Ferric describes the magnetic coating formulation used on standard audio tapes, historically known as IEC Type I or Normal position tapes. The active material consists of gamma ferric oxide particles (Fe2O3) suspended in a binder. Being the earliest and most affordable tape technology, ferric tapes are characterized by low coercivity, meaning they are relatively easy to record onto but also more susceptible to high-frequency saturation and self-erasure. While often criticized for having a higher noise floor (tape hiss) compared to later formulations like Chrome or Metal, high-quality ferric tapes are actually prized by some engineers for their excellent distortion characteristics in the low-frequency range and their capability to handle high signal levels in the bass register without breaking up. Standard ferric cassettes utilize a playback equalization time constant of 120 microseconds.