Tape restoration: before and after

Desperately in need of a clean!

We do many types of audio project at Dubway Studios, including a large variety of work in the audio restoration and preservation fields. These types of jobs are constantly ongoing quietly in our studios–we have a room dedicated to tape transfers and audio restoration–but rarely get a shine publicly. What better time to show the process in action?

The above tape came to us with a few different molds on the outside, as you can see from the discoloration on the tape. Tapes in storage can get dry over time, becoming brittle and cracked, or moldy if the storage location is too damp.

If you’re curious (or have tapes of your own that need some TLC), check out the process below, and see before/after pictures at the bottom!