Play It Again Sam

Mp3 or WAV files

Our standard transfer is onto USB as high quality mp3 files, but you can have WAV files instead if you prefer, and at no extra cost. WAV is slightly higher in quality than mp3, as it is a “lossless” format. That means no quality is lost, unlike mp3 which is a “lossy” format. But WAV files tend to only play on a computer, whereas mp3 files will play on car players, TVs, etc. We make our mp3 files at the highest possible quality, so you're not likely to notice the difference unless you have high quality audiophile equipment.

We have two different levels of service for audio cassettes:


1) Clean + Convert Transfer to USB

We give the cassette tape surface a physical clean, then we record the cassette using high end pro decks & NAD digitising interfaces. If the tape indicates it was recorded with Dolby noise reduction we select that on the deck, as well as the correct tape type (Normal or High Bias - Chrome, Metal tape etc). Once digitised we top & tail the material (removing blank/silent sections), and normalise the material (which brings up the peak volumes to correct levels). There will be up to 2 files made, one for each side of the tape that holds a recording. These files are delivered either on USB or CD, or both as required.


2) Ultra Transfer to USB

As for the Clean + Convert transfer above, plus we do a digital cleanup. This includes:

• remove/reduce tape hiss or hum
• manually adjust any extra loud volume peaks (such as record button clicks) that might affect the accuracy of the normalising process
• add compression as required.

There will be up to two files made, one for each side of the tape that holds a recording. These files are delivered either on USB or CD.


Add track splitting

With this add on option there will be a track made for each song on the cassette (if it has songs).  We offer this only where there are clearly defined track breaks between songs, so not for orchestral or live convert recordings.


USB or CD

We transfer most of our jobs to USB these days, because CDs & DVDs are dying out. Or you can have audio CDs if you prefer, bearing in mind that for multiple tapes/records you'd need multiple CDs, and tapes will require more than one CD if they're longer than 80 mins in duration. So USB is usually better value, especially if you have more than one tape, or a full C90 tape.

We charge $16.50 for a 16Gb or 32Gb USB stick (only one USB required per project unless you prefer separate USBs), or you can have it on CD for $11 per master CD. (80 min limit). Duplicate CD copies are $9.90 ea.

Prices for small quantities for the Clean + Convert service begins at a flat rate of $39.95 ea for very short wound tapes (C15 or lower), or $47 ea for all other tapes, plus USB.

We do also offer discounts for bulk quantities. For a custom quote for your quantities, your timeframe, your tape condition, as well as further info about discounts contact us here.

Track splitting is available at an additional $3.30 per track. NB: Not available live albums & classical music.

Upgrade to Ultra service - Add $55 per tape.


Please contact us for a custom quote for your quantities, your urgency & your tape condition.


Turnaround Timeframes:

Depending on your quantities, we’re quoting from approx 2-12 weeks at the moment, not including shipping time. If you’re in a hurry and need it sooner than that let us know, and we may be able to accommodate you.

Please note that with the Christmas season rapidly approaching, large jobs may need to carry over until the new year. Or we can arrange to deliver a part of the job before Christmas.



Christmas Cut-Off Times* for incoming orders:

All jobs requiring shipping must be received no later than 9 am Monday, 11th December 2023, for completion*/invoicing by Dec 18th & Express Postage dispatching no later than Wednesday, 20th December 2023. Australia Post states that the last mailing day is Dec 20th for WA & NT, and Dec 21st for the rest of Australia. Please note that we cannot be held responsible for Australia Post's services.

Pick-up Orders can be placed until Friday, 15th December 2023, for completion*/invoicing by Dec 20th, for collection Dec 20, 21 & 22.

*Any undertaking to try to fully complete a project before Christmas is subject to realistic timeframes considering the size & scope of the project. We will advise if your project cannot fully be processed within the desired timeframe, and discuss options for partial pre-Christmas delivery if that helps.



Store Christmas Closure Notice:

RetroMedia will close 5pm Friday, 22nd December 2023, re-opening 9am Monday, 15th January 2024

PLEASE NOTE: During the holiday month of January, our store will operate with reduced staff, as we conduct annual general maintenance. As a result, service timeframes may be longer than anticipated.



