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Tony Skinner… A friend of mine has obtained a tape recording of the band he was in 46 years ago. The problem is that it is on old style 1/4 inch tape recorded at 3 3/4 ips speed. He’d really love to be able to listen to it and if possible get the recording cleaned up and converted to a digital format. He’s happy to pay to get this done. Does anybody still have a 1/4 inch reel to reel tape machine that he could listen to it on? Or any suggestions for a local studio that has this equipment? Thanks in advance. https://www.tonyskinnermusic.com/
Chris Cozens… With tape this old it would be advisable to bake it first to prevent the oxide shedding. There are professional companies in London who have done this for me before. A local studio may well also have the expertise but ask the question. Especially as it’s a precious one off with no back up.
Phil Gill… Good advice there from my pal Chris, he knows about this stuff. I took a 13 year old high quality tape to a studio once to do a remix and it was practically unusable. 46 years is a long time but it might be possible to copy it with some loving care as suggested by Chris.
Andy Qunta… You could try asking our good friend Harvey Summers. He may possibly be able to help – info@harveysummers.com
Marcus de Mowbray… Andy, My thought too: Harvey Summers. Sadly I binned my last TEAC last year.
Mark JW Thomas… I could do this for you, whereabouts you from. I this is the actual tape do not bake it will destroy it.
Mike Cramp… Bake or not to bake ? For the hell of it I’ll mention that I think my dad still has his old Grundig reel to reel that will have been in his dry loft for 20 years. If everything else fails, I can gladly ask.
Pete Fisher… You can bake a tape with a simple food dehydrator, recommended temperature 130-140F, 1-4 hours for 1/4-inch tape. I know local musician Roger Carey still has analogue tape machines…
Tim Moose Bruce… The album 3rd Stage by Boston springs to mind here. On the sleeve notes Tom Scholtz says that the original multitrack tape had been standing for years and it was sticky and fragile. When they ran it to master it, they had to apply some sort of lube to the tape and heads. Bit like defusing a bomb sort of tension where one mistake loses all that work..
Stuart Moir… Have a word with Clive Drew-Clifton at Pilot studios in Battle Road St Leonards he will probably be able to help as he has all the machines needed, I’m sure if you type studio name into google search it will give you all the info you need, good luck .
Phil Thornton… Make sure you record it on first playback !! It will most likely disintegrate as it plays back !