Audio Digitization: Preserving Your Sonic Worlds
From the first recordings of grandparents on open-reel tapes to the personal mixtapes of the 90s—analog audio storage is fragile. Over the decades, magnetic tapes lose their charge, become brittle, or fall victim to magnetism and humidity. We transfer your acoustic memories into timeless digital formats with the utmost precision.
The Bridge Between Magnetic Tape and High-Resolution Audio
The digitization of audio media is far more than a simple copying process. It is a process of acoustic conservation. Every medium—whether a compact cassette or a reel-to-reel tape—has its own physical characteristics. The challenge lies in capturing the original soundscape without adding distortion or noise, ensuring it is secured for the future.
In our Innsbruck studio, we use professional playback equipment calibrated specifically for each format. We pay close attention to correct tape tension and optimal head alignment to ensure the maximum frequency response. This guarantees that your recordings are not just audible, but preserved in their original depth and dynamics.
Four Steps to Your Digital Archive
Who is our Audio Digitization for?
Our service is designed for a diverse group of clients who value the authenticity of their recordings. This includes families wishing to secure private archives to ensure the voices of past generations are not lost. We also collaborate with musicians and artists who possess demo recordings from the 70s or 80s that need to be digitized for re-release or archival purposes.
Additionally, we support small associations, local archives, or institutions in Innsbruck and the surrounding region that hold historical audio recordings which would soon become unplayable due to tape aging. Whether it is a single cassette or an extensive archive of hundreds of reels, we treat every medium with the same care.
How the Technical Implementation Works
The technical chain begins with the mechanical drive. For reel-to-reel tapes, constant speed is critical. We use devices that guarantee a smooth tape path to minimize pitch fluctuations (wow and flutter). The signal is routed through high-quality preamplifiers before entering the A/D converter.
We offer various resolutions. For pure archiving, we recommend uncompressed formats such as WAV or AIFF in 24-bit to store the maximum information of the analog signal. For daily use on smartphones or tablets, we can create compressed versions in MP3 or AAC.
Preparing Your Media
To ensure the process runs smoothly, we ask that you provide your media well-sorted. A simple list with labels (e.g., "Cassette 1: Christmas 1984") helps us name the files correctly later. Please remove any loose inserts from the cassette cases to avoid confusion.
If you notice that tapes are sticky or emit an unusual smell, please inform us in advance. In such cases, special "baking" of the tapes in controlled climate chambers is often necessary to stabilize the binders before a playback attempt can be made. Further tips can be found in our guide on Best Archival Formats.
The Result: What You Receive
Upon completion, you receive your recordings in a clearly structured folder hierarchy. We name the files according to your specifications or chronologically. You can choose between physical delivery on a USB stick or a download link via our secure cloud platform.
Cloud links remain active for 60 days, giving you ample time to back up the data to your own systems. Naturally, you will receive all your original media back completely intact and undamaged.
Timeline and Processing
The standard processing time for audio projects is generally 12 working days. This period includes technical inspection, transfer, and final quality control. For very large archive volumes, we coordinate the schedule individually with you.
Should you have an urgent deadline, we offer express processing. Please note that this incurs a surcharge of 50% on standard prices. Detailed terms and conditions for processing can be found in our Terms.
Scope of Service: What is Included
- Full visual inspection of all submitted media for mechanical integrity.
- High-quality analog-to-digital transfer using professional converters.
- Provision of files in WAV (archival) or MP3 (compact) format.
- Individual file naming based on your provided list.
- Basic level adjustment to avoid passages that are too quiet.
- Secure delivery via cloud link or USB stick (stick charged separately).
- Professional return of the original cassettes and reels.
What is NOT Included in Standard Service
Please note that our standard digitization is a faithful transfer of the existing sound. Deep acoustic restoration—such as removing heavy hiss, clicks, or repairing physically torn tapes—is a separate service.
If your recordings require professional cleaning or digital sound enhancement, we recommend our specialized Image and Audio Restoration. Likewise, the procurement of spare parts for extremely rare, defective proprietary formats is not included in the standard price.
Pricing and VAT
Our prices are based on the number of units to be processed (cassettes or reels). The listed prices include the statutory VAT of 20%. For business customers (B2B), we provide net prices. Billing is based on the actual volume of submitted media.
Audio Digitization Price List
| Medium | Price incl. VAT | Price excl. VAT | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact Cassettes | 18.00 € | 15.00 € | Kassette |
| Reel-to-Reel Tapes | 55.00 € | 45.83 € | Kassette/Spule |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
In what quality are the recordings saved?
What happens if a tape is damaged or torn?
How secure are my private recordings with you?
Can you digitize very old tapes from the 1950s?
Secure Your Audio Archives Now
Do not wait until magnetic tapes become unplayable. The chemical decomposition of analog media is a creeping process that is often only noticed when it is too late. Visit us in our studio in Innsbruck or contact us for a customized offer.
For a complete overview of all our archiving services, please visit our Services page or use our contact form directly.