| Media | Form Factor | Capacity (GB) | Tape Length | Recording Tracks | Recording Technology | Theoretical Transfer Rates (MB/sec) | ||
| Native | Compressed | Feet | Metres | |||||
| Open Reel Magnetic Tape | ||||||||
| One Inch Open Reel Magnetic Tape | ||||||||
| 21-track 1200ft, 356bpi | One Inch Open Reel Tape | 0.005 | NA | 1200 | 366 | 21 | Linear - One Direction | |
| 21-track 2400ft, 356bpi | 0.010 | 2400 | 732 | |||||
| 21-track 1200ft, 712bpi | 0.010 | 1200 | 366 | |||||
| 21-track 2400ft, 712bpi | 0.021 | 2400 | 732 | |||||
| 36-track | 36 | |||||||
| Half Inch Open Reel Magnetic Tape | ||||||||
| 7-track (600,1200, 2400ft / 200, 556, 800bpi) | Half Inch Open Reel Tape | NA | 7 | Linear - One Direction | ||||
| 14-track | NA | 14 | ||||||
| IBM 3420 Half Inch Open Reel Magnetic Tape | ||||||||
| 9-track 600ft, 800bpi | Half Inch Open Reel Tape | 0.006 | NA | 600 | 183 | 9 | Linear - One Direction | 1.25 |
| 9-track 1200ft, 800bpi | 0.012 | 1200 | 366 | |||||
| 9-track 2400ft, 800bpi | 0.023 | 2400 | 732 | |||||
| 9-track 3000ft, 6250bpi | 0.029 | 3000 | 915 | |||||
| 9-track 3600ft, 800bpi | 0.046 | 3600 | 1098 | |||||
| 9-track 600ft, 1600bpi | 0.012 | 600 | 183 | |||||
| 9-track 1200ft, 1600bpi | 0.023 | 1200 | 366 | |||||
| 9-track 2400ft, 1600bpi | 0.046 | 2400 | 732 | |||||
| 9-track 3000ft, 6250bpi | 0.058 | 3000 | 915 | |||||
| 9-track 3600ft, 1600bpi | 0.092 | 3600 | 1098 | |||||
| 9-track 600ft, 6250bpi | 0.045 | 600 | 183 | |||||
| 9-track 1200ft, 6250bpi | 0.090 | 1200 | 366 | |||||
| 9-track 2400ft, 6250bpi | 0.180 | 2400 | 732 | |||||
| 9-track 3000ft, 6250bpi | 0.225 | 3000 | 915 | |||||
| 9-track 3600ft, 6250bpi | 0.270 | 3600 | 1098 | |||||
| Square Tape Cartridge | ||||||||
| IBM 3480 SL | 1/2 Inch Square Tape Cartridge | 0.200 | NA | 580 | 177 | 18 | Linear - One Direction | 3 |
| IBM 3480 XL | 0.250 | 660 | 201 | |||||
| IBM 3490 | 0.400 | 807 | 246 | 36 | 4.5 | |||
| IBM 3490E | 0.800 | 1100 | 335 | |||||
| IBM 3490E XL | 0.850 | 1165 | 355 | |||||
| IBM 3490E MAX | 1 | 1350 | 412 | |||||
| StorageTek 9490 (TimberLine) | 1.6 | 6 | ||||||
| IBM 3570 (Magstar Coyote) | 5 | 128 | Linear - Serpentine | 2.2 | ||||
| IBM 3570C (Magstar Coyote) | 5 | 7 | ||||||
| IBM 3570C XL (Magstar Coyote) | 7 | |||||||
| IBM 3590 (Magstar) | 10 | 1050 | 320 | 128 | 9 | |||
| 20 | 2100 | 640 | ||||||
| IBM 3590E (Extended Magstar) | 20 | 1050 | 320 | 256 | 14 | |||
| 40 | 2100 | 640 | ||||||
| StorageTek 9840 (Eagle) | 20 | 2200 | 671 | 288 | Linear - Serpentine | 10 | ||
| StorageTek D3 (Redwood) | 10 | 298 | 91 | 288 | Helical Scan | 11 | ||
| 25 | 668 | 204 | ||||||
| 50 | 1286 | 392 | ||||||
| StorageTek 9940A | 60 | 240 | 2300 | 701 | 288 | Linear - Serpentine | 10 | |
| StorageTek 9940B | 200 | 400 | ||||||
| Video Cassette Technology | ||||||||
| Sony D1 | D1 Cartridge | Helical Scan | ||||||
| Ampex D2 | D2 Cartridge | 25 | NA | NA | Helical Scan | 15 | ||
| 75 | ||||||||
| 150 | ||||||||
| Mountaingate / Metrum | VHS Cartridge | |||||||
| 8mm D8 / Video Cassettes | ||||||||
| Exabyte 8200 | 8mm Cassette | 2.5 | NA | 367 | 112 | NA | Helical Scan | 0.246 |
| Exabyte 8205 | 2.5 | |||||||