Analog Tape Transfer

Reel-to-Reel and Cassette Transfer

Quality is important to us and a good transfer starts with a good analogue playback machine. We use Otari MTR-12 2 track recorders for 3 3/4 IPS-30 IPS transfers. Modified Tascam 32B tape recorders are used for 2 and 4 track tapes recorded at 1 7/8th IPS.

All our machines are kept in excellent working condition and are regularly calibrated. All tapes are checked for condition, leaders are added to the beginning and end of each tape and then placed onto an appropriate machine for playback. The play head azimuth is always adjusted for the best quality playback.

Reel-to-reel Tape Formats Supported

We can transfer all quarter inch reel-to-reel tapes to high-resolution audio files or compact discs including any of the following tape head formats:

Mono ½ track Stereo
¼ track mono/stereo 4 track discrete

We can transfer reel-to-reel tapes recorded at the following speeds:

1⅞ inches per second (ips) 3 ¾ ips
7 ½ ips 15 ips
30 ips  

Dolby A, B and SR as well as dBX Type I and II noise reduction services are available.

Cassette Transfer

Creative Audio Works can transfer and convert any cassette tape to high-resolution audio filesor compact disc. 2trackstereo and 4 track cassettes with Dolby B, and C can all be transferred to digital audio files.

Due to the small tape width and slow speed that cassettes run at, they usually have a reputation for poor sound quality and reduced frequency response. This is often the case but with the right tools, a well-recorded cassette can sound very good.

Repair

Reel-to reel tapes as well as cassettes and microcassettes can often snap, pull out from the end of one spool hub, become wrapped around a part of the player's transport or damaged. We can repair these problems to minimize any loss of the original recording.

Open reel tape can be quite old and in poor condition. We can cope with broken, tangled, poorly stored tape and tape exhibiting the signs of 'sticky tape syndrome'. Tapes with sticky tape syndrome need careful and slow heating, usually referred to as 'tape baking', which we offer as well.

Digital Transfer

Creative Audio Works can convert digital audio formats such as, Digital Audio Tape (DAT) and Alesis M20 8 track to audio files and store them on Compact Disc, DVD, hard drive or posted to our server for download.

See our studio page for a list of our equipment