Convert Reel to Reel to USB to Preserve & Share
Got old magnetic family reel to reel audio tapes but have player for reel to reel recordings to listen to them on?
We can help! We’ll convert your audio reel to reel tapes to USB. You may prefer to receive them on either CD or a digital download.
For more, view our Reel to reel to digital and Reel to reel to CD pages now.
Or call us now for some friendly advice
Freephone 0800 690 6160
Ask About Bulk Discounts too.
- Professionally Converted
- EASY Collection & Delivery
- Super Secure Checkout
- peace of mind tracking
- Professionally Converted
- EASY Collection & Delivery
- Super Secure Checkout
- peace of mind tracking
Trusted Partner to Thousands Across the UK
Our customers span from private individuals to institutions and TV production companies
How It Works
Preserving your reel-to-reel recordings is easy with our USB conversion service, in 3 simple steps!
1. Package Up Your Memories
Carefully box up your reel-to-reel tapes and send them to our studio. You can choose our easy courier collection and return option, or ship them to us yourself using a tracked postal service. After you place your order, we’ll send you a handy welcome pack by email with everything you need to get started and feel confident every step of the way.
2. Lovingly Converted
Each reel is professionally converted by hand by our skilled team, with care taken at every stage to deliver the best possible result. With more than 20 years of experience and millions of treasured recordings preserved, we’re trusted to treat every tape with the attention it deserves. We’ll also keep you updated throughout the whole process.
3. Share & Enjoy With Your Family
Once your reel-to-reel tapes have been digitised, we’ll safely send back all of your originals. Your recordings can be delivered in the format that suits you best, whether that’s a secure cloud download, a convenient USB stick, or a neatly presented DVD. All that’s left is to press play and enjoy those special moments again.
We carefully track your tapes at every stage, so you always know their progress and return date.
What's Included?
You’ll receive everything needed to safeguard your memories.
Yes, where collection is applicable, we’ll organise for an easy to understand pre-paid address label to be sent to you. Could not be more simple. There’s also a section in there for you to add notes.
We know how precious your memories are. It can feel like a big decision. The Supaphoto Welcome Guide explains the process in step by step simple terms. It will also include useful contact details for peace of mind.
We loe what we do. Our dedcated team will digitise every item by hand. We’ve saved millions of memories over 20 years. And don’t worry, you’ll get regular updates along the way.
This is where the magic begins. We’ll return all of your original media. Once preserved, you can access your files via our easy cloud download service, on a memory stick or a lovely DVD. Finally, just relax and let those memories flood in!.
How it Works
Preserving your reel-to-reel recordings is easy with our USB conversion service, in 3 simple steps!
1. Package Your Memories
2. Lovingly Converted
3. Share & Enjoy With Your Family
We carefully track your tapes at every stage, so you always know their progress and return date.
What's Included?
You’ll receive everything needed to safeguard your memories.
Yes, where collection is applicable, we’ll organise for an easy to understand pre-paid address label to be sent to you. Could not be more simple. There’s also a section in there for you to add notes.
We know how precious your memories are. It can feel like a big decision. The Supaphoto Welcome Guide explains the process in step by step simple terms. It will also include useful contact details for peace of mind.
We loe what we do. Our dedcated team will digitise every item by hand. We’ve saved millions of memories over 20 years. And don’t worry, you’ll get regular updates along the way.
This is where the magic begins. We’ll return all of your original media. Once preserved, you can access your files via our easy cloud download service, on a memory stick or a lovely DVD. Finally, just relax and let those memories flood in!.
Choosing the Perfect Digital Conversion for Your Reel-to-Reel Tapes
Easy Cloud Backup
USB
CD Set
What you’ll get: Your recordings delivered as digital files ready to use on your computer.
What to order: In most cases, a standard download is all you need, unless you have a particularly large collection.
Ideal for: Enjoying at home, sharing with loved ones, and keeping your family memories safe.
What you’ll get: All of your audio recordings saved onto one USB stick or across multiple memory sticks.
What to Order: One USB drive is usually enough. For larger orders, we recommend an SSD for added security.
Ideal For: Playing back your recordings on a computer.
What you’ll get: Your audio recordings transferred to CD and presented in a protective case, ready to enjoy.
What to Order: Simply select the CD option, and we’ll prepare your recordings in an easy-to-use disc format.