Left Your Run A Little Late?

For Christmas this year we are offering beautifully gift-wrapped Gift Certificates! Any service, any value from $100. For that special somebody in your life! And so easy for you to take advantage of!

Ask us how!


Terms:

• We ask for a part payment (deposit) at commencement, of $10 per tape. 

• To keep things as fair as possible, for regular timeframe projects your job will go into a queue of work and will be attended in turn. We're always very busy, dealing with a lot of very old, obsolete media, in a wide range of physical conditions, and with widely differing play durations which must be played through in real time (no high-speed digitizing process exists). So predicting timeframes is not an exact science. It's simply not possible to precisely allow for unforeseen issues that may occur in your job, or in the jobs preceding yours in the queue.

So we aim at estimated turnaround targets. We ask for your patience with us on this. To do the best possible job, and to do it at a reasonable price, means it can't also be quick. We can choose only two of the three, and we're unwilling to cut corners on quality. If you have a looming deadline or event, please let us know, and we can discuss some options with you.

• Original media is available for collection upon full payment. Unless prior arrangements have been made, we ask for payments to be made within 7 days of invoicing.

• We like to be as flexible as possible. We’re happy to work with you before commencement of the job to come to a mutually acceptable arrangement. But we do ask that if we have not made alternate arrangements with you before commencement, that you will honour our terms.

We physically pre-clean all open reel tapes, removing loose/shedding oxide particles, as well as dust/finger oils, etc.

Then all our conversions are performed on our authentic 1970s AKAI 630D tape decks, refurbished to exacting standards & chosen for their amazing wear-resistant glass play heads.

We have Dolby capable decks (Akai 630DB) and so If the tape indicates it was recorded with Dolby noise reduction we can select that on the deck. We then digitise through quality NAD pre-amps.

Once digitised we top & tail the material (removing blank/silent sections), then normalise the material (which brings up the peak volumes to correct levels).

For mono/stereo recordings there will be up to two files made, one for each side of the tape that holds a recording. For four track recordings up to four files will be made.

These files are then delivered either on USB or CD, or both. We charge $16.50 for a 16Gb or 32Gb USB stick (only one USB required per project unless you prefer separate USBs), or you can have it on CD for $11 per master CD. (80 min limit). CD copies are $9.90 ea.

Pricing for reel-to-reel depends on three things…

(a) reel diameter - usually 3 inch, 5 inch, 7 inch or larger, and the original recording speed. Tapes can range from 5 mins through to 8 hours or longer per side, depending on the recording format, tape speed & reel size (length of tape).

(b) whether or not it’s been recorded on one side of the tape only, or both sides.

(c) whether the material is mono or stereo (same price) or if it is a 4 track stereo recording (two individual tracks on each stereo channel). The 4-track stereo format will have to be played through twice on each side of the tape.

Please note: We cannot help with multi-track recordings (4 or more synchronised recorded tracks recorded in one direction on only one side of tape). This format was recorded on expensive equipment, in various formats & tape widths, and mostly used only by professional musicians.

Reel-to-Reel tape conversions have a once-per project setup fee of $35, then:

• 3 inch reel (or smaller) Mono or Stereo - $33 single side, or $66 both sides.
• 3 inch reel (or smaller) 4-track Stereo - $66 single side, or $110 both sides.

• 5 inch reel Mono or Stereo - $66 single side, or $132 both sides.
• 5 inch reel 4-track Stereo - $132 single side, or $220 both sides.

• 7 inch reel Mono or Stereo - $88 single side, or $176 both sides.
• 7 inch reel 4-track Stereo - $176 single side, or $330 both sides.


We convert the audio at the playback speed that our tech determines to be correct at the start of each side. Please note that with this conversion service we will not be actively checking for speed changes throughout the program content. Please see paragraph below regarding Tape Speed Changes.

Plus USB &/or CDs.

