| Media type | Magnetic tape cartridgeendless loop |
|---|---|
| Encoding | Stereoanalog signal |
| Capacity | 2 × 30 min @1+7⁄8 IPS |
| Read mechanism | stereotape head |
| Write mechanism | prerecorded only |
| Developed by | Pioneer, HIPAC Council |
| Dimensions | 70 × 85 × 12 mm |
| Weight | ~ 50 g |
| Usage | portable and mobile audio playback devices |
| Extended from | PlayTape |
| Released | August 1971; 53 years ago (1971-08) |
| Discontinued | Mid-1970s |
HiPac (stylized asHIPAC) (pronounced ashigh-pack), is an audiotape cartridge format, introduced in August 1971 on the Japanese consumer market byPioneer[1] and discontinued in 1973 due to lack of demand. In 1972 it only achieved a market share of 3% in equipping new cars.[2] In the mid 1970s, the format was repurposed as a children's educational toy called ポンキー (Ponkey) and was used in theanalog tape delay "Melos Echo Chamber".
HiPac is a successor of thePlayTape cartridge, which had been licensed byTokyo Shibaura Electric around 1970, and had similar dimensions of 70 mm × 85 mm × 12 mm (2.76 in × 3.35 in × 0.47 in), which is closer toCompact Cassette than othercartridges containing an endless loop tape. Depending on tape length, the weight of each cartridge is about 50 g (1.8 oz) and used the wider four-trackmagnetic tape of the compact cassette with 3.81 mm (0.150 in) The four audio tracks are separated into two stereo programs. The second program is recorded in the same direction as the first, unlike the Compact Cassette.[3]
There are two specified tape speeds: 60 minutes at1+7⁄8ips or ~4.8 cm/s, and 30 minutes at3+3⁄4 ips or ~9.5 cm/s.[1] The tape speed is detected automatically by a notch in the cartridge's case. The slower of these tape speeds is identical to the Compact Cassette.[4]
In addition to Pioneer, the following companies participated.[4]