Your Audio Cassettes, Preserved and Playable
I digitize audio cassettes - home recordings, mixtapes, voice messages, and family recordings - to MP3 or WAV files, without shipping your originals anywhere.
That cassette may be the only copy of a voice you miss
Tape degrades even when it looks fine
Magnetic tape loses quality through heat, humidity, and age. The binder holding the oxide to the tape breaks down over decades. Once gone, the audio is gone.
No way to play them
Cassette decks are hard to find. Even if you have one, old cassettes played on a worn deck often sound worse than the tape actually is.
These recordings exist nowhere else
Home recordings - voices, messages, music you recorded off the radio - exist only on that tape. They were never uploaded to anything.
Your Tapes Never Leave Colwood
I have been transferring audio cassettes for over 35 years, and the ones that matter most are almost always the home recordings. A parent reading a bedtime story. A message left on an answering machine. A voice that has not been heard in years. Every tape gets both sides transferred. Before playback I clean the tape path and demagnetize the heads, which makes a real difference on tapes that have been sitting in a box since the 1980s. Hiss reduction is included as a standard step on every job. Your originals never leave Colwood. They are not mailed anywhere. From drop-off to pickup, they stay in my care.
How It Works
Drop-Off in Colwood
Use my online form to book a private drop-off time. This ensures I can review your items with you personally when you arrive.
Approve Estimate
Once I have your project, I don't just process it. I inspect the condition of every tape and page. If I find something that needs special attention, I’ll call you.
Enjoy and Share
You’ll receive a secure download link, and a USB if requested. You can finally watch your memories on your phone, tablet, or TV.
What I Accept
Home and Family Recordings
Family recordings are the most irreplaceable content I work with. A parent's voice, a child's first words, an interview with a grandparent. I handle these with the same care I would want for my own.
Mixtapes and Music Recordings
I transfer both sides A and B and deliver them as separate files or as one continuous recording, whichever you prefer. Hiss reduction is included as a standard step.
Microcassettes and Answering Machine Tapes
Microcassettes require different playback equipment than standard cassettes. I have the decks to handle them. If you have answering machine tapes with messages you want to preserve, bring them along.
How I Handle Your Tapes
Every cassette is inspected before playback. Tapes with mold, tangling, or shell damage are treated first. I use professional playback decks and apply noise reduction where it helps - delivering files you can actually enjoy, not just archive.
Asked Often
Are voices time-sensitive to preserve?
Yes. Audio tapes degrade over time, and voices are often irreplaceable.
Do you listen to my recordings?
Only briefly to confirm quality. Your privacy is respected.
How are audio files delivered?
Audio is delivered as MP3 files that work on all modern devices.
What kinds of audio tapes do you convert?
I convert common audio cassettes, micro-cassettes and min-cassette tapes.
Do you transfer both sides of the tape?
Yes. Both Side A and Side B are transferred as part of the standard service. You'll get separate files for each side.
What format will my audio be in?
MP3 files suitable for phones, speakers, and streaming. If you need WAV files for archiving or editing, I can provide those too.
What about tapes that sound bad or have hiss?
Hiss reduction is included with every transfer. I can also boost low-volume recordings. I can't recover audio that was never recorded, but I can often improve what is there.
How long does it take?
A typical batch of 5 to 10 cassettes is ready within a week. I'll give you a timeline at drop-off.
What happens to my original tapes?
Your originals come back to you. Nothing is kept or discarded without your permission.
What My Clients Say
“I found a tape of my grandmother telling family stories from the 80s. I was terrified to play it. Dave handled it so carefully and the digital audio file he sent me is a treasure my whole family now has. The fact that I could just drop it off in Colwood was a huge relief.”
Transparent pricing. Every job guaranteed.
Every job starts with a free estimate. See typical costs before you commit, and if anything isn't right when I'm done, I'll fix it at no charge.
Some voices only exist on tape.
Book a drop-off in Colwood and I'll transfer everything carefully. Your originals come back the moment I'm done.