Under Design's Audio+ Conversion Services - Reel To CD
![[image: Reel-to-Reel To CD Conversion Services]](http://www.undr.com/src/pics/reeltocd/Reel2_Header.jpg "Enjoy Listening to your Reel-to-Reel Audio Tapes... Let Under Design digitally digitally archive your Reel-to-Reel tapes on professionally remastered compact discs.")
![[image: Reel-to-Reel To CD Conversion Services]](http://www.undr.com/src/pics/reeltocd/Reel_Header_o2021.jpg "Enjoy Listening to your Reel-to-Reel Audio Tapes... Let Under Design digitally digitally archive your Reel-to-Reel tapes on professionally remastered compact discs.")
Save your precious deteriorating original reel-to-reel (open reel, 1/4 inch tape) and enjoy Simple and Convenient CD Audio copies starting at only $42 per reel! Under Design offers the lowest price in the Nation for digitally converting your precious, classic, family audio memories stored on Reel-to-Reel audio tape!
Our Customers Love Our Work!
Click here to see our glowing feedback postcards from some of our satisfied customers!
Included With Every Order
Our Process
Every Reel-to-Reel Conversion begins with a thorough tape inspection for damage, mold and decay, before it's played back on our broadcast-quality Reel-to-Reel decks. The audio signal is digitized using our professional grade audio card before our audio engineers do some light post-processing on the resulting audio. We remove the inherent tape hiss, trim the tracks, amplify and even the levels before re-mastering it back onto audio CD's. We use top-rated CD media to ensure a high-caliber and highly-compatible product. Each CD gets marked with simple, easy-to-read identification, then stored in a paper sleeve.
Media Types
Reel-to-reel tape (or Open Reel Tape) came in many shapes and sizes, the most common consumer size that we accept is a quarter inches in width (1/4 inch tape). As tapes came in different thicknesses and substrates (two are pictured), and are often put on different size reels (ranging from 3" to 10" and larger), depending on runtime, because they can be recorded at different speeds, not every reel-to-reel tape yields the same amount of audio. We charge a flat rate per reel, no matter how much audio (and as many audio CD's are required) to complete the audio transfer.
Archivists Welcome!
If you have a massive digital conversion or archiving project for your university, corporation, government agency or just intricate order that requires a person, contact us here at Under Design and we'll be glad to help you out! We can handle all sorts of custom orders, and offer bulk discounts that fit your budget. We love to provide local, personal service, so if you are in the center city Philadelphia, PA area, we're open Tuesday-Friday from noon until 6pm for dropping off your digital conversion orders.
![[image: Under Design Logo]](http://www.undr.com/src/pics/undr.com.png "Under Design")
Conversion Experience
Under Design was founded in 1992, working in many media forms integrating design into real-world applications. We have over 20 years of experience in digital recording, multi-media development, audio compression and digital encoding. We use top-of-the-line professionally maintained equipment to ensure quality transfers at an affordable price. You can also take a look at what some of our satisfied customers are saying about their new digital conversions!
Reel-to-Reel Sizes and Runtimes
Depending on how the initial Reel tape was recorded (stereo/mono, single/double sided), the below runtimes may be doubled or quadrupled.
| Tape Speed in Inches Per Second | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reel Size | Tape Length | 1 7/8 IPS | 3 3/4 IPS | 7 1/2 IPS | 15 IPS |
| 3" | 150 ft. | 16 mins | 8 mins | 4 mins | 2 mins |
| 4" | 300 ft. | 32 mins | 16 mins | 8 mins | 4 mins |
| 5" | 600 ft. | 1 hr 4 mins | 32 mins | 16 mins | 8 mins |
| 6" | 900 ft. | 1 hr 36 mins | 48 mins | 24 mins | 12 mins |
| 7" | 1200 ft. | 2 hr 8 mins | 1 hr 4 mins | 32 mins | 16 mins |
Under Design cannot accept Reels larger than 7"The below information is published for reference as to approximate runtimes. |
|||||
| 8" | 1800 ft. | 3 hr 12 mins | 1 hr 36 mins | 48 mins | 24 mins |
| 10 1/2" | 2400 ft. | 4 hr 16 mins | 2 hr 8 mins | 1 hr 4 mins | 32 mins |
| 10 1/2" | 3600 ft. | 6 hr 24 mins | 3 hr 12 mins | 1 hr 36 mins | 48 mins |
This transfer will require 4+ CD's |
This transfer will require 3 CD's |
This transfer will require 2 CD's |
|||
Notes About Transfers
If your audio reel tape comes apart or snaps in two during playback, we'll fix the first break for free. Additional breaks will be invoiced to the customer at $2 per edit. If your reel is recorded at 1 7/8 ips or 15 ips and requires post-recording pitch fixing, there will be a $4 fee. If your reel is recorded as split mono tracks (and twice the audio content), there will be a $8 fee. If your reel requires a sliding time scale / pitch shift over the entire recording, there will be a $16 fee.
No Charge for Blank Reels!
If your polyester Reel-to-Reel tape requires Tape Baking, due to age or poor storage conditions, please DO NOT use our transfer service. Improperly stored Reel-to-reel tapes tend to bind-up in storage, allowing the tape to stick to itself. They will also flake off the magnetic substrate (shedding) during playback, making for a noticeable loss in audio quality. You get only one chance to capture the best audio off these old tapes, and unfortunately, we are not restoration experts! You can expect that detail-oriented audio transfer services including baking will cost four times as much as our bargain rates.
By submitting your Reel-to-Reel for digital conversion to Under Design, you acknowledge that you are aware of these surcharges, and that these surcharges may exceed conversion costs.
Now including Shipment Tracking
We're already big fans of the United States Postal Service and it's Media Mail rate. They've recently upgraded their internal computer systems to support Package Tracking, and now we include it as a standard feature with all of our Return Shipping. After we've shipped your job back to you, we'll email you a tracking number and instructions on how to monitor it's commute back to your home.
Read our Analog to Digital Blog!
Order Online and Pay With Credit Card
Order by U.S. Mail and Pay with Check
Download Order Form
Download and print our PDF order form, which has all of our available Audio+ Conversion Services (and simple flat-rate pricing) in one simple-to-use form. You can calculate return shipping costs and bulk discounts for a simple predictable estimate for your archiving project. Use our order form for:
- Multiple media type orders (Reel-to-Reel Tapes along with LP's, VHS, etc.)
- No Credit Card or you prefer to pay by Check or Money Order
Simply pack our completed order form along with your media and ship it to us using the U.S. Postal Service's Media Mail rate, for the lowest shipping rates! We'll notify you by email once it arrives.
Schedule To Drop Off Your Conversion
Live in the Philadelphia Area?
Save the hassle of shipping (and the horrific possibility of lost packages!) by scheduling a 30 minute window to drop off your Conversion Job at our offices in West Philly during business hours (Tuesday through Friday from Noon until 6pm). We have survived the past few years of the Covid lockdown and are back to accepting in person drop off conversion work using our scheduler assistant Cal.com; An email address is required, and you'll be reminded automatically two hours before your appointment.