Stick slip

A description of various processes of friction between magnetic tape and tape heads.

Stick slip may occur when:

1. The tape sticks to the recording head because of high friction

2. The tape tension builds because the tape is not moving at the head

3. The tape tension reaches a critical level, causing the tape to release from and briefly slip past the read head at high speed

4. The tape slows to normal speed and once again sticks to the recording head

5. This process is repeated indefinitely. Characterised by jittery movement of the tape in the transport and/or audible squealing of the tape.