Used conversion services for tape to CD?

Subject: Used conversion services for tape to CD?
From: Marion
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 12:03 PM

Hi gang. I was wondering if anybody has used a commercial service for converting audio cassettes to CDs, and if so, if you were satisfied with the results.

One company that I'm looking at is here: Vintage Media.

(I know that there are plenty of threads on converting tapes to CDs, but as far as I could see, they were all about using software to do this at home, and I don't have a computer at home).

One concern that I have is this: this cassette four-track is what I do have at home (and microphone). I record onto type II cassettes, which allows me to use two tracks, but I don't seem to be able to use four tracks or to do any mixing with just this machine (so I have to balance the volume levels of the two tracks by how playing at the appropriate volumes).

Anyway, the tape that I sent in to be converted would be a type II with two unmixed tracks on it, which I doubt is the norm. Do you foresee a commercial service having any trouble with that?

Thanks, Marion

Subject: RE: Used conversion services for tape to CD?
From: GUEST,Waddon Pete
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 12:12 PM

Hello Marion,

I recently had a similar problem. I took the tape along to the local recording studio and they did a good job of transferring the cassette to a CD for me. Just as well as the cassette player started playing at double speed shortly afterwards! :0)

Hope that helps,


Peter

Subject: RE: Used conversion services for tape to CD?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 12:55 PM

There is a 'catter who does tape and vinyl rescues. I think we should support each other....but I can't remember his name.

Subject: RE: Used conversion services for tape to CD?
From: bobad
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 01:13 PM

I believe the person to whom Richard is referring is WillyHillbilly.

Subject: RE: Used conversion services for tape to CD?
From: Marion
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 01:31 PM

Thanks for your answers so far, folks.

As it happens, Wilbyhillbilly made some CDs for me voluntarily a few years ago from a home-recorded tape I was sending out. The quality was fine, and it worked on my CDman which is sometimes finicky about burned CDs.

However, I'm reluctant to ask him for another pro bono, since he has already sent several free copies of my CD to me and possibly others. And for a business transaction, it seems more sensible to pick something local (I'm in Canada).

Cheers, Marion

Subject: RE: Used conversion services for tape to CD?
From: Howard Kaplan
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 10:59 PM

In the Toronto area, if you want local audiophile quality tape conversion services, you can contact Richard Hess (the link is to his web site). (Actually, if you're anywhere, and you don't care whether the service is local or not, you can contact him.)

However, there are many people who don't need that quality of tape conversion, and I don't have any helpful leads for that situation.

Subject: RE: Used conversion services for tape to CD?
From: Dave Wynn
Date: 21 Feb 07 - 06:37 PM

It isn't technically difficult to do at home but the major problem is the limitaions of the "real time" conversion. I have done it with one LP. Lead out of the record deck and into the sound card. I used a simple sound capture program at max qulaity and converted it to a sound file. Took mega amounts of space but the real problem was again the "real time" issue of only being able to run the LP at normal speed. It took about three hours before I had a readable file of just one LP.

Obvious problems was that the sound capture didn't "track" the LP so it came as one huge lump.

I gave up my idea of converting all my LP and Tape collection to CD as it would take most of my remaining lifetime.

Not helpfull I'm afraid but I would say if you have a must have tape or LP then a pro studio is the way if you can afford it.

Dave Wynn (A.K.A. Spot the Dog

Subject: RE: Used conversion services for tape to CD?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Feb 07 - 06:46 PM

I would certainly ask Wilbyhillbilly to do it, and pay him well to do it. He does great work, as you've noted, and he's a dream to do business with.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Used conversion services for tape to CD?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 21 Feb 07 - 09:49 PM

Do it fresh.

Do it real...not reel to real...not like supermarket trout pretending to be on the Atlantic coast of the Leavy.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Trusk Bavelers - tsk, Tsk, TSK...all for the color green....don't you have family to teach you the ways?