Restoration


	We restore: Vinyl Acetate Reel Cassette 8-track Wire


	Listen to an example of audio restoration by clicking here:


	A brief description of audio restoration: Audio restoration is the process of removing background noise and other unwanted sounds from a particular recording. It is common while transferring older recordings to a modern format, as well as poor recordings that must be "fixed" for intelligible playback. The term, "digitally remastered" is classified as audio restoration work. Vinyl to compact disc has been very popular with this service, as well as cassette and mini-reel recordings. Jazz enthusiasts may want to use the service in order to listen to their 30's and 40's collection more often without deteriorating the original vinyl or acetate, while lawyers, private detectives and police have used this service for enhancing telephone and mini-reel recordings. Most people at least have an old family recording in the attic, deteriorating from moisture and age. These are all situations where a restoration may be helpful, if not necessary. It goes to show just how useful such a technology can be. Audio restoration is a fairly uncommon field that becomes more crucial as older formats are slowly phased out of the mass market. The most common restoration is vinyl, but there are many other formats that qualify. Any metallic tape for instance, will deteriorate with age simply from not being played. Although most formats are still available to a certain extent, many older recordings have been out of print for some time and are not sold in modern formats, such as compact discs, cassettes, etc.. This is a good example where not only a conversion is necessary for playback on modern equipment, but it’s also a perfect time to do some restoration work during the conversion. The process will remove background hiss, rumble, clicks and pops that are considered to be unwanted noise while leaving the recording as clean as possible. The skill is configuring the tools correctly so that the main content is not disturbed. It is a tedious process. Scroll down the page for more details on audio restoration.

		I use only the highest quality CD-R's for restoration; Mitsui and Kodak. Both are available in pthalocyanine or cyanine dyes, include a protective anti-scratch coating and are ultra-violet resistant. I will tend to use the pthalocyanine dye unless specified otherwise.

How It Is Done:

First, the audio is recorded onto a non-linear workstation. Non-linear means that the audio is not traveling from one place to another as you're hearing it. Instead, you're looking at it as an amplitude modulation and you can inspect certain areas very closely (within 1/1000 sec.). After analyzing the frequency spectrum of the unwanted noise throughout the event, a noise print is created. Using this print, the unwanted noise is recognized and removed throughout the recording.

We say, "removed", although nothing is really being taken away from the recording. In fact, we are introducing a negative sound, also known as black noise into the recording. This noise print is the exact spectrum opposite of the unwanted noise in the recording, therefore canceling it out. Other imperfections, such as the clicks and pops common in vinyl, are usually removed by replacement; either from the opposite channel or from the immediately surrounding data. If the situation is right, the waveform may even be interpolated and redrawn.

After the data is split into separate song tracks, they are reorganized into what is referred to as "red book" standard. This standard is a world agreement for compact discs and compact disc players, which allows any playback system to read your disc. The data is then burned onto a CD-R, or compact disc recordable. The reason we say, "burn", is because a laser is actually burning holes into an organic dye in order to mimic the height changes in the stamped aluminum of a production compact disc. It is important to use a high quality CD-R that is going to stand the test of time, such as one incorporating a pthalocyanine dye, and also resistant to ultra violet radiation. A label is then affixed to the surface of the disc to protect the reflective metal.

Vinyl Restoration

Vinyl restoration services are common enough that we can create a set price by calculating the average time involved in each project. These services are divided into four major groups, where their processes vary depending on what the customer wants to hear in the final recording. Some people want their newly restored album to have absolutely zero noise, harnessing supreme audio clarity, while others want to hear the audio characteristics of the original vinyl record.
Material costs include blanks CD's, jewel cases, labels, etc.. The prices below are not adjusted to include material costs.

Light Restoration Service:

This is basically a format transfer. The process will include a light crackle removal, but will keep the general sound of the original vinyl record. That 60Hz rumble, characteristic of all vinyl recordings will be removed as well. For those who enjoy the feeling of listening to your old 45's, and want your new CD to sound just like your high school record player, this is the restoration for you!

Standard Restoration Service:

The standard service is the most common restoration service. It includes a click and crack removal, and one or two noise reduction passes using a unique noise print each time. That 60Hz rumble, characteristic of all vinyl recordings will completely disappear, as well as any extraneous background noise that was previously picked up by the needle or other surrounding analogue electronics

Detailed Restoration Service:

The detailed service is the highest quality available with a set price. It includes a meticulous click and crack removal, two or three noise reduction passes using a unique noise print each time, and a little extra sweetening. The mode used for this service takes a great deal of rendering time, but is very clean and good at preventing alias noise. That 60Hz rumble, characteristic of all vinyl recordings will completely disappear, as well as any extraneous background noise that was previously picked up by the needle or other surrounding analogue electronics. The high end frequencies will remain crisp, and the entire recording may be re-equalized upon request.

Digital Reconstruction/Remastering Service:

Digital remastering is a term normally used while working with the original master copy of a recording. Although we are not working with the original master recording, we are performing the exact same processes involved with such a project and use the term to justify the quality of this high grade restoration. This service will generally cost about twice as much as a detailed restoration, simply because there is much more time involved. Typical procedures will vary depending on the recording, but will include click and crackle removal, noise reduction and paragraphic equalization. The main improvement over any other restoration type is that background clicks and other imperfections are removed manually, and as meticulously as working right down to the thousandth of each second. It is an extremely tedious operation, but the result is the cleanest audio recording possible with what we have to work with today. Generally, the customer who chooses this service is the one who is looking for utmost perfection.

Restoration Type	33.3 rpm	78 rpm	45 rpm
Light Restoration	89.95	59.95	59.95
Standard Restoration	199.95	99.95	99.95
Detailed Restoration	229.95	149.95	149.95
Digital Remastering	80/hr	80/hr	80/hr
*The above prices are determined by average time involved, and are subject to change without notice.

Before restoring your media, be sure that:

The recording currently belongs to you and that the newly restored format will not be used for public performance, distribution, or any other act that may infringe on the original or current copyright protection. The restoration will be created either because the original format is becoming or has become deteriorated and should be protected from general use for its own preservation, or the particular format is no longer common in the mass market and therefore is no longer suited for proper playback on today’s equipment. The restoration copy will not be used for resale and will be kept with the original copy at all times. The restoration will be kept in its original format and with the current owner of the original recording at all times.
The purpose of audio restoration is to preserve the original format in its entirety and is absolutely not for mass distribution of the newly restored format.


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