It may depend on how old the tape is. If it's very old then it might just mean that they've recorded bits and pieces.
--
Also, Anahata, good samples do what you say i.e. record each note. Less good ones record only a few and then modify those to fill in the gaps. Not usually a problem but it can lead to rather odd timbres at the extremities of each sample's modifications, and a distinct and noticable change from the highest note of one sample to the lowest note of the next one. Oh, goodness: I wish I hadn't started this. What I mean is the they may record C2, C3 and C4 and use C2 to cover G1 to F#2; C3 to cover G2 to F#3; and C4 to cover G3 to F#4. You may well notice the change in timbre from F#3 to G3, those notes being based on the oppostite extremes of two different samples.
--
Still much loved early sampling was the basis of the Mellotron. A separate tape loop for each note. And they were real tapes. Hence the odd wow and flutter which the aging tapes and the dodgy drives would introduce.