Media Conversion

In addition to transcription of recorded material, The TAPE TRANSCRIPTION CENTER provides archival quality conversion of a wide variety of media formats including reel-to-reel audio tapes. Our goal is to provide the highest quality reproduction and conversion of audio content for both archive and/or transcription purposes. Our intent is to provide the added convenience of conversion and transcription under one roof and to maintain the integrity of your recordings. We offer 38 years of experience providing the best possible customer service and care for your recordings.

Digitizing Analog Media

We can convert analog audio/video recordings to digital files such as MP3, WAV, Real, Windows Media, Quicktime, MPEG-2, and many more. We can create CD-DA (Music CD) and DVD on certified recordable media.

Digitizing recorded content allows delivery over the internet from a website, and/or preservation copies of analog tape for archival purposes. Digitized content can be incorporated into our Digital Transcription Workflow to maximize transcription quality and efficiency. Additionally, as part of the digitization and transcription process, we can provide Audio Restoration to improve the overall quality of your recordings.

All media conversion is completed in-house by our Media Specialist in conjunction with our transcription staff. Due to the wide variety of digital media formats available, we offer consultation free-of-charge in order to help determine which formats are best suited for your project's needs.

Analog Tape Conversion

Because much of the recorded content we receive for transcription is on analog tape, we offer a variety of conversion options.

• Cassette
• Microcassette
• 1/2" & 1/4" Reel-to-Reel

• VHS
• S-VHS

Pricing

Of course you are wondering by this point how much we charge to handle conversion of your content. Our intent is to provide the most cost effective conversion possible. We specialize in conversion of spoken audio/video content. You will find our pricing more cost-effective than companies that handle general media conversion including music.

We base our rates upon the duration of audio content, physical tape condition, the audio quality, what format/s our clients require, the number of copies needed, and if the content also requires transcription. Often it is difficult to assess and fully realize the condition of tapes and audio quality until we have them in our studio. Tape types, recording formats, and the condition of tapes vary widely. We try to obtain as much information as possible prior to providing our clients an estimate. All estimates are customized to the needs of specific projects on an individual basis.

Reel-to-Reel tapes come in a variety of lengths, sizes, and qualities. They may be recorded at different speeds and have a number of tracks. For clients who don't wish to incur the full expense of shipping a quantity of tapes to us, we will gladly examine sample tapes from a client collection. By examining a few samples, we can gain insight into the condition of tapes in the rest of a specific collection. We can also assess how much time may be required to clean the tapes and enhance the audio content if needed. After we examine the tape samples we can create a more accurate estimate for conversion of the entire project and determine if reel-to-reel tapes require Basic or Advanced conversion.

Please contact us at (617) 423-2151 and ask to speak with our Media Specialist or send and email to contact@ttctranscriptions.com.

In order to better understand our process for converting analog tape, we have outlined our conversion process as it relates to reel-to-reel audio tape below:

Tape Receiving

As soon as tapes are received they are brought to ambient room temperature prior to our processing to prevent condensation of any kind. Reels and associated containers are logged, given an ID number, and physically labeled. Additionally, we record and file any accompanying documentation received with the tapes.

Tape Examination

Tapes are individually inspected for visual damage including dirt/dust, mold, irregular tape pack/wind, reel malformation, and any signs of residue or other matter in the reel containers that could indicate shedding or other forms of degradation. Acetate tapes are examined for signs of vinegar syndrome. After careful inspection, the condition details of individual tapes are added to our database. Based upon initial visual examination, any characteristics of a tape requiring special handling or cleaning will be noted. The client will be contacted regarding any tapes requiring special care and handling prior to further processing. Tapes found with significant damage from vinegar syndrome or mold are separated to prevent further degradation to other accompanying tapes. While waiting for cleaning and conversion, reels are stored upright on their edges.

Cleaning/Handling

All tapes are handled with lint-free white gloves in order to prevent damage from fingerprints or oil from skin contact.

Tape reels found with any hint of dust, debris, or mold/mildew are gently vacuumed as the first stage of cleaning.

ALL tapes are inspected for signs of shedding. Those tapes requiring additional cleaning are gently hand-cleaned with Pellon™ on both sides. This nonabrasive and non-lubricant soft fabric removes any loose debris, dust, mold, and tape shed. Tapes suffering from severe shedding, dust, and debris may require several passes of Pellon cleaning. Great care is taken during this process to ensure no damage to the physical tape. Thorough cleaning not only preserves a tape, but also prevents cross-contamination of our equipment assuring the best quality reproduction possible.

While cleaning, any splices within a tape are inspected and repaired. Acid-free archive quality paper leader tape is added to both ends of a tape to protect further contamination of both the inside and outside of a tape reel.

