tape transport

7.2

Part inside a tape player that moves the tape so sound is played or recorded

noun
/teɪp ˈtrænspɔrt/

Archaic

: mecanismo de transporte de cinta

My career on multi-track tape transports was not for video use; they were for instrumentation, audio, and some RF.

Examples

The tape transport in the recorder ensures smooth playback of the audio.
To repair the issue, we had to examine the tape transport mechanism of the player.
A malfunction in the tape transport can lead to distorted sound quality.

Synonyms

transport

vstape transport

Specialized

5 8.2

The parts in a tape recorder that move magnetic tape across the heads

is the same mechanism but expressed with a more specific name mentioning the tape

Surface Forms

tape transport singular

tape transports plural

Morphology

tape + transport

The noun is a straightforward compound of 'tape' (the magnetic/plastic strip) and 'transport' (a mechanism that moves something), so its meaning — the mechanism that advances or moves the tape — is directly derivable from the constituents. This follows a common, productive compounding pattern in English (and similar constructions in other languages), so a B1 learner who knows the two words can readily infer the meaning even if the term is technical.

Etymology

Tape transport names the part of a tape player that moves the tape. Imagine small wheels and rollers pulling the long tape past the player 'heads' so the sound is read. So, tape transport means the mechanism that moves the tape inside a recorder.