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We'll convert your cassette tapes to CDs
that play easier, sound better, and last forever!
Advantages of Converting Cassette to CD:
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Standard Transfer
| Complete CD (Maximum capacity for each CD is 75 minutes) | $12.95 |
| CD Slim case | included |
| Custom title on CD label | included |
| Noise reduction/filtration More Info | included |
| Audio amplification (if needed) More Info | included |
| Large blank spaces/gaps eliminated (We eliminate each tape's excess lead-in and lead-out times, and also the silent gap as a tape switches sides) More Info | included |
| Shipping and Handling | additional |
Available options
| Track Separation (CD tracks/songs are divided and separated so they can easily be located with CD function buttons) More Info | $4.95 |
| Upgrade to Jewel Case with track titles listed on back cover More info | $5.95 ea |
| Custom photo or cover art scanned and printed onto CD case | $5.95 ea |
| Duplicate copies (included identical disc) | $4.95 ea |
| One Bonus/Master MP3 CD In addition to your entire order, this option creates one Master MP3 CD which contains the audio from all CDs. More Info | $15.95 ea |
| Permanent storage/archival of your CD(s) at our studio With this option, we will store a permanent backup of your CDs for safe-keeping and any future duplication needs. More Info | $6.95 ea |
Bulk options
| Church and non-profit agencies (Free Custom editing) More Info | (100+ cassettes - as low as $6.00 each) |
Track Separations
Track Separations are normally added to a CD when a cassette tape contains songs. Each song/track is individually separated and recorded onto the CD. This allows you to skip around on the CD and locate each individual song. Otherwise, the entire CD will play as 1 long continuous track.
*Track Separations are included with duplicate copies when ordered with the original.
Please note the following items on LIVE music, Homemade and Speaking tapes:
- LIVE Music: Individual Tracks are NOT separated on "Live Music" recordings, since there is no obvious "silent breaks" between songs for us to manually locate. Also, Track Separations added to any Live audio will always place a very unnatural 2-3 second "silent spot" in the audio.
- Homemade: When homemade cassette tapes contain individual songs, Track Separations at times may not be completely accurate. For 100% accuracy at least 2-3 seconds between each song/track is required. If your cassette tape(s) were not originally created with the needed "2-3 second silence" between each song/track, we CAN still add tracks ... however please keep in mind tracks will only be added whenever we can locate obvious breaks.
- Speaking Tapes: Cassette tapes that are of a person speaking CAN also have Track Separations added. With these tapes, we simply add tracks every 5-7 minutes. Words are never cut off and all separations are always done by hand.
* Please keep in mind that we do not completely listen to each individual tape, other than initial set-up of input, volume and equalization levels. Tracks are created based on us visually being able to locate blank spaces between songs/tracks/segments. For this reason we are not able to add tracks based soley on what the audio sounds like. For example the "sound" of a song changing, or a person on a speaking tape saying "chapter 1" or "part 2" etc..
Upgrade to Jewel Case with Track Titles Listed
All CDs converted from cassettes will already come to you in a high quality slim see-through case, with the title and/or artist printed directly onto each CD label.
However, with this upgrade for $5.95, each CD will instead come in a hard plastic "Jewel Case" with tray. We then list all track/song titles on the back of the CD case, along with the title and artist's name printed on both the front of the case, and the jewel case spines.
Please note: If the track titles are not already listed on the tape, please include a TYPED or NEATLY PRINTED track listing with the name of each song/track.
Bonus/Master MP3 CD
With this option we will create ONE “Master MP3 CD” for you, which contains the audio from all of your CDs.
In addition to the standard CDs we create for you, having one Master MP3 CD is a great way to have all of your audio CDs combined onto 1 disc.
The only thing you will need in order to listen to this special CD is an MP3 player. MP3 CDs will NOT play in all regular CD players. If you do not have an MP3 player, they are readily available for purchase at most any department store, and are very commonplace. Also, most any DVD player is already capable of playing these special MP3 CDs.
General info: the sound quality of an MP3 CD is exactly the same as any standard CD. However, when we combine your CDs’ files into an MP3 format, up to 30 hours of audio is able to be put onto a single CD (instead of only 80 minutes).
Permanent Storage/Archival Service
With this option offered by Medialocks, we make an extra master copy of your exact CD(s) and permanently store them here in our studio.
Any CDs we create will always belong to you. They are only kept here as a permanent back-up system, and as a convenience for any future duplication needs.
There are several advantages to this optional service:
- If your CDs were ever to become lost, stolen or destroyed, a new set could be easily created by us at anytime by simply giving us a call and ordering more.
- If you ever decide you would like additional copies made, there is no need to re-send cassette tapes for conversion to CD, we will already have Master CD copies archived here … you can just order more.
- With this archival service we also save all information regarding your CD titles, photos (if included), track listings or any other information sent with your original order. For example: if your original order included a CD with custom photo/cover art and title, we would keep (at no extra charge) all of this information here on file. This would allow us to create the exact same CDs, cases, photos etc as your original order. You only need to let us know, without re-sending any materials.
