Domestic quarter-inch reels
Family recordings and personal collections on common 3-inch, 5-inch and 7-inch spools, including mono and stereo recordings.
Oxford Duplication Centre · Audio Preservation
Reel-to-Reel Audio Tape Transfers
Professional digitisation of domestic quarter-inch reel tapes and professional open-reel recordings, with digital files prepared for listening, sharing and long-term preservation.
Based in Oxfordshire, we handle family recordings, interviews, oral histories, music and archive collections with care.
Careful handling. Appropriate playback. Useful digital files.
Reel-to-reel tapes vary in reel diameter, recording speed, track configuration and playing time. A short reel may contain a different amount of audio from a larger reel, and some recordings use more than one speed. We assess the material and confirm the estimate with you before work begins.
Professional studio tapes
Open-reel studio masters and professional recordings, including two-track and multitrack formats. Please tell us the tape width and track configuration if known.
Preservation-focused output
Choose access files for everyday listening or high-resolution WAV/BWF files for production and archival workflows.
Playback speeds and tape condition
Domestic quarter-inch reels may have been recorded at 1⅞, 3¾ or 7½ inches per second (ips). The correct speed and track configuration are important for faithful playback; mixed-speed recordings can require additional assessment.
Older tapes may also show signs of deterioration. High-pitched squealing or sticky playback can indicate a problem with the tape binder. Where appropriate, specialist treatment such as controlled tape baking may be considered following assessment. Treatment is not suitable for every tape, so we do not assume it is required without checking the material.
Before sending your tapes: Please do not repeatedly play a tape that squeals, sticks or sheds material. Contact us first so we can advise on the safest next step.
Digital output formats
WAV / BWF
Uncompressed PCM audio suitable for high-quality access, editing and preservation workflows. Broadcast Wave Format can also support embedded metadata.
AIFF
A high-quality uncompressed audio option, often used in Apple-based production environments.
MP3 or audio CD
Convenient options for listening and sharing. These are generally access formats rather than substitutes for an uncompressed preservation master.
Available specifications include 16-bit/44.1 kHz CD audio, 24-bit/96 kHz files and, where requested, 24-bit/192 kHz production files. Higher-resolution output may incur an additional charge as noted in the price list below.
Audio reel-to-reel and tape digitisation prices
The table below retains the supplied price list for domestic reels and related audio formats. Prices are shown in pounds sterling; VAT and any additional treatment or output charges should be confirmed when your estimate is prepared.
AUDIO REEL TO REEL COSTS
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CORPORATE, HERITAGE & CONSUMER AUDIO TAPE PRICE LIST Note: Digital output files above 24-bit 96kHz will incur an additional charge of £8.00 per output |
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| Optical Discs Tapes - Cost per Tape | 1+ | 10+ | 25+ | 50+ | 100+ | ||
| Digital Audio MiniDisc | 35.00 | 32.50 | 30.00 | 27.50 | 25.00 | ||
| Compact Disc (CD) | 10.00 | 8.00 | 6.00 | 4.00 | 2.00 | ||
| ADAT/DAT Tapes - Cost per Tape | 1+ | 10+ | 25+ | 50+ | 100+ | ||
| ADAT (Alesis Digital Tape) 8-Track | 70.00 | 67.50 | 65.00 | 62.50 | 60.00 | ||
| DAT (Digital Audio Tape) 2-Track Stereo | 40.00 | 37.50 | 35.00 | 32.50 | 30.00 | ||
| Cassettes, Dictaphone, Mini & Micro Tapes - Cost per Tape | 1+ | 10+ | 25+ | 50+ | 100+ | ||
| Cassettes - upto 60mins | 26.00 | 24.00 | 22.00 | 20.00 | 18.00 | ||
| Cassettes - 90mins | 28.00 | 26.00 | 24.00 | 22.00 | 20.00 | ||
| Cassettes - 120mins | 30.00 | 28.00 | 26.00 | 24.00 | 22.00 | ||
| 1/4" Domestic Reel-to-Reel - Cost per Reel | 1+ | 10+ | 25+ | 50+ | 100+ | ||
| 3" Domestic reel to reel - Charge per reel | 30.00 | 28.00 | 26.00 | 24.00 | 22.00 | ||
| 5" Domestic reel to reel - Charge per reel | 35.00 | 32.50 | 30.00 | 27.50 | 25.00 | ||
| 7" Domestic reel to reel - Charge per reel | 40.00 | 37.50 | 35.00 | 32.50 | 30.00 | ||
| Tape baking or damaged tape re-assembly per unit - if required | 5.00 | ||||||
| Domestic spool diameters are 3.25", 5" and 7" with recording speeds of either 1 7/8 ips, 3 3/4 ips or 7 1/2 ips and usually quarter-track (4 track) mono or stereo. | |||||||
| 1/4" Half/2-Track Services Per Reel | 1+ | 10+ | 25+ | 50+ | 100+ | ||
| 2-track studio master professional tape 7" | 30.00 | 28.00 | 26.00 | 24.00 | 22.00 | ||
| 2-track studio master professional tape 10.5" | 40.00 | 38.00 | 36.00 | 34.00 | 32.00 | ||
| Prices includes baking | |||||||
| Spool diameters are 7" and 10.5" half-track (2-track) stereo running at 15 ips or 30 ips. | |||||||
| 1/4" Multi-Track Services Per Reel | 1+ | 10+ | 25+ | 50+ | 100+ | ||
| 4-track professional tape 10.5" | 50.00 | 45.00 | 40.00 | 35.00 | 30.00 | ||
| 8-track professional tape 10.5" | 60.00 | 55.00 | 50.00 | 45.00 | 40.00 | ||
| Prices includes baking | |||||||
| 1/2" Multi-Track Services Per Reel | 1+ | 10+ | 25+ | 50+ | 100+ | ||
| 1/2 inch 2-track professional tape | 60.00 | 55.00 | 50.00 | 45.00 | 40.00 | ||
| 1/2 inch 4-track professional tape | 70.00 | 65.00 | 60.00 | 55.00 | 50.00 | ||
| 1/2 inch 8-track professional tape | 80.00 | 75.00 | 70.00 | 65.00 | 60.00 | ||
| 1/2 inch 16-track professional tape | 100.00 | 95.00 | 90.00 | 85.00 | 80.00 | ||
| Prices includes baking | |||||||
Not sure what type of reel you have?
Send us a description or photograph of the reel and box label. We can help identify the format and advise on the next step.