Ideal For: Playing on your stereo system or enjoying at home.
Choosing the Perfect Digital Conversion for Your Reel-to-Reel Tapes
We transfer your audio tapes into digital files or the format of your choice, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy!
Easy Cloud Backup
Your digitised audio files will be easy to download, listen to, share and store safely using a simple link we send directly to you.
What you’ll get: Your recordings delivered as digital files ready to use on your computer.
What to order: In most cases, a standard download is all you need, unless you have a particularly large collection.
Ideal for: Enjoying at home, sharing with loved ones, and keeping your family memories safe.
USB
Your digitised audio recordings, stored on a convenient USB memory stick. Simply plug it into your computer or any compatible USB device to listen, save, and share your files with ease.
What you’ll get: All of your audio recordings saved onto one USB stick or across multiple memory sticks.
What to Order: One USB drive is usually enough. For larger orders, we recommend an SSD for added security.
Ideal For: Playing back your recordings on a computer.
CD Set
Your audio recordings, carefully converted and transferred onto a CD, ready to play on any CD player, DVD player, or computer disc drive.
What you’ll get: Your audio recordings transferred to CD and presented in a protective case, ready to enjoy.
What to Order: Simply select the CD option, and we’ll prepare your recordings in an easy-to-use disc format.
Ideal For: Playing on your stereo system or enjoying at home.
Sample Audio Tape Conversions
Over the years we’ve transcribed audio from many people and organisations. Spoken history is always something that fascinates us as the people of speak of events that affected them that to that point unknown.
This particular recording is from a French lady who recalls her first impressions after moving to England in 1946.
We’ve transcribed huge cassette collections from county councils in England to recording the history of people speaking in their own words that lived in a small village called Ditchling in Sussex over many years since they were very young.
See also our Prices and FAQs further below.
What you can Expect From Us & Our Advantages
Here are just a few of the reasons people choose Supaphoto for audio tape conversion time and time again.
Our specialist studio is dedicated to preserving precious recordings, and we continue to invest in professional-grade equipment and the latest technology to achieve the best possible results from your tapes.
Every tape is checked on arrival and assessed before transfer begins. If any repairs or special handling may be needed, we’ll let you know. We carefully track each tape throughout the process and carry out quality checks at every stage. If you have Audio Cassettes or Reel-to-Reel tapes affected by mould, please get in touch, as we have specialist workflows for those too.
If we run into any issues during transfer, we’ll try your tape again using different machines and adjusted settings to produce the best possible digital version.
We’re proud of our success rate, with almost 99% of tapes converted successfully, whatever their starting condition.
We also offer bulk discounts for larger orders, so please feel free to get in touch for a quote.
Output & Listening
Digital file download via Cloud, USB or CD. Listen on PC, tablet, mobile or cd player
Audio Corrections
Expert sound correction for old audio tapes and magnetic reel to reel tapes in poor condition
AI Audio Restoration
Optional AI audio restoration delivers cleaner recordings with enhanced sound
Free Services
Free pre-transfer tape inspection and absolutely no charge for blank tapes
Security of Handling
We take security of handling very seriously at Supaphoto with step by step tracking
Supaphoto's Audio Tape To Digital Conversion Advantages
Here are just a few of the reasons people choose Supaphoto for audio tape conversion time and time again.
Our specialist studio is dedicated to preserving precious recordings, and we continue to invest in professional-grade equipment and the latest technology to achieve the best possible results from your tapes.
Every tape is checked on arrival and assessed before transfer begins. If any repairs or special handling may be needed, we’ll let you know. We carefully track each tape throughout the process and carry out quality checks at every stage. If you have Audio Cassettes or Reel-to-Reel tapes affected by mould, please get in touch, as we have specialist workflows for those too.
If we run into any issues during transfer, we’ll try your tape again using different machines and adjusted settings to produce the best possible digital version.
We’re proud of our success rate, with almost 99% of tapes converted successfully, whatever their starting condition.
We also offer bulk discounts for larger orders, so please feel free to get in touch for a quote.
Output & Viewing
Colour Corrections
AI Video Restoration
Free Services
Security of Handling
Don’t Just Take our Word For it...
The Best Way to Convert Audio Cassettes and Reels
Whether it’s a child’s first words, a wedding speech, or a favourite mixtape recorded years ago, those sounds deserve to be kept safe.
