Transferring analogue sound recordings to digital copies has two major benefits: first, it provides greater accessibility to the content; second it ensures the digital preservation of the original recording.
We understand that a digital copy of the original is not necessarily synonymous with high quality, a distinction that others do not always make. A high quality version captures as much information from the original as possible, even if it is badly degraded. Once a master/raw copy has been made, we use a variety of techniques to improve the sound quality.
We provide a full range of audio digitisation services for all types of formats including:
- Standard compact cassettes tapes: C30, C60, C90, C120 etc
- Mini and Microcassettes tapes
- ¼” reel to reel audio tape
- Records: Vinyl LPs & Singles; Shellac Discs; Acetate Discs
- CDs
Output Formats
For the majority of our archive clients we provide two output formats, one for preservation purposes and the other for access and easier dissemination. These are typically:
- Preservation specification & format: Wav uncompressed
- Access specification & format: MP3 format
We are always happy to go through these options and help you select the best fit for your requirements.
Project Management
Project management services include:
- Initial conservation review, proposal and the undertaking of any remedial work e.g. mould removal, repair and cleaning
- Sound enhancement where required including hiss and click removal and other enhancements to improve the output quality
- Access to a secure online compressed version of the recording for your review and assessment prior to delivery
- To enhance the digitised recording we are sometimes asked to produce a searchable transcription. This improves the discoverability of the content, providing direct access to words or phrases within the digitised content, either to read the transcribed text or to listen to the recording at the point where the words or phrases appear
- The original audio material is of course fully insured both while at our premises and in transit.
Customers
Collections for whom we have digitised audio recordings include:
- Energy Charter Secretariat
- National Theatre
- King's College London
- National Army Museum
- Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability
- IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology)
- Scout Association
- Scottish Fisheries Museum
- Westminster Abbey
- RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects)
Samples and Next Steps
Please do contact us to discuss your audio collection. We would be delighted to digitise samples from your collection (without charge) so that you can see the benefits of opening up access to your audio collection by digitisation.
