Method and apparatus for manufacturing magnetic recording medium

A method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium comprising the steps of:

• a. forming at least one magnetic layer containing magnetic powder particles on a web-like non-magnetic support
• b. transporting the non-magnetic support in a transport direction;
• and,
• c. applying a magnetic field to the magnetic layer by a plurality of magnets wherein the field has two components with a first component of the field being in a plane that is perpendicular to a surface of the magnetic layer and a second component of the field being in a plane that is parallel to the transport direction in which the strength of the magnetic field in the transport direction is controlled between a coercive force of magnetic powder particles in the non-magnetic support and approximately 100000 Oe, wherein an electric current for each of the plurality of magnets of the second component of the field is controlled to a fixed value respectively before applying the magnetic field to the non-magnetic support such that an angle of the magnetic field with respect to the transport direction only gradually increases by controlling electrical current supplied to the solenoid coils as the non-magnetic support is transported in the transport direction, thereby orienting the magnetic powder particles in an oblique direction with respect to the surface of the magnetic layer.