As audio cassettes age, they can gradually deteriorate, leading to a loss in sound quality and putting the recordings at risk.
Digitising your cassettes is one of the most effective ways to protect them for the future. It takes the right equipment, experience, and a careful approach to achieve the best results.
With thousands of hours of audio transferred, we’ve helped families and individuals preserve important recordings and enjoy them again in a modern format. Whether you want to convert old audio tapes to digital files or simply keep your memories safe, your tapes are in trusted hands with us.
We’re passionate about helping people preserve their recordings and overcome the challenges of ageing tape formats, so those moments can be enjoyed for years to come.
We’d be delighted to help preserve yours too.
Alongside our transfer service, we also offer helpful extras such as audio tape repair and audio restoration to improve the quality of older recordings wherever possible.
We work with a wide range of tape brands, including Scotch, Ampex, Philips, Agfa, BASF, Maxell, TDK, Memorex, and many more. Because every brand and tape type can behave differently, we make careful adjustments during playback and transfer to achieve the best possible result.
There’s something truly special about sitting down with family and hearing those recordings again, whether it’s familiar voices, meaningful moments, or long-forgotten sounds that instantly bring the past back.
Home audio recordings often capture life’s most treasured memories, from birthdays and holidays to weddings and everyday conversations, all preserved on much-loved tapes and cassettes.
Don’t leave those recordings to fade with time. As tape players become harder to find and trust, playing original tapes can become increasingly difficult without risking damage.
If you’d like more information about this service, please read our helpful guide.
Alongside our transfer service, we also offer helpful extras such as audio tape repair and audio restoration to improve the quality of older recordings wherever possible.
We work with a wide range of tape brands, including Scotch, Ampex, Philips, Agfa, BASF, Maxell, TDK, Memorex, and many more. Because every brand and tape type can behave differently, we make careful adjustments during playback and transfer to achieve the best possible result.
There’s something truly special about sitting down with family and hearing those recordings again, whether it’s familiar voices, meaningful moments, or long-forgotten sounds that instantly bring the past back.
Home audio recordings often capture life’s most treasured memories, from birthdays and holidays to weddings and everyday conversations, all preserved on much-loved tapes and cassettes.
Don’t leave those recordings to fade with time. As tape players become harder to find and trust, playing original tapes can become increasingly difficult without risking damage.
If you’d like more information about this service, please read our helpful guide.
Sussex University's Massive Collection of Bob Copper's Priceless English Folk Music
We were so proud to have been chosen by the University of Sussex to digitalise and convert their priceless collection of beautiful audio reel to reel magnetic recordings from Bob Copper. We’ve also scanned hundreds of images from Sir Richard Attenborough’s photo collection which he left to Sussex University.
Bob Copper, who has died aged 89, was a leading member of the famous singing Copper family of Rottingdean, East Sussex, and an important collector of English folksongs. His earliest musical memories were of sitting around the fire singing with his father, Jim, and his grandfather James Copper, who was born in 1845.
Our Audio Reel to Reel Tape to Digital Transfer Prices
At Supaphoto we take pleasure in doing things in the right way and growing our business slowly through referrals.
Audio Transfer Prices for 1/4 Inch Reel to Reel Magnetic Tapes:
Per Tape: £29.99 (1st Hr of work including adjustments for any speed changes, track changes, playing both sides and re-splicing – per Item) If you have magnetic tapes where the work exceeds 1 hour of time, costs are limited to just £19.99 extra per hour of work, per item.
I’m not sure what type of reel to reel tape and recording speed I have!
Don’t be concerned, we’ll advise you on receipt. (Typical speeds in inches per second (IPS) will be 1 & 7/8, 3 & 3/4, 7 & 1/2 and 15). Reel to reel is also tricky since you may have more than one track for example. The duration will also depend on how much is actually recorded and the playing speed which will sometimes change mid way through.
What Do I Want Back? – Choose from one of the following options:
i) Mp3 Digital Files as a Free Download from Supaphoto Cloud for easy listening & sharing with family
ii) Mp3 Digital Files on a Master USB Stick
iii) Conversion to a new CD in a nice presentation case
Optional Extras:
– Back-up Version on Master USB Memory Stick: £24.99
– Back-up Version of CD in Presentation Case: £24.99
– Extra copy of CD in Presentation Case: £14.99
Got compact cassettes?
For a type of audio tape not listed here, visit the service page in question.
