Transferring Reel to Reel

CityMan2010

Hi guys and girls...

Does anyone know/can recommend a service to transfer recordings (late 1970's) from tape to tape to digital?

thanks

rob

Sham Squire

What kind of tape? 1/4", 1/2", reel to reel or cassette?

madtheory

Go find James Perrett on the Sound On Sound forum, he is very reasonable and does excellent work. He can do all tape formats from domestic to pro.

Normally I'd say "me!" but both my machines are sick at the mo (assuming it's quarter inch mono or stereo).

Is it from a studio, or a domestic tape?

Strings.ie

I've a Revox A77 and Pro Tools TDM available. I did a big project in January with this setup. Some 30+ reels dating from the late 60's. Might be interested in this project. PM Me. Also know a chap who works for the Irish trad archive who transfers reels for a living.

shayleon

Got a rather decent 1/4" machine here.
http://shaysstudio.ie/?q=conversion-reel-reel-tapes-cd
cheers.

PaulBrewer

Tape of that vintage may need baking or on the first play the oxide could shed leaving you with nothing to play.

Daire Winston at Beechpark Studio near Rathcoole has a Tape Oven, the only one I know of in Ireland.

Perhaps contact him ?

madtheory

Good point. Brands that are excluded from the shedding issue are Maxell EMItape and Agfa. Other brands may require baking.

CityMan2010

Thanks people.....good leads...good points raised.

It is from 1/2 inch recorded at Downtown Radio Recording studios in Belfast during the punk days...but would have been a good studio in its day...

I will find out exact details and get back to you all...

many thanks

rob

PaulBrewer

CityMan2010 wrote: »

Thanks people.....good leads...good points raised.

It is from 1/2 inch recorded at Downtown Radio Recording studios in Belfast during the punk days...but would have been a good studio in its day...

I will find out exact details and get back to you all...

many thanks

rob

If it's half inch it's might be 8 track ?

madtheory

Could be 16 track too, Fostex E16 was such a machine, among others.

Mr. Perrett will have all the expertise on this, AFAIK he has an oven and knows what tapes need it. He would know what format the tape is if you described it/ send a photo. Four years ago I had him transfer an assortment of tapes from 4 track to 8 track quarter inch with and without NR. He did a fine job and does not charge very much. PM me if you want his contact details.

PaulBrewer

madtheory wrote: »

Could be 16 track too, Fostex E16 was such a machine, among others.

From the 70s ? I don't think so.

tweeky

madtheory wrote: »

Good point. Brands that are excluded from the shedding issue are Maxell EMItape and Agfa. Other brands may require baking.

Agfa was shedding in the 80's, a certain Dublin studio was booked to back up loads of 2" multi's after a batch was found to be "coming apart". A certain band had a habit at the time of leaving the tapes running as to "catch the vibes" which increased the amount of priceless multi's that had to be quietly and safely backed up with a fresh batch.

PaulBrewer

tweeky wrote: »

Agfa was shedding in the 80's, a certain Dublin studio was booked to back up loads of 2" multi's after a batch was found to be "coming apart". A certain band had a habit at the time of leaving the tapes running as to "catch the vibes" which increased the amount of priceless multi's that had to be quietly and safely backed up with a fresh batch.

Waterboys ?

tweeky

Bingo.

madtheory

Good info, thanks. As I said, Mr. Perrett is the expert in this area, the OP should talk to him first before doing anything.

According to some, Agfa tape shedding is not solved by baking, it is possible that it is an entirely different issue. See here

if the stuff you are cleaning off the heads is flaky and not gummy, baking is not a good idea.
And apparently some AGFA tape used to shed from new!

According to Eddie Cilleti, it is specific to the high output AGFA 468.

CityMan2010

FYI: The band was one of the bands signed to the Good Vibrations label in Belfast circa 1978...Rudi....there seems to be a bit of an underground revival with punk recordings from that era...wil keep you posted with progress...thanks again for your help...

tweeky

CityMan2010 wrote: »

FYI: The band was one of the bands signed to the Good Vibrations label in Belfast circa 1978...Rudi....there seems to be a bit of an underground revival with punk recordings from that era...wil keep you posted with progress...thanks again for your help...

I still have the great single "Big Time" from that era in it's unique wraparound DIY sleeve.
Call Daire Winston @ Beechpark Studios as mentioned here before for advice on what to do. I have have had a few tapes "baked" and transferred to ProTools and the process was seamless. The only shock is the good old fashioned tape hiss!

madtheory

Looks like Beechpark have better tape machines and converters than Mr. Perrett, they're Irish, and the rates are very good.