“The tapes sound beautiful. Thank you for the great job and the pleasant, courteous service.
It was a pleasure working with you.”

 

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.

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.

bullet 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.
bullet 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.
bullet 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:
 
bullet Whatever it may be, don’t attempt to play it first. Without meaning to, you may cause harm.
bullet Carry open reel and cassette tapes in a clean paper or plastic bag.
bullet 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



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.



King Street Recording Company
610-647-4341
kingstreetrecord@aol.com

© 2007 King Street Recording Company