The magnetic spacing of both longitudinal and perpendicular Ba-ferrite particulate tapes was evaluated in comparison with that of metal particulate tapes. First, the effective spacing, which is the sum of the magnetic spacing and the transition parameter, was determined by fitting the wavelength response to Wallace's equation. Next, the transition parameter was obtained from a magnetic force microscopy image. Finally, the magnetic spacing was calculated as the difference between the effective spacing and the transition parameter. Both the transition parameter and the magnetic spacing of both longitudinal and perpendicular Ba-ferrite particulate tapes were much smaller than those of metal particulate tapes. These results indicate that Ba-ferrite particulate media have a considerable advantage over metal particulate media in high-density recording.