The longitudinal vibration of the tape in the tape transport system influences the performance of the nagnetic tape-recording system. Generally it is controlled by a passive method with impedance roller which is easy to implement and cost-effective. Therefore the effect of the impedance roller in reducing the tape vibration was analyzed in this paper. The practical tape transport system was modelled mathematically as a mass-spring system. Both simulation and experimental study were carried out in order to show the vibration reduction effect of the impedance roller.