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“The tapes sound beautiful. Thank you for the great job and the pleasant,
courteous service.
It was a pleasure working with you.”
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Restoration
Hidden away in attics, basements, closets and garages
are old recordings of voices and music that have special meaning to
someone. Restoration is the term we use for converting these unique sounds
to compact disc.
Restoring a vintage recording is far a more sophisticated process than it
may seem. Although eager amateurs may be more than willing to attempt such
conversions, there is considerable risk involved in entrusting
irreplaceable original recordings to someone who might either damage or
destroy them altogether.
Aware clients understand the wisdom of having their priceless original
acetates, vinyl discs and audiotapes professionally transferred to CD. The
process begins by creating a digital sound file.
Digitizing is necessary because no one has invented a machine that allows
dropping an original recording in at one end and having a CD pop out the
other – like a Xerox machine. Also, transferring recordings directly to CD
isn’t practical because of the difficulties that may arise in
attempting to play an original tape or disc.
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For example:
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In playing a disc recording, the stylus (needle) can skip a record
groove – or become
stuck in one. |
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A 78 rpm disc requires a specific type of stylus for optimum sound
transfer. |
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Old open-reel tapes may contain splices that fail on playback.
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Improperly handled, a brittle tape may break and require repair. |
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There are a variety of playback speeds and head configurations to be
considered. |
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Vintage audiocassettes may have become tangled or broken; pressure pads
may be
missing. |
Nearly all of these matters may be addressed using specialized methods
developed here over the last 40 years. Once an original is playing
properly, the digital sound file can be created with the highly skilled
use of a digital workstation. Digitizing is truly necessary. These are the
reasons why.
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Program Recording Level
There is a rather strict limit to the absolute recording level acceptable
by a compact disc. Beyond that limit, distortion becomes both immediate
and severe. Careful use of the digital workstation allows determining the
overall level of original recordings as well as the exact locations of
occasional peaks. Once digitized, the level can then be set precisely for
distortion-free transfer to CD. |
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Program Length
Professional CDs may contain a maximum of 80 minutes of audio. Longer
programs may require additional discs. Use of the digital workstation in
dubbing to CD allows determining the exact running time of the program, as
well as where a longer program might be appropriately divided for transfer
to two or more discs. |
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Program Condition
The greatest benefit of the digital process is the capacity to repair,
restore or enhance poor-sounding recordings. Background sounds can be
reduced, voices brought further forward, unwanted music or dialogue
deleted, missing sections restored, annoying noises corrected, speed and
pitch adjusted and monaural recordings enhanced for a pleasant stereo
effect. All of these benefits are available to you only through the
skilled, creative use of digital audio. |
Delivery
In bringing an original recording here for restoration, here are some
hints:
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Whatever it may be, don’t attempt to play it first. Without meaning to,
you may cause harm. |
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Carry open reel and cassette tapes in a clean paper or plastic bag. |
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Disc recordings may be delivered in their original sleeves or jackets.
Or, line a clean, unused corrugated cardboard pizza box with ordinary
writing paper. Separate multiple discs with additional paper, then carry
flat. |
Rates
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Cleaning a disc recording Free |
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Converting any analog source to a digital sound file $35.00 |
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Compact Disk in standard jewel-box from $ 6.95 |
(Please ask about quantity discounts)
Extras
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Correcting disc mistracking, labor charge per minute $ 1.00 |
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Splicing open-reel tape, per splice $ 1.00 |
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Audiocassette repair $15.00 |
 May include splicing, replacing internal parts or new shell.
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Creating individual track Ids, each, from $ 2.00 |
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Letter-quality black & white CD label from $ 1.00 |
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Design of full-color custom CD cover from $25.00
Additional copies $ 2.00 |
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Design letter-quality tray liner with song titles or other information
from $10.00
Additional copies $ 2.00 |
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Summary
Skilled, creative use of digital audio to determine and then control the
volume, length and condition of your original recordings provides you with
maximum sound quality in transfer to compact disc. The secret, of course,
is not the system but the operator. |
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