Cassette to digital
Audio cassettes and microcassettes, turned into digital audio files: mixtapes, voicemail and answering machine tapes, recordings of family, bands and radio shows. Drop off in Lafayette or mail tapes in from anywhere.
- Formats
- Audio cassettes, microcassettes
- You get
- MP3 files; WAV on request
- Delivery
- Download link included. USB drive $10
- Turnaround
- 1 to 2 weeks
- Price
- $20 per tape
Prices
Add your tapes to the cart, check out, then drop off or mail them in.
| Option | Price | Order |
|---|---|---|
| Cassette Digitization | $20.00 per tape | |
| USB drive with your files | $10.00 per order |
One price for full-size cassettes and microcassettes. Orders of 20 or more tapes: ask for a bulk quote.
What you get back
Audio files
Each side as its own file, or split into tracks if you ask.
Cleaned up, not changed
Levels set and hiss reduced where it helps, without making voices sound processed.
Your tapes
Every original cassette, returned.
Why convert now
Cassette tape stretches and sheds with age, and the pinch rollers in old players harden and chew tape. A cassette that plays today may not survive many more plays.
A careful transfer on a cleaned, adjusted deck gets the most out of the tape once, so you never have to play it again.
Drop off or mail it in
Order online first, then get your items to the studio one of two ways.
Drop off in Lafayette
Bring your items to the studio in Lafayette by appointment. You’ll get a time when you order, and a receipt listing everything you left.
Mail it in from anywhere
Pack items snugly in a sturdy box with padding on every side, and put a copy of your order number inside. Use a tracked service. Your originals come back by $5 flat-rate shipping, or free hand delivery in Lafayette and West Lafayette.
Packing tapes and cassettes
Stand tapes upright in their cases, wrap the stack in bubble wrap, and keep them away from speakers and magnets in transit.
Packing photos and slides
Keep photos flat between two pieces of cardboard. Don’t tape, clip or rubber-band them; leave slides in their boxes or sleeves.
Questions
Can you save a tape that’s been chewed?
Often, yes: crinkled tape can be carefully smoothed and broken tape spliced. You’ll hear what’s possible before any work is done.
Can you split a mixtape into songs?
Yes. Ask for track splitting when you order.
How much space do the files take?
About 60 MB per hour as MP3, or about 600 MB per hour as WAV. Even hundreds of tapes fit on a small drive.
How do I get my originals back?
By $5 flat-rate shipping, or free hand delivery in Lafayette and West Lafayette. Choose at checkout.
Are my home movies and photos kept private?
Yes. Your items are only handled by Elijah, files are never posted or shared, and copies are deleted from the studio 60 days after delivery.
Is there a discount for large orders?
Yes. For 20 or more items, ask for a bulk quote before you order.
How long does it take?
One to two weeks for most orders, longer around the holidays. If you need it by a date, say so when you order.
Convert your cassettes
Order online, or email first with how many tapes and what’s on them. You’ll get a reply within 24 hours.