Sony Storage Support

Occasional use of an AIT Cleaning Cartridge will remove environment dust that collects on the head area of the tape drum. AIT AME tape does not create contamination from tape, unlike the way MP tape media does. However, heads can be contaminated by environmental dust. Thus, occasional head cleaning is recommended for all AIT tape drives (about once every 100 hours of use).

MIC enables access to the tape log and other valuable cartridge data. When an AIT drive is operated with application software that supports R-MIC functionality, R-MIC can help users to access key media volume parameters that are supported by End User application software.

Courtesy of www.aittape.com

Based on media life experiments, it is estimated to be over 30 years, similar to other current tape media.

Courtesy of www.aittape.com

Microsoft Back-Up will only recognize one tape in an autoloader, therefore, you will need a third party software to do a back-up with an autoloader.

Yes, all tapes must be in the magazine in order for the drive to operate properly.

AIT (Advanced Intelligent Tape) is a new intelligent tape technology developed by Sony. It incorporates a new recording format, ALDC compression, MIC (Memory In Cassette) capabilities, and the exclusive use of AME (Advanced Metal Evaporated) media.

AME (Advanced Metal Evaporated) is the tape formulation used by AIT. Key characteristics include a 100% pure cobalt magnetic layer, a dual magnetic layer design, the absence of binder material which prevents tape head contamination, and a DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) protective coating for extreme durability.

MIC (Memory In Cassette) enables much faster file access by using 150 times search mode. It provides for up to 256 tape partitions to enhance file accessibility, off-line cassette contents & history recognition, higher data security using MIC ID, and many more features. It also allows for fast load and unload operation with identification happening in less than 10 seconds.

No. The AIT drive only accepts AIT AME cassette and rejects all other 8mm cassettes. AIT is accepted by 8mm mechanisms, but is permanently write protected. The AIT drive recognizes an AIT AME cassette by ID holes on the cassette.

Memory in Cassette. Data structure and history are stored in captive EEPROM on the cassette. The AIT drive reads the data directly from the EEPROM - not the tape area. In addition to faster access to data (Load/Unload, file Search), there is capability of multiple partitioning with support by application software.