The software that is available for improving tape quality is extraordinary. About six years ago, while doing a documentary, I had about two and a half minutes of sound that was terrible. It had been recorded on the wrong micrphone, one about ten feet away rather than on the microphone that was six inches from the action. The result was a low level, boomy track. I sent the piece to Saul Zaentz studios in Berkeley, CA and the results were almost magical. Using powerful computers, special software programs and highly trained audio techs, they made a huge difference and the piece was saved. It went into the distribution version. However, it was expensive.

Two weeks ago, a friend took an old tape, and using what I think are probably the same techniques but now available on a home computer, did the same thing!