audio tape
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audio tape
A long, narrow magnetic tape used for the analog recording and playback of sound (audio). It is usually wound on reels and played on a tape recorder.
Im Archiv fanden sie alte Interviews, die noch auf Tonband aufgenommen waren.
In the archive, they found old interviews that had still been recorded on audio tape.
The word is made up of 'der Ton' (in the sense of audio/sound) and 'das Band' (tape). So it is literally a tape on which sounds are stored.
Die Qualität der alten Tonbänder war erstaunlich gut.
The quality of the old audio tapes was surprisingly good.
When describing that something is recorded, you use the fixed expression 'auf Tonband' (on audio tape). Typical verbs are 'aufnehmen' (to record), 'aufzeichnen' (to record), or 'haben' (to have).
Die Polizei hat das gesamte Geständnis auf Tonband aufgezeichnet.
The police recorded the entire confession on audio tape.
'Tonband' (audio tape) refers to an outdated technology. Today the term is mostly used when talking about the past, archives, or old recordings.
Mein Großvater hörte sich oft Musik von einem alten Tonbandgerät an.
My grandfather often listened to music from an old tape recorder.