After cleaning, tapes are “library” or “archive” wound at slow speed and prepped for electronic inspection and playback.

If during our inspection process, we determine a tape requires additional cleaning time we notify our clients with an assessment of the tape damage and an estimate of additional time required to make the tapes playable.

Electronic Inspection/Conversion

Our OTARI MTR-10 reel-to-reel machine is designed for the best possible reproduction of magnetic tape recordings. It is one of the most gentle open reel tape machines available on the market by way of very sensitive tape tension control mechanisms. Both the take up reel and supply reels are independently driven and respond to the slightest increase in resistance to the tape while in playback or wind modes.

We calibrate our MTR-10 to every tape on an individual basis in order to optimize sensitivity of reproduction. All tapes are monitored while conversion is in progress for tape stretch, drop-out, and any other type of distortion. Any slight variations or anomalies of this nature are logged in our database for that specific tape. Additionally, the beginning and end of specific separate audio programs will be logged. Portions of a tape containing no audio content will not be converted unless specified by our client.

Audio Restoration

Please click HERE to learn more about our Audio Restoration capabilities.

Copy Formats

It is common practice to make three copies of an audio recording for archive purposes. The first copy is an archive duplicate which is a replica of the original copy in a different media format. The second is an enhanced copy of the original recording containing any improvements or adjustments through enhancement. The third copy may be provided as a working copy for general use (in our case, for transcription) and is used for playback whenever access to the audio recording is requested. As noted previously, we can provide digital audio files in electronic format which can be transferred via FTP.

Unless requested by our clients, we convert reel-to-reel tapes on a 1:1 basis. This means for every single reel-to-reel tape we create a corresponding CD-R or electronic file. Depending upon the length of the audio program, more than one CD-R may be required. Programs occupying a set of reels can be transferred to a single CD-R containing tracks that correspond with specific reels in a set. CD-Rs are limited to storing 75 minutes of audio content. For maximum compatibility we recommend not exceeding 60 minutes of audio content per disk.

Reel-to-Reel to Audio CD-R (aka Music CD or CD-DA)

Audio content from tapes converted to Audio CD-R format is professionally digitized in real-time, enhanced if requested, and burned to high quality certified CD-R media. CD-Rs are labeled neatly by hand with felt tip permanent marker and placed in either standard or thin type clear jewel cases.

Reel-to-Reel to Digital Media Files

Audio content is converted into digital media files according to the specifications provided by our client. The file types we can create include but are not limited to .wav, MP3, .AIF, etc. at any sample or bit rate. We can burn these files to CD-R or make them available to our clients by way of FTP.

Reel-to-Reel to Cassette or DAT

Audio content converted to cassette tape may be digitized for further enhancement or transferred analog-to-analog requiring no capture time. Only high bias professional quality cassette tapes are used for this purpose.

Reel-to-Reel to Reel-to-Reel

Audio content originating from reel-to-reel may be re-mastered onto “fresh” low print-through reel-to-reel tape for further archival or preservation. We accomplish this by first professionally digitizing the audio content from the source reel. Once digitized, we can enhance the audio content upon client request. We then transfer the audio content back to a new reel-to-reel tape.

Return

We return tapes to our clients on a pre-arranged basis, e.g., all at once, as they are converted, or in small batches. Newly created masters are labeled, packaged, and shipped separately from the originals. Once a client confirms receipt of the new masters the original reel-to-reel tapes are shipped out. This helps prevent loss of your audio content in shipment.

Included with each new master and original is a report detailing the condition of the recordings outlining physical condition, audio anomalies, and any other relevant details pertaining to the original audio recordings.

Basic Reel-to-Reel Conversion

For conversion of reel-to-reel tapes in good to average condition with no obvious signs of physical degradation. The following services are included:

• Visual inspection

• Up to two passes of dry cleaning

• Up to five splice repairs

• Paper leader tape added to the start and end of a tape reel

• Audio level adjustment

• One Audio CD-R copy on certified media in jewel case hand labeled with alcohol based permanent marker

• Report of tape condition

Advanced Reel-to-Reel Conversion*

For conversion of reel-to-reel tapes in below average to poor condition that may be showing signs of shedding, mold, etc. The following services are included:

• Visual inspection

• Up to five passes of dry cleaning

• Up to ten splice repairs

• Paper leader tape added to start and end of tape reel

• Audio level adjustment

• One Audio CD-R copy on certified media in jewel case hand labeled with alcohol based permanent marker

• Report of tape condition

*Tapes requiring baking or further cleaning and/or splice repair will be priced on an individual basis. We may not be able to handle tapes in very poor condition.