A: Yes, absolutely! We specialise in the professional restoration of aged and damaged reel-to-reel tapes, including those affected by mould. Here is a summary of the types of damage we can typically address:
Reel-to-reel tapes exhibiting audio quality degradation, such as fading or distortion.
* Tapes that are physically damaged, such as tears, creases, or splices.
* Reel-to-reel tapes that have become brittle or sticky over time (sticky-shed syndrome).
* Tapes contaminated with surface dirt, dust, or mould accumulation.
* Reel-to-reel tapes that have been previously spliced or repaired.
* Tapes that have sustained water damage.
* Reel-to-reel tapes showing signs of mould contamination (in the majority of cases).
Our Comprehensive Restoration Process:
1. Detailed Expert Assessment: Each reel-to-reel tape is meticulously evaluated by our experienced media specialists to determine the extent and nature of any damage.
2. Professional Cleaning & Restoration Techniques: We utilise broadcast-quality reel-to-reel decks, including Studer A820 and Nakamichi Dragon, and commercial-grade equipment. Tapes undergo physical cleaning to carefully remove dust, surface mould, and contaminants, significantly enhancing both the tape integrity and the quality of the analogue audio signal. We also address common issues such as 'sticky shed syndrome' if present in older tapes.
3. Archive-Grade Restoration Technology: We employ specialised, archive-grade cleaning and restoration technologies and solutions to maximise the recovery of your valuable audio content, including demagnetisation and re-tensioning if needed.
4. Necessary Physical Repairs: Our technicians perform any necessary physical repairs, such as re-splicing broken tapes or addressing tape stiffness issues to ensure smooth playback during digitisation.
5. High-Quality Digitisation & Stringent Quality Checks: Following the restoration process, tapes are digitised with meticulous attention to detail, and the resulting digital files undergo rigorous quality control checks to ensure optimal results.
No Additional Restoration Charges: All basic restoration procedures are included within our standard reel-to-reel to digital conversion pricing. In the rare event that a reel-to-reel tape is deemed beyond successful recovery (this occurs in less than 1% of cases), you will receive a full refund for that tape. We strongly advise that the sooner you choose to digitise your reel-to-reel tapes, the higher the likelihood of successful preservation and restoration of your precious audio memories!