Vinyl Records to Digital Transfer Service

Base Pricing

We charge by record size and side. Pop/tick & surface noise reduction included.

  • 78 rpm Single 1 side $17
    2 sides $21
  • 45 rpm Single 1 side $12,
    2 sides $15
  • LP Album 1 side $24,
    2 sides $32
    (includes track split)

Before quantity discount. Flash drive additional (or provide your own). Shipping not included. Minimum order $85.

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Transferring Phonograph Records to Digital

At one time the phonograph record was THE medium for music. Edison started it by recording on cylinders. Berliner's Gramophone introduced the disk, which was adapted and refined for stereo and even four-channel sound. But along came the CD, then streaming and until recently, records were largely ignored. Now vinyl is back!

Commercial records present copyright issues, so we encourage you to buy a CD or digital download of those. But if you have legacy recordings of choirs, concerts or other public domain recordings, we can digitize those and even clean up surface noise so they sound like a CD. We can transfer modern vinyl, stereo and mono, 45s and 78s, including lacquer and metal records. We can also handle up to 12" transcription recordings or rare broadcast one-offs. All disk recordings can be transferred, including vinyl, lacquer, metal disks, and even Speak-o-Phone disks. Yes we've done EvaTone Sound Sheets.

Phono-type Devices

There were a number of devices in common use through the 50s, 60s and even the 70s that used phonograph technology for personal recording, notably the Dictaphone. If you have a working dictation machine, we can transfer the audio.

Options
(Extra cost)

Enhancements:

  • Advanced "healing" noise reduction for severe scratches, skips
  • Slow speed transfer for warped records
  • Tracks split to separate files
  • CD authoring

Deliverables:

  • Flash Drive (standard)
  • CD ROM (for computer)
  • Audio CD (for standard CD players)

The Phono Process

We transfer records on a professional direct-drive turntable with the correct stylus for the record type. It will be digitized at CD quality 44.1KHz/16bit, as uncompressed WAV "source" files, then filtered and exported to MP3 files for use on common media players. Instead of MP3, other "release" file formats may be chosen. If the record has discrete songs, we will split them into separate MP3 files or tracks on a CD.

Records in good shape are transferred in real time at the correct speed. For badly warped records, we can transfer at slow speed and correct the speed digitally

All records get a pass through the pop/scratch filter, then the surface noise reducer. This reduces 90% of record noise. For severe pops, we can apply optional advanced "healing" techniques to minimize and even eliminate the noise. Results are often as good as a CD.

What You Get
(Future-Proofed Data)

For records we usually return THREE files of each recording. On your flash drive you'll get an uncompressed CD qualilty WAV file of the original, unretouched "raw" recording as well as the noise-reduced master for each record. Then you'll get an MP3 files that can be used in any media player. You can specify any other "release" format instead of MP3. The WAV files serve as a backup in case you wish to edit the sound or transcode to a newer format.

You may also choose to receive output on optical media, either as a computer-readable ROM disc, or a set-top player compatible CD (audio only), Authoring fees apply, and discs have capacity limits.

How it works.

2. Drop Off
3. Pick Up

Turnaround Time:1

Typically within 1-2 weeks. Larger orders may take longer. Rush service available (extra cost).

We're located in NW Columbus, Ohio, very near the OSU airport.
(We accept major carrier shipments if you're not in the Columbus area. You provide the box!)

$85 minimum per order.*

Phonograph Q&A

  • What do I need to provide for an accurate quote?

