Apparatus uniquely identifies material recorded on an example of a recording medium. The medium has distinguishing data, a tape ID, distinguishing that example from other examples thereof recorded thereon. A generator generates data, e.g. IN and OUT time codes, identifying the or each piece of material recorded on the medium. A recorder (460) records the said distinguishing data on the medium. A reproducer (460) reproduces, from the recording medium, the distinguishing data. A processor, a PDA (469) associates the reproduced distinguishing data and the said identifying data with a unique identifier, a UMID, for the or each piece of material. A database (464) associates the unique identifier with metadata relating to the material.