This International Standard is applicable to the use of a 16-bit track pair to record 24-bit data words per channel. A requirement for media storing digital audio data with words wider than 16 bits has arisen in the market, influenced by the availability of A/D converters with resolutions higher than 16 bits, and the introduction of digital mixing consoles incorporating signal processing with higher resolution than 16 bits. Digital multitrack tapes, with their enormous data storage capacity, are an ideal medium for such an implementation. The method described herein is also applicable to any other medium with a minimum of two tracks.