Sonic Perfectionists - About: Tape to CD Conversions & Equipment Service and Modifications

How do I send a record or tape to you to be converted?

1)      – Send us a quick email titled “Conversion Estimate Request” containing the number of LPs or tapes and the type of media (ie: LP, 45, Cassette, Open-Reel, 8-Track, DAT, Elcaset, etc) that you would like to have converted and the level of service that you desire (eg. Standard Level 1 ).

a.       We will then promptly respond, by sending you a preliminary estimate of what your conversions will cost, based on the best information that we have regarding the length of the tapes or LPs, and the speed of the recordings (we can only send a precise estimate for Reel to Reel tapes if you know the speed at which the tapes were recorded at, the track format, and the lengths of all of the tapes).

2)      – Box-up your media and send them off to us. We recommend using the 12”x12”x1” boxes that most post offices sell to ensure the safest possible transport for LPs. Tapes generally ship well in priority boxes, and bubble envelopes.   Ship your package(s) to the following address:
3)      – We will inform you as soon as we receive your media, and will start on your conversions at the soonest opportunity (Note: Orders are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Consequently turn-around times will vary somewhat depending upon how busy we are at the time your order is placed. But with our typical orders backlog, we attempt to turn-around most conversions within a few weeks of receiving your media. And if an order is urgently needed, then you may want to inquire about paying a fee to have it expedited.).

a.       We will then send you an electronic invoice via PayPal (our credit card processing service) for the total amount of your order. Payment may be made via any major Credit Card, PayPal, or by simply sending us a check.

b.      If you prefer, you are welcome to pay at this point in time. However we do not actually require payment until we have finished processing your order. Be advised that if you should wait to send us a check, it may significantly delay your order, as we need to provide for sufficient time in order for the check to clear.

4)      - We will inform you as soon as we have finished processing your order. If you have already paid, then we will ship everything back to you at our very first opportunity. If you have not paid, then we will hold onto the media until we receive your payment.
How do I send a piece of equipment to you to be serviced?
We explain this process in detail on the service section of our Rates and Prices Page.
Can you make multiple copies of an LP or tape for me?
If the material is copyrighted (as most is), then the answer is No. However multiple copies can be provided if the material is clearly not copyrighted. If you are not sure if your material is actually copyrighted, and you desire multiple copies, then please contact us, and we will help you to determine if your material is copyrighted or not.
Can you make MP3s out of my records/tapes instead of CDs?
We certainly have the capability to do this, but I am sorry that we must respectfully decline to provide this particular service. Because MP3s are so widely associated with illegal pirating activities (and rightly so), we want to have as little to do with them as is possible. So we will happily make CDs of your records, or tapes but we will not perform any "Ripping" services for you.
Do you perform warranty repair work?
No. If your equipment is still covered under your manufacturers warranty, then please contact the manufacturer regarding where to have your equipment serviced.
Do you service receivers?
No. Our shop is highly specialized and we will only service vacuum-tube amplifiers, analog tape decks, and even the occasional turntable (for local customers ONLY!). However, if you happen to have a tube receiver, then we can probably make an exception for you. ;-)
Do you service TVs, or VCRs?
No. Our shop is highly specialized and we will only service vacuum-tube amplifiers, analog tape decks, and even the occasional turntable (for local customers ONLY!). We have no expertise at servicing Video Equipment of any type.
Do you service Antique Radios?
Generally No. But special exceptions may be made from time to time, depending on your exact needs.
Do you service Tube Tuners?
Presently No. However, we are investigating the feasibility of offering such a service at some point in the future, so stay tuned!
Do you service Record Changers?
No. And we have no plans to do so at any point in the future.
Do you service quality turntables?
We do occasionally perform alignments/tune-up services for some high-end turntables. But this is a service that we will ONLY offer to our local customers. We are sorry about this limitation, but we simply refuse to have any of the headaches involved with the shipping of turntables.
Why do you refer to some of your services as "Virtual Analog"?
Many audiophiles consider digital sources (such as CD) to be inferior to the best sounding analog sources. Common criticisms of digital sound include that it can be "harsh", and "lacking depth", and that it can be "lifeless" when compared to the sound of the same recording when played through a really good analog setup.

