We will convert your older-format tapes to digital audio files that can be played in a CD player,
on your computer, or in an iPod or other MP3 player.

• Among the benefits of converting your recordings to digital are:
• It is easy to make multiple backup copies of digital recordings.
• You can e-mail, upload and download digital recordings, or post them to a website.
• Digital format indicates the precise minutes and seconds throughout the recording.

We can mail the digital files to you on a CD, or better yet, you can download them from our server.

Formats accepted are: standard cassettes, microcassettes, reel-to-reel, 8-track, and 4-track.

For audio CDs, we will divide your audio into tracks of 5-10 minutes each or the number of minutes that you specify. Or, if the audio breaks are obvious (such as blank areas between songs), we will begin a new track there.

If the breaks are not obvious, and you would like them to begin at a specific point, there are two options: We will e-mail you the master audio file, you would listen to it in Windows Media Player (or other media software), and write down the time code to indicate where each new track should begin. Option 2 is to have us determine the track locations; there is an additional charge for this work.

Rate Chart

How to Contact Us

To get a price estimate or if you have any questions, e-mail us or call 866-805-2425 or 703-378-0202.

How to Place Your Order

To get started, label your tapes as best you can, preferably directly on the tape casing itself in addition to the tape container. If you would like them in a particular order, number them.

Download and fill out the order form, and e-mail it back to us and/or include it with your materials to be converted. Indicate if you would like audio CDs, data CDs or MP3 files (see table below). For audio CDs, indicate about how long each track (i.e., subsection of the audio, displayed as a number on your CD player) should be. If you would like to pinpoint where each new track should begin, let us know and we will e-mail you the digital audio files before burning them to CD.

Mail us your tapes using a service that offers tracking such as FedEx or UPS ground or overnight. If you have metal reels, use a box because the metal can slice through envelopes during shipment.

Once your order is complete, we will ship you your materials via Priority Mail - or UPS ground or overnight if you prefer. Or, if you are local you can either pick up your materials, or have us (for a fee) send or deliver them to you.

Audio CD, Data CD, or MP3 file?

Please specify which format you want for your audio: audio CD, data CD, MP3 file, or any combination thereof. Following lists the advantages and disadvantages of each:

 

	Advantages	Disadvantages
Audio CD	Can be played any CD player, in addition to computers.	- One audio CD only holds up to 80 minutes of audio, so for audio longer than that, you'll need multiple CDs. - In most CD players, you cannot rewind, fast forward, or pause within a given track. (This can be done, however, on a computer.) So the audio must be broken up into multiple sections (i.e. tracks) of 10 minutes each or the number of minutes that you specify. Note that there is an audio gap between each track.
Data CD	One CD holds many, many hours of audio. Copying to your hard drive is easy, whereas with audio CDs you need "CD ripper" software.	Cannot be played in standard CD players, only in computers.
MP3 File	- You can download your audio right from our server, rather than wait for a CD to arrive in the mail. - Avoids the cost of audio CDs.	Cannot be played in CD players, only in computers, MP3 players, or consoles with an MP3 input jack.

Audio Enhancement/Editing

• Once your audio is in digital format, or if you already have a digital audio file, we can enhance, edit, and/or modify it in the following manner:
• Delete blank or unwanted sections of your audio.
• Split the audio file into two or more files.
• Isolate certain sections of your audio (such as individual speakers during a conference) to create separate, stand-alone audio files.
• Amplify the entire audio, just certain or portions of it, or just certain voices.
• Reduce or eliminate background noise, provided the noise is very steady (as opposed to random).
• If the audio sounds muffled, we can increase the "treble" for a clearer, crisper sound. (But if it's too muffled, this technique may not work.)
• If one person's voice is much louder than the other person's voice, we can adjust it so the volume of both voices is more equal.
• We can make certain types of inaudible tapes audible again. For example, sometimes an event is recorded with an unconventional or out-of-date tape recorder, but when played on a normal tape recorder, the sound is inaudible. It may sound like it's being played backwards, or being played much too fast or much too slow. By converting to digital, we can remedy those problems.

Note: We are often able to enhance the listenability, but not necessarily the intelligibility of the words spoken. For the latter, you would need to consult a forensic audio engineering service.

If you already have digital files and would like them enhanced or modified, upload them here.