- If at anytime you would like your Master CD copies back, just pay the return shipping and we’ll send them out right away... again they belong to you!!!
The cost to re-produce any additional duplicate CDs, photos, jewel cases, etc. is exactly the same as if ordered with your original order.
Technical information, and what is included
With each and every cassette tape, we can improve the sound quality of the original recording through various techniques. Our first step prior to recording, is to adjust the tape’s input and equalization levels. Next, each cassette tape is played through from beginning to end on high end equipment where it is then digitalized and carefully analyzed.
Once the tape has been converted to this new digital form, we start our enhancements and editing processes by eliminating the large "silent gaps" that are very common in most all audio tapes (examples: tape lead-in and lead-out times, and also the center of the tape as it switches sides).
With some tapes (at the end of the first side) a speaker may say something like "please turn the tape over for the continuation... ", or at the end may say "please rewind this tape..." etc, we will eliminate those words if they are present. PLEASE LET US KNOW IN ADVANCE IF THERE ARE INSTRUCTIONS AT THE END OF A TAPE THAT NEEDS TO BE REOMOVED. If the recording simply continues to the next side without a "speaker" giving instructions to rewind etc, then we reduce that large center gap to around 3 seconds so that the CD is seamed together and flows nicely without any noticeable large interruption. All editing is done by hand and words are never cut off.
Another feature we include is called "Volume Normalization". If any cassette tape has been recorded at too low of a volume, we will amplify the new digital file to a normal level. Once all audio files are in our system, we group them together and process them through a great program which ensures the audio volume is consistent on all CDs/DVDs. In other words if there are a few tapes that have been recorded too low and hard to hear, and a few that were "overwhelmingly" loud... they would all have the same volume on the final CDs/DVDs.
Next, we run all files through a mild hiss reduction filter prior to completion. Then test and re-test each CD or DVD... always using the highest quality media available.
In summary, we individually analyze each cassette tape and improve its quality whenever possible. All of the above-mentioned enhancements and edits are always included with each cassette tape’s transfer to the new digital format.
One final editing option that is available to you at no extra charge: Many churches have requested to have only their sermons/messages transferred from cassettes, not any portion of the worship service. If this is preferred, we are happy to locate just the sermons and transfer only that part of the service.
Bulk Discount Options
Option 1: $7.95 per cassette tapeWith this service, each cassette tape is put onto its own separate CD. (In other words, one CD for each cassette). Each CD label will list the same title and information as listed on the cassette. This standard playable CD can easily be copied as is, and can hold up to 80 minutes of audio. Audio tapes that extend past 80 minutes require a 2nd CD and are completed as a “double CD set” (cost $14.95).
Advantages: 100% ready to be copied to additional CDs.
Option 2: $6.95 per cassette tape
For a further discount, and also a more convenient storage/archival method we offer MP3 CDs. With this service we combine several tapes onto fewer CDs, with the exact same quality of sound as the Standard CD. However, when recorded in an MP3 format, about 50 hours or more of audio is able to be put onto a single CD (instead of only 80 minutes). When we create this type of MP3 CD, each of the many files on the CD would represent one individual cassette. Each of these files would also have the exact same title as the cassette tape. This way you are able to put the MP3 CD into a computer and easily identify and locate any particular tape. From this point, you can easily create your own additional MP3 CDs, or with the proper software, convert them into Standard CDs, which can play anywhere and not require an MP3 player. Also, as an additional benefit, there is no extra charge for tapes that extend over 80 minutes as this type of CD can hold over 50 hours of audio.
Advantages: Lowest pricing, and greater storage capability.
Option 3: $6.00 per cassette tape
Very similar to the above MP3 archival method, is cassette tape conversion to DVD data discs. As with MP3 CDs above, we would combine several cassette tapes onto much fewer DVDs. These standard DVDs can hold even more information than MP3 CDs and would ALSO contain many individual files, each representing one cassette tape. Again (as with MP3 CDs above) each individual file on the DVD would have the identical title as listed on each cassette tape, enabling any particular cassette on the DVD to be very easily located. An additional advantage to this DVD archival method over MP3 CDs is even greater storage capability. You can choose to have us place approx. 200 MP3 files (audio cassettes) onto a single DVD, or about 15 standard CD files, whichever you would prefer. Though not as many standard CD files (.wav) can fit onto a DVD, they are 100% completely ready to be burned into standard CDs that will play anywhere.
Advantages: Lowest pricing, and even greater storage capability.
For optimum storage capacity and flexibility, we can also place the MP3, Standard CD files, or both onto any sized external hard drive. You may provide us with your own hard drive or purchase from us a 160GB portable external hard drive for $150.00.
* We also offer free pick-up of your cassettes, and delivery of your completed order (minimum 500 tapes), within the surrounding counties of Dickson, Tennessee.