3 Evaluations to Do Before You Convert Audio Tapes to Digital Format

Thanks to technological advancements, there has been a massive evolution in the way we use audiotapes. In fact, we rarely see someone use physical audiotapes these days since everything has gone digital.

Many people are now considering converting audio tapes to digital format simply because of its convenience and easy access. But there are certain constraints that need to be checked before moving ahead with the conversion process.


3 Assessments That Must Be Done Before You Convert Audio Tapes To Digital Format

It is very important to inspect your audiotapes before starting the digitization process. If you put the damaged audiotapes without proper inspection it can damage your pieces of equipment too.

Let us see some points that can be evaluated before converting audio tapes to digital format

  1. Contaminants

Visually you can inspect the tape for contaminants which can be as follows:

       If you see urine stains and droppings then chances are the tape has been damaged by pests.

       Fungus and molds can appear as thread-like or fuzzy structures. They are generally black, brown, or yellow in color.

       Adhesive residue from labels.

       Crystal formation due to lubricant breakdown 

  1. Physical Damages

Physical damages such as cupping, wrinkling, breakage, edge damage, and curving of tapes may be present. Physical damages can prevent you from playing the tapes back. This is a major hindrance when you convert audio tapes to digital format.

  1. Chemical Damages

Chemical damages can be invisible to the naked eyes. A pungent smell or “dirty socks” smell can be a good way to inspect audiotapes. Tapes are very vulnerable to hydrolysis which is the chemical reaction between the plastic base and water.

All Media Transfers Is Here To Help You With Your Digital Preservation Problems

Audiotapes are easily susceptible to damage. It is essential to take delicate care before you convert audio tapes into digital format. All Media Transfers take special care when it comes to digital preservation. We make sure that none of your memories is lost due to simple damages. So contact us today and immortalize your memories forever. 

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