Audio cassettes
How to spot it: The standard music and recording tape. Look for “Normal”, “Chrome/High” or “Metal” on the label.
You getMP3, 320 kbps
Type I, II and IV tapes. Rare Type III (“ferrichrome”) tapes are the one exception.
← All formats
Audio tapes
Mission letters, family sing-alongs, answering-machine messages and recorded interviews with grandparents. We play each tape on a machine made for it and record it straight into the computer.
1 tape or reel = 1 item.
What we take
Microcassettes
How to spot it: Tiny tapes from answering machines and dictation recorders, about the size of a matchbox.
You getMP3, 320 kbps
Reel-to-reel tapes
How to spot it: ¼-inch tape wound on open reels, from home recorders of the 1950s–70s.
You getMP3, 320 kbps
Reels up to 7 inches across. Tell us if it’s a stereo music recording.
What you’ll get back
File typeMP3 at 320 kbps (the highest MP3 quality), one file per side
Capture qualityCD quality: 44.1 kHz, 16-bit
Lossless copyWAV files on request
Delivered through your private online link, ready to download and share, with USB copies if you add them.
Getting them ready
- Note which side you care about most, if you know.
- Don’t play old tapes to test them; a stretched or sticky tape can break.
- Labels and handwritten notes help us name each recording.