open reel to reel tape

transfer

We can transfer all quarter inch reel to reel to CD or high resolution audio file.

Quality is important to us and a good transfer starts with a good analogue playback machine, clean, demagnetised and calibrated. We use Studer A80 RC, Sony APR 5003 and Tascam BR20  for transfers. All our machines are kept in excellent working condition and regularly calibrated. We own test tapes, tension gauges and test equipment so calibration and repair is easier to achieve.

Tapes are checked for condition, and laced onto an appropriate machine and listened to. Playhead azimuth is always adjusted for the best quality playback. Quite often tapes are sent where the owner has no information about the speed, track format or content. We are happy to view and assess tapes like this.
Tapes are recorded via Benchmark ADC1 external high resolution converters to  RME HDSP audio interfaces into one of our MacOS X based PowerMacs or Linux based audio servers. . At this stage any other editing or digital processing for restoration of the tapes can be performed if necessary.

reel to reel tape formats supported

• We have the correct repro heads for the following track formats:
  • Mono
  • Half track Stereo NAB
  • Half track Stereo DIN
  • Quarter Track mono / stereo
  • 4 track discrete
• We can transfer tapes recorded at the following speeds:
  • 1⅞ inches per second (ips)
  • 3.75 ips
  • 7.5 ips
  • 15 ips
  • 30 ips
• We can decode the following types of noise reduction:
  • Dolby A
  • Dolby B
  • Dolby C
  • dBX

Open reel tape can be quite old and be in poor condition. We can cope with broken, tangled, poorly stored tape and tape exhibiting the signs of ‘sticky shed syndrome‘. Tapes with sticky shed need careful and slow heating, usually referred to as tape baking which we can offer.

costs

As there have been such a variety of tape reel sizes, speeds and tracks formats of the years, we charge by the hour for transfers. Costs can be higher for reel to reel transfers as the tape and transfer process require more time to setup, monitor and supervise. Quite often old splices break due to the splicing tape breaking down which need to be respliced. We often receive reels in a poor condition with a variety of physical problems with a variety of causes:

• poor storage such as mould growth, uneven wind tension or poor tape pack
• age and tape chemistry such as as loss of lubricant, ‘sticky shed syndrome‘ or broken, dried out splices
• poor handling or damage such as twisted, broken, crinkled or stretched tape and sometimes bags of tape unwound!

These types of problems and more must be addressed before a tape can be satisfactorily transferred. We do need to assess any tape’s condition before quoting as tape restoration can become very time consuming depending on the deterioration encountered.

Please feel free to contact us for a free and friendly discussion about your tapes.

reel to reel tape problems

reel to reel tape technical information