Fortunately both digital recording techniques, and playback technologies have improved tremendously over the past two decades. Now, the best sounding recordings, when played on superior CD players can come surprisingly close to equaling the sound of the best turntables.

However, this all presupposes that the source is of equally high quality as well. Many early CDs, even when played on the very best modern CD players, will still sound terrible today. Unfortunately what passes for CD transfers today from many of our competitors is little, if any, better than some of these very early CDs (yuck!). Transfers made via internal soundcards are not likely to yield very good sounding recordings, even when the soundcards themselves occasionally do feature high quality AtoD converters. There are many reasons why these don't work very well. Depending on the specific card used, these reasons may include any or all of the following:
- Internal noise inside of the PC chassis
- Lack of any or high-quality anti-aliasing filters
- Lack of input level adjustments
- Lack of an independent high-quality power supply
- Low-Quality/ high-jitter clocking circuits used for sampling
- Inferior quality AtoD converters
- Inferior quality dithering algorithms and/or no dithering at all
- High-jitter CD burns
- Inferior Quality phono playback equipment
Our special "Virtual Analog" process addresses all of these key issues through various means. First, we use some of the highest quality "high-end" analog playback equipment ever made to try to pull every last bit of ambient information, and detail out of the groves. Secondly our CDs are never digitized via a soundcard. Instead we use a true studio-quality outboard 24 bit A-to-D converter. This converter has excellent anti-aliasing filters, input level adjustments, and independent power supply, high-quality clock circuitry, High-Quality 24bit A-to-D converters and class-A input amplifiers. This converter also has high-quality dithering built-in. However, we have found that we can obtain audibly superior results by performing the dithering and sample-rate conversions via software as separate steps in the process.

In yet another step, we process the signal to remove approximately 95% of the vinyl surface noise artifacts. Then in a final step we use one of the very best CD burners ever made to produce some ultra-low-jitter burns. The end result: a Stunningly good sounding CD that VERY, very closely approaches the sound quality of the original analog source. Except there is one major difference: virtually all of the original surface noise from the LP has now vanished, leaving only the best aspects of the sound of a ultra-high quality analog setup behind!

If you have been raised only on CD's and MP3s, you might be completely shocked at how amazing some old analog media can be made to sound!
Why do your "Virtual Analog" services cost so much more than your Standard level service?
Simple: Labor. Our virtual analog process involves several more steps than does our standard level service. This is a time-consuming process which takes nearly twice as much operator time as does our standard process.
Why does your "Virtual Analog level 3" process cost more than your "Virtual Analog level 2" service?
We use an extremely premium high-end equipment for these conversions. And our replacement cost for this equipment is very high. So it simply is not cost effective for us to wear our best equipment on run-of the mill transfers unless customers happen to be willing to pay a premium for this special level of service.
What is "Sticky Shed Syndrome"?
The issue is that during much of the 70s and 80s, several prominent tape manufacturers changed the binder formulations that they were using. The binder is the "glue" that holds the oxide to the tape.

Unfortunately what nobody knew at the time was that this new binder had a tendency to slowly absorb water from the air, and to become sticky, again. If one is not careful, this can result in your oxide layer being partially, or in extreme cases, even completely separated from the polyester backing when you play the tape.

Fortunately, in the late '80s they discovered their mistake, and corrected it immediately. But this still leaves many millions of recorded tapes out there with this problem.
What is "Tape Baking", and why would anyone do it?
Tape baking is a short-term solution to sticky-shed syndrome where tapes are slowly "baked" for several hours in an attempt to dehydrate them so that they may be safely replayed for a short while. Unfortunately the only long term solution that exists is the transfer of the recorded material to another medium as quickly as possible following baking.
Will you trade links to your site?
Yes, we will absolutely trade links with you! However we have certain limitation such as NOT accepting links to either Adult or Pharmaceutical sites which are detailed on our policies page.

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