Reel-to-reel audio tape capture?

[BarryTheCrab]

Although this is an audio tape, no video, I do not know where else to ask...
I have a buddy with a reel-to-reel tape, and I do not know who might capture and digitize it, in the south of Boston area.

[lordsmurf]

There are several members here that are quite knowledgeable at reel-to-reel audio, but who they are escapes me at the moment. Although the odds of one being "the local guy" is unlikely.

Much like VHS conversion, there's a lot that should be done right, some that can be wrong, and risks with playback. Proceed carefully.

[latreche34]

If it's 7 1/2 ips or less I can do it, I don't have 15 ips reel to reel speed, Though most 15 and 30 ips are 1/2" tapes but there are some 1/4" tape recorded @ 15 ips, I'm in California.

[7jlong]

I had Video Transfer in Brookline, MA do a few 16mm films for my old employer and they did a fantastic job - files were beautiful, and they made their way through some old disintegrating splices without issue. Their format list is lengthy and includes 1/4" tape.

[BarryTheCrab]

Thank you for everyone that offered information.
I’ll see what direction my friend favors.

[dpalomaki]

FWIW: Be aware that some old 1/4" reel-to-reel audio tape was poor/cheap and would often sluff-off oxide. I had some legacy recordings made in the mid 1960s on Realistic (aka Radio Shack) tape purchased at their old Mass Ave store that left a lot of brown crud on the playback machine. On the other hand Scotch branded tape from that ear has been OK. (I have since transferred the important recordings to CD.)

Also "white box" tape stock (i.e., not a commercial branded package) was often cut/spooled bulk or recycled tape of unknown sources and thus suspect.

On the plus side, at least reel-to-reel players are generally easy to clean, repair, and align compared to VCRs and less likely to be damaged by a bad tape. The again challenge being finding parts.

1/4" tape was recording in various formats , the more common including:
- tape speeds (15, 7-1/2, 3-3/4 ips being most common)
- reel sized including 10" (usually pro gear), 7' and 3.5",
- formats including mono, stereo, and rarely 4 track,
- track configuration including full width, half, quarter track,

And of course there were some specialty forms such as answering machine tapes , surveillance recorders, and kids toys.

It was not unheard of for nosy people to pick-up an old answering machine at a garage sale and "enjoy" the unerased messages left on a tape.

[BarryTheCrab]

Mass Ave???!

[dpalomaki]

Quote:

Mass Ave???!

Sorry, getting over Type A flu and the brain somehow equates Mass and Commonwealth.

It was most likely on Commonwealth Ave. In 1963 it was a sort of a RS outlet store. I recall going there several times and picking up a few things, including RS tape and open box reel-to-reel tape transport.

[BarryTheCrab]

Did you go to school in the Boston area or did you really like the pizza?

[lordsmurf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryTheCrab

Did you go to school in the Boston area or did you really like the pizza?

Cowabunga!

[BarryTheCrab]

We have great pizza in this area. Home of the original bar pizza.
https://www.kerrybyrne.com/2020/05/1...zza-tradition/
Ok ok off topic but I live this, and it’s hilarious, and keep in mind Great Blue Hill is 635’ tall.
My friend may have a place in Providence. His quote was $100+.

[latreche34]

$100 for how many tapes?

[BarryTheCrab]

Just that one tape.

[latreche34]

Wow, I hope he gets a great service for that much money.

[BarryTheCrab]

He’s not in a hurry to spend that much.

[timtape]

All we've been told it it's a BASF 1/4" tape. We dont know the reel size, the tape length, the recorded tape speed, the number of tracks (up to four was common), and therefore no idea of the number of minutes or hours the recording might run to. It could run for 15 minutes, 15 hours, 30 hours or more.

People intimately familiar with open reel audio tapes know this sort of thing. For many years our Australian Screensound quoted standard transfer prices for LP records, CD's DAT tapes, and audio cassette tapes. But for 1/4" reel to reel tapes: "Quotes given on a case by case basis".

Given the various unknowns here I would not quote on such a job here without seeing the tape, its condition including condition and approx. number of tape splices, checking to see how much material was likely recorded on it, and therefore the likely cost to me of doing the job and doing it well...

Many smaller media digitisation companies dont even mention reel to reel tapes in their advertising. They only go as far as audio cassettes.

[lordsmurf]

$100 is not out of line for conversion work.

If the person doesn't want to spend the money needed, then it's just not that important. Remember, services are paid work for time/tools needed.

Cheap work is rarely performed by an experienced person, and there could be catastrophic loss on these old formats (as @dpalomaki has mentioned). An inexperienced person will likely not know what he/she doesn't know. And "oops, sorry, your tape fell apart in my machine".