Audio Tape Transfers

We can transfer many different audio cassette formats to digital, including: Compact Cassette, Digital Audio Tape (DAT), Digital Compact Cassette (DCC) and MiniDisc (MD). We can also transfer 1/4 inch open reel (reel to reel) tapes, in all track layouts and speeds. (See below for a full list of the tape formats that we cover.)

We use top-notch vintage analogue equipment to play your tapes and the very latest digital hardware and software to ensure that your tapes are accurately and faithfully captured as high resolution digital audio files. (See below for a full equipment list.)

Most customers today prefer transfers to digital audio files rather than standard audio CDs, as these files are usually easier to play, share and edit. We recommend either MP3 or FLAC format files.

We can also produce digital audio files in many other formats on request, so just let us know which format you'd like. We can of course still provide standard audio CDs for customers who prefer this format.

If your tapes are being transferred to digital audio files, these can be delivered to you on a USB flash drive or hard drive and they can also be made available for download via Dropbox for your convenience.

Tape Formats

The following is a summary of the audio tape formats we can transfer.

Analogue cassettes

• Compact Cassette (Dolby B/C/S)
• Micro Cassette
• Mini Cassette

Digital cassettes

• Digital Audio Tape (DAT) (16-bit; 32/44.1/48 kHz)
• Digital Compact Cassette (DCC) (18-bit; 32/44.1/48 kHz)
• MiniDisc (MD) (SP/SP MONO/MDLP LP2/MDLP LP4)

Open reel (reel to reel) tapes

• 1/4 inch full-track (mono)
• 1/4 inch half-track (stereo)
• 1/4 inch quarter-track (stereo)

Notes

• Open reel tapes in all track layouts can be captured at 1.875, 3.75, 7.5 and 15 ips (inches per second).
• DBX type I/II noise reduction is available for all analogue formats.

Additional Services

We offer a number of additional services when transferring audio tapes. There may be additional charges for these services depending on the complexity of the work involved, although we always try to be flexible. We would always discuss any additional charges with you before starting the work.

Custom Editing

Our standard charges for audio transfers include the transfer from tape, removal of blank sections from the beginning and end of the transferred audio and conversion to your preferred digital format. A single tape (or a single side of a tape) would normally result in a single digital audio file or a CD containing a single track.

If you require the transferred audio to be split into separate tracks (in the case of a tape containing music, for example) or edited in any other way, we are happy to accommodate this. This may be particularly desirable if, for example, you've asked us to create a standard audio CD and you'd like the CD to be split into separate tracks in the same way as a commercial CD.

Just let us know how you'd like the transferred audio to be arranged and we'll do the rest. We'll always confirm the final arrangement with you to make sure you it matches your requirements.

Audio Restoration

When transferring an analogue audio tape, we always use the appropriate noise reduction system (if any), such as Dolby B, when playing the tape. This usually goes a long way towards reducing the amount of hiss and other unwanted noise from the tape. We identify the noise reduction system that was used when the recording was made using information supplied by you or with a listening test.

For some tapes, however, this may not be enough. For these tapes, we offer a restoration service to correct a number of problems, for example, removing clicks, crackles and hum and improving equalization and stereo balance. We use state of the art software (including iZotope RX 7 and Steinberg WaveLab 9.5) to perform this service and we can often significantly improve the quality and listenability of the audio.

We'll give you an honest assessment of your tapes beforehand though and if we don't think we can improve them, we'll let you know.

Tape Repairs

Damaged or broken tapes can usually be temporarily repaired to allow the material on the tape to be transferred. In the case of a broken or faulty cassette shell, we would normally put the tape into a different shell for the purpose of the transfer, but the tape would be returned to its original shell before being returned to you. Permanent repairs are sometimes possible too: please contact us for more information.

Charges

Our charges for audio tape transfers are based on the number of tapes and the length of useful material on each tape.

The charge for each tape includes the transfer from tape, removal of blank sections from the transferred material (as well as any other essential editing) and conversion to your preferred digital format. We charge the same for all audio tape formats.

We always transfer the entire length of the tape to ensure that we don't miss anything, but we remove the blank sections at the beginning and end before working out how much to charge for a particular tape.

We can copy your digital audio files to a USB flash drive or hard drive supplied by you, or we can supply a branded USB flash drive if required for an additional charge.

There is a small additional charge for copies on CD. CDs are finished with a printed label and supplied in a slimline jewel case. The maximum length of audio that can normally be copied onto the CDs we use is approximately 80 minutes, so tapes longer than this will need to be split across more than one CD.

If you want your audio tapes returned to you afterwards (which we recommend), there will be an additional postage charge for this, which will obviously depend on the size and weight of the package. We use Royal Mail tracked services. If you don't want your tapes to be returned, we'll happily dispose of them for you free of charge.

Summary of Charges

Equipment List

The following is a summary of the equipment we use to play and digitally record audio tapes.

Analogue cassettes

• NAKAMICHI CR-7E (Dolby B/C; adjustable playback azimuth)
• TECHNICS RS-B965 (Dolby B/C, DBX type II)
• YAMAHA KX-580SE (Dolby B/C/S)
• PHILIPS 398 (mini-cassette)
• SANYO RD-XM1 (micro-cassette) (Dolby B)
• OLYMPUS S922 (micro-cassette)

Digital cassettes

• PHILIPS DCC 730 (DCC)
• TASCAM CD-MD1 MKIII (MD)
• TASCAM DA-20 MKII (DAT)
• TASCAM DA-30 MKII (DAT)

Open reel tapes

• REVOX B77 MKII (high speed; half-track)
• REVOX B77 MKII (low speed; quarter-track)

Noise reduction

• DBX 150X (2-channel DBX type I) x 4
• DBX 222 (2-channel DBX type II)
• TASCAM DX-4D (4-channel DBX type I)

Digital interfaces & recorders

• MOTU 2048 MK3 (8-channel digital interface)
• MOTU 24IO (24-channel digital interface)
• TASCAM DR110MKIII (digital recorder)

Monitoring

• ALESIS M1 Active MK3 (active studio monitor) x 2
• MACKIE Big Knob Studio (monitor controller & digital interface)
• BEYERDYNAMIC DT770 PRO (headphones)

Software

• IZOTOPE RX 7
• STEINBERG WaveLab 9.5