It may seem like old hat, but many individuals and organizations still have dated audio collections on old analog formats like 8-track, reel, microcassettes, standard cassette tapes and acim audio With technological advancements, there is a growing need for audio transfer services to get old music and speech moved into modern audio formats.
Damage and Corruption of Tape
Traditional tape recordings can develop problems as they age, especially those that have seen heavy use or weren’t carefully stored to protect them from contaminants and environmental conditions. As these tapes are often mishandled over the years they’re far more likely to suffer a loss of quality or breakdown completely.
Tapes simply don’t age well, and their condition certainly doesn’t improve. As time progresses, problems can arise with magnetic tape such as “Sticky shed syndrome” or “vinegar syndrome.” Technical names aside, the result can lead to a complete loss of the original recording. That’s why it’s a good idea to back up analog recordings with audio transfer services.
Outdated Tape
For every bad tape and lost recording there are tapes in excellent condition. With advancements in technology older formats become obsolete and as they break down people have been left without the equipment to play the tapes. For many formats, only used models are available and can come at steep prices. There will come a time where equipment won’t be available at all.
Otari, Inc. is the only manufacturer still providing reel to reel tape decks. Elcaset, DCC and the better known 8-track players are no longer being manufactured. Parts are no longer in circulation and must be stripped from other machines. Over time, even that will become extremely difficult as the machines disappear from the market. While professional audio transfer services have these units available to move audio for customers, it’s best to change formats as quickly as possible once your old audio has been moved.
Recordings – Music & Speech
While the professional sector has accumulated a lot of analog audio over the years, there are millions of recordings – both music and speech – that have never been converted to a digital format. These analog recordings range from local bands that were never signed to speeches made by friends, family, colleagues, teachers, historians and more. Anyone who would like to listen to those pieces would need some dated technology, or have the audio transfer done to digitize the speeches and music.
Audio transfer services can help individuals and organizations reclaim content and recordings that have been lost to time including oral histories, interviews, sermons, audio journals, speeches and more. Much of the analog content that’s floating around out there is a part of someone’s history, and audio transfer can preserve that.