    You can combine media types with any order and get extra quantity discounts. In the contact form, please specify:

    • The TYPE of materials you want to transfer (Video, movie, stills, etc.) Combination orders are welcome and qualify for greater discounts
    • If a tape, the LENGTH of program on the tape. If you don't know how full the tape is, just report the number on the case, e.g. T120.
    • If a tape, the SPEED at which it was recorded, if you know. 
    • And the QUANTITY of each type of material
    • If items are damaged, describe the problem
    • Whether you want your files on a flash drive or optical drive (DVD/CD)
  • Can you transfer my tapes in stereo?
    Absolutely! Stereo records are recorded in 2-channel just like they came from the studio. Mono records will, of course, be mono. If you prefer, we can add some stereo reverb to a mono recording (extra cost option). We do not have decoders for 4-channel records.
  • What is "Track Separation" or "Track Splitting"?

    If your record has more than one selection (e.g. songs), each selection is a "track." When we capture the record we capture the whole thing to a single file. When we export the MP3, we can split the tracks into separate files. When authoring a CD, this is necessary to create the CD tracks so they work as you would expect on a CD player.

    The unprocessed master will be a single file for the whole album.

  • Can you reduce ticks and pops and other surface noise on a record?

    Yes. We apply basic tick/pop removal and surface noise reduction by default at no extra charge. For modern records in good condition the results can be nearly identical to a CD. Severe scratches or skips may leave artifacts, but we have advanced optional "healing" techniques we can apply to attempt cleanup of those. Old recordings (78s, particularly) can be cleaned up, but record wear from heavy needles may have damaged the groove, and the distortion is unrecoverable.

    Of course if you would like to have the full experience of playing vinyl, you can always play the uncompressed master file, or let us know and we'll omit the tick/pop removal from the exported files.

  • Can you repair broken or warped records?

    A record with a crack can damage our stylus, and a disk that's broken into pieces cannot be glued back together successfully. You will need to find another copy before we can digitize it.

    A warped record can often be recovered by playing at a slower speed, then digitally restoring the speed. Some pitch warble may be expected. Low-speed processing is an extra cost item.

  • Can you transfer commercial recordings by popular artists?

    As we understand the Fair Use provisions of copyright law, you may copy purchased recordings for personal use, but the output may not be shared or distributed publicly or privately. You bear full responsibility for any copyright infringement claims.

    It is advisable to purchase your albums as a digital download from authorized sources, or purchase CDs of your albums at a retailer. For out of print titles, try a local used record store or auction site.

  • What are my deliverable options?

    USB Flash Drive:
    Most of our customers choose delivery on a USB flash drive or portable hard drive. With so many sizes available, we can usually fit all your content on one USB drive. Most modern TV sets and all computers (Mac/PC) will play content from a flash drive. We include instructions on how to backup and safeguard your investment

    CD
    Some customers prefer delivery on CD. While we can put data on a CD-ROM disc, playable on a computer, we must "author" a CD to be playable on a common CD player.  CD has the following disadvantages:

    • Cannot reorder or rename or reorder playlist
    • Difficult to back up
    • Players are becoming rare

    If you order delivery on CD you will also get a flash drive with source files.

    Digital Download
    We do not provide digital upload/download service except if preview or approval is necessary. You can upload to your own cloud file sharing service from the media you receive from us. Because the files we deliver are ultra-high-quality and very large, they may take a long time to upload. If you are interested in sharing, we can also export a "downsampled" smaller file of each item that is more suitable for upload. Mention that when you request a quote.
    More on digital download.

  • Can I provide my own disk for output?

    Yes, we support BYOD (bring your own disk). While we normally provide output on our media (cost varies with drive size), you can instead provide a new-in-box (sealed) flash drive or portable hard disk/SSD at no extra charge. We can estimate drive size needed with your estimate, and confirm it when transfers are complete.

  • Can I make my own copies?

    Absolutely! We make no copyright claim on your content, so you are free to make copies (provided, of course, the material is not copyrighted by a 3rd party.) If you prefer for us to make your copies, they're available for only the cost of the media.

    Additional copies may be ordered from our master files with or without the source files for up to 3 months following delivery. Our masters are scheduled for deletion after 3 months unless you choose the archive option.

Take the next step.
Let us know what legacy materials you have to see how we can help.
Get a quote