Abstract: An improved magnetic tape test article includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart test sections. Some of the test sections are repeated to facilitate recorder tests under different tape wrap conditions. One of the tests is a compound test enabling several simultaneous measurements of several parameters of the recorder. The tests are particularly adaptable for helical scan digital signal recorders. The tests measure parameters such as head to medium spacing, tracking (skew, servo offset and the like), readback circuit performance, including clocking, phase tolerances, error detection and correction operations, response to dropouts, resynchronization response and amplitude tolerances. Profile of the spacing between the record medium and the head is measured over the length of the recorded path around the cylindrical mandrel.