Free Doorstep Collection & Safe Return & Signed-For Delivery
We’re easy to deal with at Supaphoto. Contact Us Now to receive your free welcome pack. We’ll liaise with you to collect your package free of charge. We safely return items with signed-for delivery for extra peace of mind too.
No Upfront Payment? – When do I pay?
We never charge upfront unlike other companies. Why? Because there’s always a chance that you have blank tapes.
Want to Order? – How Can I contact You?
Simple! Just Call us on freephone 0800 690 6160 or drop us a line.
All Prices are Inclusive of VAT
FAQs
We’ve made life easy for you by compiling the the most commonly asked questions that we’ve been asked over the years in one place!
How can I listen to my recordings?
Could not be easier! Either plug in a simple USB and listen on PC, laptop or ipad. Listen on your mobile phone or play a CD on a CD player.
Which media output is best?
Digital files are easy to play and share on PCs, laptops, ipads and phones. Have fun too sound editing as well. A back-up CD also makes sense.
Do you offer an advanced service?
Yes we do. It delivers a superior, cleaner sound. It takes a little longer but doesn’t cost much more.
Our Advanced AI Sound Restoration Service
This service delivers superior noise reduction and background music removal. The unique algorithm often produces cleaner, more faithful audio recordings.
Would I be charged for blank tapes?
Don’t worry. We NEVER charge for blank tapes!
How long does it take?
Typically 5-10 working days or less.
Do you send the originals back?
Yes indeed – It’s important that you always keep your originals somewhere safe.
My audio tape sounds very poor in places. Can it still be transferred?
You’ll be amazed at the results we deliver. Our audio restorer will review first and advise you..
Can I listen to them and save them on a Free Online Cloud Gallery?
Yes indeed and you can share them with your family thereafter.
Where can I read reviews about your service?
We always treat tapes as if they were our own. Read our reviews for yourself
Why should I do it?
All sound recordings slowly deteriorate. The sooner you do it – the better.
What’s your security like?
Rest assured that we take security of handling very seriously and have an insurance policy to match.
I have a lot of audio tapes – Can I get a bulk discount?
Just contact us to see how we can help. We also offer a buy now, pay later option.
I still have questions!
Call us for some friendly help on freephone 0800 690 6160 or drop us a line.
All Prices are Inclusive of VAT
It's Time to Convert Audio Tapes to Digital Formats for Peace Of Mind
While our parents penned love letters, we crafted mixtapes.
Audio cassettes revolutionised our world. Coupled with the advent of the Sony Walkman, they revolutionised how we experienced and shared music, delighting our ears, and we cherished every moment. It was akin to discovering fire or the wheel. Our auditory pleasures became portable, offering a private sanctuary on the bus, during lectures, at the half-pipe, or post-breakup. Nothing silenced a nagging teacher or a parental sermon better than slipping on a pair of headphones.
The mixtape cassette, a novel form of self-expression, wielded power that rivalled a sword. That legacy endures, but the old tapes themselves, unfortunately, do not. They’re deteriorating. If you neglect the need to convert audio tapes to digital formats, you risk losing both the music and the memories. Our Supaphoto audio tapes to digital or CD conversion service, whether through a thumb drive or via Supaphoto Cloud™, serves as your time machine back to those emotions, the playlists as unique as fingerprints, live recordings, and music absent from any other format.
We’re all familiar with it—the compact cassette, music cassette, cassette tape, or audio cassette—a magnetic tape nestled between two miniature spools encased in protective plastic. Digitising reel to reel audio tapes is something we do everyday.
The Revolution of Audio Cassettes
It housed pre-recorded audio or blank tapes for personal use. It marked a pivotal advancement in both home recording and portable audio. Cassettes played a role in societal transformation, spurring underground rock, hip-hop, and punk movements, uniting people, and catalysing political change and artistic freedom. There’s never been a better time to transfer audio tapes to digital.
While many of us have upgraded our music collections from the days of hitting the record button when our favourite song aired on the radio, we’ve also preserved a few cherished cassette tapes. Take a moment to evaluate your collection. If it’s from a major record label, chances are the music is available in a superior format (CD or digital).
But if it’s from a smaller label, or if it’s a mixtape, a live recording, or those whimsical fake radio commercials you recorded in your bathroom, those treasures are irreplaceable. They can only be preserved, and time is slipping away. You deserve easier access to your cherished moments.
