Audio Reel-to-reel to Digital
Analog Tape, Digital Memories
THE REEL
Back in the day, reel-to-reel audio tapes were the best recording option to capture homemade interviews and spontaneous jam sessions. Although these tapes had several recording speeds and lengths, we'll take the headache out of preserving these timeless moments. Reels can vary in size from 3" to 10.5" in diameter. You may even hear a voice you thought you'd never hear again! Whether you prefer an Audio CD or MP3, we're here to help.
THE PROCESS
First, we carefully capture your analog audio reels into one of our editing systems. Next, we digitally clean the audio by removing and reducing the hiss and hum that normally comes with old audio (Bonus: we do this for FREE). Lastly, we will either burn a CD or export a file for USB, based on your preference. We can even make copies so you can share with family and friends.
THE DIFFERENCE
Since all conversions are done in our office, your reels are safe! You'll have peace of mind knowing that the people you speak to (or email) will be the same people working on your audio reels. Please feel free to ask questions. After 30+ years of converting old media, we know a thing or two.
"They are doing an awesome job converting some very old reel-to-reel tape recordings and vinyl albums into digital format (WAV and MP3) so that I can upload them to cloud storage and share them with other members of the choir that made the recordings in the 1960's and 1970's."
- Daniel H. (Facebook)
How long are reel-to-reel tapes?
There are a variety reel sizes and recording speeds. The most common sizes are 3" to 7" in diameter, however we can convert up to 10.5" (NAB) reels. Recording speeds of 3 3/4 ips (inches per second), 7 1/2 ips, and 15 ips are common. So, that may not mean much to you. Don't worry about it! We'll digitize whatever is on your reel and convert it to the format you want.
| Audio Reel Size (length) | 1 7/8 ips speed |
3 3/4 ips speed |
7 1/2 ips speed |
15 ips speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3" (150 feet) | 16 min. | 8 min. | 4 min. | 2 min. |
| 5" (600 feet) | 64 min. | 32 min. | 16 min. | 8 min. |
| 7" (1200 feet) | 128 min. | 64 min. | 32 min. | 16 min. |
| 10.5" (2400 feet) | 256 min. | 128 min. | 64 min. | 32 min. |
Note: Table shows the total possible minutes per reel. The speed is measured in inches per second (ips). The feet and lengths listed above are for common reels. Reels can be mono or stereo, and some reels can contain multiple recording speeds.
Quick Tips about Audio Files
- Audio files can hold hours of content in one file.
- For recorded music, an individual file can be created for each song. This is dependent on gaps of silence between songs.
- For live music, individual song files may not be as accurate due to crowd noise.
- WAV files are higher quality and are recommended if you plan to edit your audio.
Quick Tips about Audio CDs
- Audio CDs can only hold about 80 minutes.
- For recorded music, CD tracks can be added if desired.
- For voice recordings, we recommend a single track.
- Audio CD files cannot be copied off and used. However, you can use software to rip the CD and create audio files.
- CDs can be custom printed with your text and include a space-saving CD case.