11. I have some old transcriptions and tapes, how can I make them sound better? (Old Time Radio)
Description
This article is from the Old Time Radio FAQ, by Lou Genco webmaster@old-time.com with numerous contributions by others.
11. I have some old transcriptions and tapes, how can I make them sound better? (Old Time Radio)
You might try using a good equalizer and/or digital signal
processing (DSP) unit between the playback and recording devices.
Some people have mentioned that the Radio Shack DSP unit does a fair
job. There are also other, more expensive DSP units available from
Ham radio stores and audio stores. Some subscribers have attested to
the efficacy of the Timewave brand of DSP units.
There are several computer programs available to convert analog
sounds (as on a tape) to a digital format (e.g. WAV file). Some of
these computer programs also have noise reduction, filtering and
enhancement capabilities. In many cases, application of digital
technology will improve the sound of a noisy or deteriorating analog
tape. There is a problem, however, if the digitized rendition is
re-recorded to tape, and subsequently re-digitized for further
treatment. Since digitization is a sampling technique, sampling a
sample can result in extremely degraded sound patterns.
A very nice program that will convert analog material to digital
format is Audiotools by Andrew Fish. For more information on this
software, visit the Audiotools BBS at www.old-time.com/otrbbss.html
or Andrew's site at http://www.unrelatedinventions.com/Audiotools/
From: hhoward@mindspring.com (Henry Howard)
For cassette machines (and reel to reels for that matter)
occasionally take a "Y" cord and connect the output of
your cassette player to both "sides" of the "Y". Plug the
combined side of the "Y" into your stereo. If the sound
is mush(ier) than what you hear normally, you have a head
alignment problem (assuming that the tape you are
listening to was properly aligned.)
From: Ron_B._Hare@livewire.com (Ron B. Hare)
Dolby HX on the recording deck makes an audible
difference. Other audio optimization features are of
negligible value for OTR. Dolby HX also requires no
playback decoder.
[Dolby HX uses or "preserves" the Dolby noise reduction method of the
master tape when duplicating - ed.]
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