Inclusions/Exclusions:

Tape Breakages: Tapes can be brittle or degraded at this age. Some may not be transferrable at all due to problems like:

• de-lamination (the oxide comes away from the plastic tape base)
• hydrolysis problems (tape path stiction/friction, tape squealing, "sticky shed syndrome"),
• stretched tape,
• deformation (the tape deforms in a ruffle-like, sprung-open state & can neither be effectively played nor rewound), and
• brittle-ness of the tape

Where we can repair tape breakage, or failed tape splices, we will repair one instance of breakage per tape side at no charge. Beyond that we charge $7.70 per repair. If we encounter more than one splice failure/breakage we will pause the job & seek instruction.

Tape Speed Changes: We record tapes at the tape speed determined to be correct at the beginning of each side of the tape. Our decks are maintained to be dead accurate on playback speed, but many domestic decks of the past were not, so there may be instances where the recordings we transfer for you are not reproduced exactly at true "Concert C" pitch, or where voices may not sound exactly as you're used to hearing them, or in fact at the exact correct pitch. This can be dealt with in post production editing if needed. T

Depending on the habits of the original recordist, a tape may be one consistent speed throughout, or may change speed once or twice. In some cases many speed changes can occur. If a tape exhibits multiple playback speeds throughout its length, then digital editing will be required to correct this. Once again, editing is not included in our transfer service.

Our approach to this problem is that the client first takes home the digitised versions of the tapes & then notes if/where any speed changes occur. This is so they are not paying labour charges for us to sit & listen intently through long tapes checking for the possible occurrence of speed changes, something that would cost more than most people would be happy to pay. We won't be held responsible for any instances of incorrect speeds occurring within the transfer. We undertake, as part of the transfer/conversion process only to get the playback speed correct at the start of each side of each tape. The client, or a family member, may be able to adjust this in software such as the free Audacity program, or we can correct this for you. Extra editing charges would apply for this, as it falls outside the scope of our offered transfer service, which is basically to clean your tapes so they play back at their best, and to migrate your audio from tape to a digital format (mp3 or WAV files on USB).

Single Sided/Double Sided: If it is unknown whether or not there is material on both sides, the only way we'll know for sure is to play through & record both sides. "Both sides" rates above apply whether the reverse side has material or is blank. If the entire tape is blank we will issue a $10 part credit, because all the cleaning work & the play through labour is the same, regardless.

Audio Enhancement/Restoration Services: For reel-to-reel formats, because of the content length can vary so greatly, we offer enhancement/restoration at hourly edit rates. Click here for further information.


Turnaround Timeframes:

Depending on your quantities, we’re quoting from approx 3-6 weeks at the moment, not including shipping time. If you’re in a hurry and need it sooner than that let us know, and we may be able to accommodate you.


Terms:

• We ask for a part payment (deposit) at commencement, of $10 per tape. 

• To keep things as fair as possible, for regular timeframe projects your job will go into a queue of work and will be attended in turn. We're always very busy, dealing with a lot of very old, obsolete media, in a wide range of physical conditions, and with widely differing play durations which must be played through in real time (no high-speed digitising process exists). So predicting timeframes is not an exact science. It's simply not possible to precisely allow for unforeseen issues that may occur in your job, or in the jobs preceding yours in the queue.

So we aim at estimated turnaround targets. We ask for your patience with us on this. To do the best possible job, and to do it at a reasonable price, means it can't also be quick. We can choose only two of the three, and we're unwilling to cut corners on quality. If you have a looming deadline or event, please let us know, and we can discuss some options with you.


• Original media is available for collection upon full payment. Unless prior arrangements have been made, we ask for payments to be made within 7 days of invoicing.

• We like to be as flexible as possible. We’re happy to work with you before commencement of the job to come to a mutually acceptable arrangement. But we do ask that if we have not made alternate arrangements with you before commencement, that you will honour our terms.

We consider this service to be viable where you cannot buy the recording on CD or as a digital download, or maybe if you’re a vinyl purist who really prefers the sound off vinyl.

People have different things in mind when they ask about digitising vinyl. So we’ll go through the two levels of service we offer, as well as optional add ons.

