination. These recordings were reviewed by the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA).

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Morton, David (2000). Off the Record: The Technology and Culture of Sound Recording in America. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 0-8135-2747-3.
  2. ^ Curator, Museum (2013-04-30). "Dictabelt (1947 – 1980) | Museum Of Obsolete Media". Obsoletemedia.org. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  3. ^ "Dec. 2014 - March 2016 - the digitization of the Rivonia trial dictabelts with the Archeophone phonograph".
  4. ^ "POPPY RECORDS Dictabelt Transcription services".
  5. ^ Morton, David (2000). Off the Record: The Technology and Culture of Sound Recording in America. Rutgers University Press. dictabelt.
  6. ^ "Dictabelts". Poppyrecords.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  7. ^ "about". Dictabelt Rerecord. Archived from the original on 2017-12-13. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
[edit]


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