Digitisation Project

[waters]

Hi All,

We're gearing up for a large digitisation effort, and will be attempting to transfer several thousand 1/4" reels (likely a mix of NAB full track mono, 1/2 track mono, and possibly some 1/2 track stereo).

Wondering if anyone in the forum can recommend a strategy for finding serviceable players (apart from eBay). We're considering a few options, including Studer A807s, A810s, maybe even some Revox players for either lower speed recordings or the possibility of a smaller collection of 1/4 track stereo reels.

Thoughts?

Keeping the machines running is our biggest concern, and so we're looking for some specialist support as well.

Any suggestions or recommendations greatly appreciated.

[High and Outside]

Where are you located?

Are the tapes music or voice?

[waters]

Hi Paul,

We have an office in DC.

We'll be conducting a detailed assessment of the collection soon. For now we're assuming it will be a mixture of voice and radio quality music broadcast tapes.

[ironbut]

Hey waters, (btw, we use our real names here on this forum)

I suggest that you join the ARSC list and make this query there.
The list is populated by many of the worlds foremost tape restoration/archivisting experts, many of whom are in your general location.

http://www.arsc-audio.org/arsclist.html

[Tim]

Keeping the machines running is our biggest concern, and so we're looking for some specialist support as well.

Any suggestions or recommendations greatly appreciated.

For RTR repair and restoration in the DC area:

Music Technology in Springfield, VA

www.musictechnology.com

[waters]

Thanks for the replies Steve and Tim.

I'll join the ARSC Recorded Sound Discussion List.

Although we've yet to inspect the collection ourselves, we've just been given a report that says that all reels are 7" full-track mono recordings at 3 3/4 in/s. There are some very old tapes as well - acetate, as well as more recent polyester.

One suggestion we have at the moment, is to have several Revox A77s refurbished (a complete rebuild including all new caps and critical components), and fitting them with specially made mono heads (slightly narrower to keep them away from the very edge of the tape).

Best,

Tony

[docb]

Call Dave Dintenfass at Full Track Productions. He specializes in this.

http://www.fulltrackproductions.com/