NPR Analog Tape Submission Guidelines

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The majority of transmissions on the public radio satellite system are tape playbacks of one kind or another. To help assure the successful transmission of your program, we’ve developed the following format standards for taped programs.
All uplinks can handle tapes produced according to these standards. Some uplinks can also handle exceptions.

Please Note: We will not be responsible for providing any additional transmissions (makegoods) of taped programs, analog or digital, that do not meet the following standards.

Analog Tapes Configuration Basically NAB Standard. l/4 inch tape, recorded either full-track or half-track for mono programs, and 2 track for stereo programs.

 
Tape Speed 7.5 ips. Most uplinks will also accept 15 ips tapes.

 
Tape Stock: 1.5 mils. 1.0 mils can be used, but is more prone to stretching. Since this is your master tape being transmitted to stations around the country, spending a little extra on high quality tape is well worth it.

 
Reel Size: 10.5 inch NAB large center hole preferred.

 
Sequence The tape itself should be formatted as follows:
  1. The tape as delivered to the uplink should be Heads Out. That way the program can be quickly threaded onto the playback machine.
  2. 30 seconds leader tape. Paper leader is preferred. There’s less static build-up than plastic leader, and some plastic leader is thin enough to cause light activated tape sensors to malfunction.
  3. 10 seconds of tone. Choose a frequency between 700 Hz and 1 kHz at Program Operating Level (“0” on the vu meter). This is used by the uplink to set their tape machine’s playback level.
  4. 15 seconds leader tape. Paper again, thank you.
  5. Your program. The setup tone in #3, above, shall be representative of the average peak level of the audio on your program. This is very important! Otherwise, your program may be transmitted at too high a level (possibly caus-ing distortion), or at too low a level (possibly resulting in excessive hiss when the using station plays back their copy of the program). See the note, above.
  6. 15 seconds leader tape. You guessed it...paper. You should be aware that the uplink has the right to refuse to transmit any program that is not formatted as above. Or, the uplink may charge you extra for handling the program. When in doubt, contact vour uplink.

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