The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #36342   Message #501106
Posted By: clansfolk
08-Jul-01 - 11:00 AM
Thread Name: Old 4 track reel to reel tapes
Subject: RE: Help: Old 4 track reel to reel tapes
Do you still have a reel to reel tape deck??

Have you any other form of recording equipment? e.g. Minidisc?

If you have there's not a problem copy to mini disk(s) and we can put them on CD(s)for you for the basic costs of the blank audio CDs and P+P etc..

Do you (or a friend) have a CD writer on your computer?

If you have record the tracks onto your hard disc drive via the input on your sound card then write them to CD

If you don't have a reel to reel deck you have a few problems of matching to solve.... What format the original recorded used eg. Standard or 4 track (mono/stereo, 1/3-2/4, 1/2-3/4 formats) or more if a professional deck was used. The speed settings it was recorded at - another problem we've had was to match the original speed even when known - as reel to reel machines often ran slower or faster than the stated speeds! - this can be sorted by recording the tape to an variable speed mini disk (or tape multi track) then put it back in pitch (hoping the original was in concert pitch!!)

I'm sorry we're so far away ("Sunny" Blackpool) or we could have been more help.

Hope you solve your problem - old tapes are a great source of good nostalgic music - Ian and myself here at PI spend many an hour sifting through and reviving tapes from the 60's.

Take care

Pete

ps - don't mention copyright!!