Both our Clean + Convert & our Ultra service conversions are performed on the same equipment, so any difference is not a matter of equipment quality. And in both cases the records are transferred in their entirely as one digital audio track for each side, A & B. This can be further broken up into individual tracks after digitising. If you want individually selectable songs maybe you can do this for yourself, with audio software such as the free Audacity program, or we can do it for you if the track breaks are clear to see. We need to see a clearly defined break in the audio waveform, so songs that run together (segues) we usually won’t split. So that’s usually live records and classical records we don’t split.

NB: We don’t use auto track splitting software for this, as it’s too unreliable for a paid service. It’s ok to try this yourself, but we need to be able to guarantee accuracy, so we do the splitting manually.

Both levels of service include wet washing of the vinyl surface, and all our conversion services come with a 12 month warranty backed by a free 12 month subscription to our triple data backup system.

So, in summary, the Clean + Convert service includes:

• a wet wash of the playing surface before conversion
• expert digitising on professional turntables through NAD pre-amp converters
• simple digital click removal as well as removal/reduction by hand of loud volume peaks caused by needle drop & lift
• Normalising of playback volume
• a single digital audio track produced each for side A & side B

The difference between our Ultra service & our regular Clean + Convert service is that with the basic service we include a simple semi-automated click reduction process, whereas with the Ultra Transfer we do a hands-on, manual digital audio cleanup up, removing or reducing clicks, pops, snaps etc.

For a single LP disc, Clean + Convert digitising with no track splitting would be $47 transferred to mp3 files (or WAV if you ask for it), then $16.50 for a 16Gb stick (only one required per project), or you can have it on CD for $11 per master CD, with extra duplicate copies at $9.90 ea.

We do also offer discounts for bulk quantities. For a custom quote for your quantities, your timeframe, your tape condition, as well as further info about discounts contact us here.

Track splitting is an additional $3.30 per track. (Track splitting is generally not offered for live albums & orchestral music. We must be able to clearly see the track breaks.)

Upgrade to Ultra - aditional $55 per disc.

12 inch singles & 7 inch records (singles or EPs) start at $44, then drop with quantity.

Commercially produced 78s & once-off acetate recordings will always require the Ultra treatment. A $25 setup fee applies, then it's $97 per disc including digital audio cleanup. Please note that we will not physically wet wash records where flaking/chipping is evident, and that with these very old recordings there are limits to what can be achieved with the digital cleanup. It may be that only slight improvements can be achieved, or lessening of problems rather than elimination.

If you know your records are in pristine condition, you can choose to waive the wet wash & save $10 per record, but we won’t waive washing for commercially produced 78’s - they need all the help they can get.

On the other hand, vinyl peels are available for very special records. (A painted-on product that dries to a film, which is peeled off, taking the gunk with it). Cost is $55 per LP.

Plus USB &/or CDs. Please contact us for further details or a custom quote.


Turnaround Timeframes:

Depending on your quantities, we’re quoting from approx 2-12 weeks at the moment, not including shipping time. If you’re in a hurry and need it sooner than that let us know, and we may be able to accommodate you.



Terms:

• We ask for a part payment (deposit) at commencement, of $10 per disc. 

• To keep things as fair as possible, for regular timeframe projects your job will go into a queue of work and will be attended in turn. We're always very busy, dealing with a lot of very old, obsolete media, in a wide range of physical conditions, and with widely differing play durations which must be played through in real time (no high-speed digitizing process exists). So predicting timeframes is not an exact science. It's simply not possible to precisely allow for unforeseen issues that may occur in your job, or in the jobs preceding yours in the queue.

So we aim at estimated turnaround targets. We ask for your patience with us on this. To do the best possible job, and to do it at a reasonable price, means it can't also be quick. We can choose only two of the three, and we're unwilling to cut corners on quality. If you have a looming deadline or event, please let us know, and we can discuss some options with you.


• Original media is available for collection upon full payment. Unless prior arrangements have been made, we ask for payments to be made within 7 days of invoicing.

• We like to be as flexible as possible. We’re happy to work with you before commencement of the job to come to a mutually acceptable arrangement. But we do ask that if we have not made alternate arrangements with you before commencement, that you will honour our terms.