title: Recording head
text: # Recording head
  
  A recording head is the physical interface between a recording apparatus and a moving recording medium. Recording heads are generally classified according to the physical principle that allows them to impress their data upon their medium. A recording head is often mechanically paired with a playback head, which, though proximal to, is often discrete from the record head.
  
  ## Types
  
  The two most common forms of recording head are:
  
  * Magnetic - Magnetic recording heads use the principles of electromagnetism to coerce a paramagnetic recording medium, such as iron oxides, to orient in a readable manner such as magnetic tape. Record heads are constructed of laminated permalloy, ferrite, or sendust. As of 2006, this is the most dominant type of head in use.
  * Optical - Optical recording heads use the principles of optics and light to impart energy on a recording medium, which accepts the energy in a readable manner, e.g. by melting or photography.
  
  Note that Magneto-optical recording, though using optics and heat, should properly be considered a magnetic process, since the data stored on magneto-optical media is stored magnetically.
  
  Earlier systems, such as phonograph records, used mechanical heads known as styli to physically cut grooves in the recording medium, in a configuration (of size, width, depth and position) recoverable as sound.
  
  ## Photo gallery
  
  * D6 HDTV VTR Scanner and video head, removed
  * Inside a D6 HDTV VTR Tape Deck, VTR Scanner and video head in place.
  * Type B videotape video Scanner Head
  * Type B VTR, BCN 20 Tape Desk and video Scanner
  * Quadruplex videotape Ampex AVR-2 Video Head
  * Sony U-Matic Video head
  * Ampex audio recorder
  * VHS heads
  * Nagra audio heads: erase, record and play
  * Exposed head gap due to excessive head-wear. Sony UVW Betacam SP video heads
  