Archival Transfer
Do you have a recording made after 1920 that is in need of archival transfer to a modern format?
More than likely if your recording was made on analog magnetic tape or on a phonograph disc I can assist you. I have a variety of fully restored vintage Ampex, 3M, Nagra, and Studer tape machines in different formats, including the 1963 Ampex 300 3 track and the 1957 Ampex 350 2 track machines I am shown operating at the 2000 Los Angeles AES Convention.
But owning or having access to a classic tape machine or a transcription turntable is only a small part of the transfer process. The challenge of transferring is always to extract as much detail as possible from original source recordings, with out introducing additional noise, distortion or other artifacts. The seven archival transfer steps describe the process I use to maintain the sonic integrity of your original source material.
Please contact me if my experience and trained ears would be of assistance for your next transfer project.
Archival Transfer Steps
1. Evaluate the original recording
- Determine physical condition
- Determine sound quality
- Determine program length if unknown
2. Inform client of original recording evaluation
3. Prepare recording for transfer
- Clean discs as needed
- Bake tapes if necessary
- Repair bad splices as required
4. Optimize playback equipment for source material to be transferred
- Align Reproduce Head Azimuth to source tape
- Adjust Reproduce Equalization for source tape
- Adjust Variable Pitch if necessary
- For disc, determine optimum stylus width and pressure
- Verify polarity of original source, and correct as necessary
- Determine Correct Playback Level
- Establish Correct Record Level
- Determine settings for any external processing equipment requested, i.e. filter, equalizer, peak limiter, etc.
5. Make the transfer to desired copy format
6. Verify transfer copy quality
7. Deliver transfer copies and all original materials to client
Transfer Formats
Below is a listing of all of the formats that I can transfer from. With the exception of the phonograph disc formats, I can also transfer to these formats.
Analog Cassette
- DOLBY B Noise Reduction
- DOLBY C Noise Reduction
- Variable Pitch Control
Analog Open-reel (aka "reel to reel")
Quarter (1/4") inch
- Full track Mono
- Stereo 1/4 track (Consumer)
- Stereo 1/2 track (Professional)
- Stereo with center track SMPTE Time Code
- 3.75, 7.5, 15, 30 IPS Speeds
- Variable Pitch Control
- NAB/CCIR-IEC/AES/Nagra Master Equalizations
Half (1/2") inch
- 3 track
- 4 track
- 7.5, 15, 30 IPS Speeds
- NAB/CCIR-IEC/AES/AME Equalizations
One (1") inch
- 8 track
- 15, 30 IPS Speeds
- NAB/AES Equalizations
Analog Phonograph Disc Formats
- Mono or Stereo
- .7, 1, 2.5 mil Styli
- 7 inch to 16 inch Diameter Discs
- 16, 33.3, 45, 78 RPM Speeds
- Variable Pitch Control
- RIAA/NAB/Flat Equalizations
Digital Recording Formats
- ADAT HD24
- CDR
- DAT
- DAT with Time Code