Abstract: An optical tape duplicator is disclosed for making multiple copies of recorded optical tape by continuous contact recording. An information-bearing master tape held in intimate contact with an optical tape are passed through a recording zone exposed to a beam of radiant energy for recording information stored by the master tape to the optical tape. The master tape contains transmissive and non-transmissive portions that represent the information stored by the master tape. The optical tape is sensitive to the beam of radiant energy. The beam of radiant energy passes through the transmissive portions of the master tape while making contact with the optical tape in the recording zone, causing information stored by the master tape to be recorded by the optical tape as indicia where the optical tape was exposed to the beam of radiant energy.