Do your cassettes emit hissing sounds, waver, fade in and out, or suffer from uneven playback? Does your tape player occasionally feast on them? Do you even have a working tape player? Are the metal components rusting, or the cassettes warped or cracked? If you’ve answered yes then it’s time to convert audio tapes to digital.
We Simply Love Our Audio Tape to Digital Service!
Yes! We really love providing our audio tape to digital service. But we also know that it’s better to avoid the issue arising in the first place so we advise our clients how to take care of their tapes too.
Remember to preserve magnetic audio tapes and slow down their deterioration, it’s important to store them in a controlled environment with stable temperature and humidity, protect them from strong magnetic fields, and handle them with care.
Digitising the content on the tapes is also recommended to create a digital backup and reduce the need for physical playback, which can contribute to wear and tear.
Some older magnetic tapes, particularly those from the 1970s and 1980s, are prone to a condition known as “sticky shed syndrome.” This occurs when the binder used to hold the magnetic particles together on the tape becomes hydrolysed, causing the tape to become sticky and less playable. We’re used to this at Supaphoto and can ‘bake’ the tapes at a controlled temperature and humidity in a scientific oven especially used for such purposes. This will aid the digitisation.
Finally Time to Transfer Audio Tapes To Digital?
Our expert technicians are on standby, ready to breathe new life into your aging cassette tapes by digitising them for the modern era. Our audio tape to digital transfer service will convert the content into CD and .wav files. When we’re through, it’ll be like receiving that mixtape from your summer camp crush all over again. Put on those headphones and relive the magic of 1985.
You may also in your collection audio CDs – see our Disc section for more information
Audio Conversion Sample & Customers
Why not check out the quality of our Audio Transfer Service. Over the years we have converted many audio recordings, ranging from the entire collection of the Copper Family’s reel to reel copies of old English folk songs (literally hundreds of hours!) to an entire collection of oral history cassette tapes from the residents of Ditchling Village.
We were chosen to undertake conversion work for the TV Production Company behind the BBC’s Repair Shop!
Other projects include digitalising Sir Richard Attenborough’s personal collection of images, converting early footage of Virgin Airways promotional films and digitalisation work relating to Windsor Castle, the Mary Rose and the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Discover more about the range of audio tapes and formats that we transfer – convert audio tapes to digital services.
If you’re still unsure which audio conversion service is best for you – read our audio tape inspiration and conversion guide.
More Questions About this Format
A: Cleaning reel-to-reel tapes properly requires care and the right equipment. We gently remove dust and debris using professional tape-cleaning tools before digitising, preventing playback issues and ensuring the best sound quality. Cleaning tapes at home can cause damage if done incorrectly, so we recommend letting our technicians handle this step as part of the conversion process.
A: We play your tapes on carefully calibrated professional reel decks and capture the audio in real time using high-resolution converters. The recordings are saved as digital audio files — usually in WAV or MP3 format — and can be delivered on USB, CD, or via secure digital download. This process preserves the warmth and detail of your original reels while ensuring long-term digital safety.
A: Yes, in most cases. Even older reels suffering from slight deterioration, stretching, or “sticky-shed” syndrome can often be recovered and transferred successfully. If a tape needs special treatment, our technicians will contact you to discuss options before proceeding.
A: Pricing depends on the tape length, reel size, and any restoration required. Conversions typically start at around £15 per reel, with discounts for larger projects. Every order includes professional cleaning, digitisation, and careful return shipping.
A: Home transfers can be risky due to the age of most equipment. Misaligned heads, worn motors, or dirty rollers can permanently damage fragile tapes. Our professional decks are maintained to studio standards, guaranteeing smooth playback and clean, distortion-free audio.
A: We can handle most consumer and professional tape types, including ¼-inch reels recorded at 3¾, 7½ or 15 ips, as well as older mono or stereo formats. If you’re unsure which reels you have, just send a few photos or details when you enquire — our team will identify them for you.
A: Yes. As part of our post-processing service, we can reduce tape hiss, balance levels and smooth out unwanted noise without altering the natural character of your recordings. It’s ideal for older or home-recorded tapes.
A: Unlike magnetic tape, digital files don’t degrade. Once your reels are safely transferred to USB or hard drive, you can easily make copies or store them on cloud services for permanent preservation.
A: Of course. You can order additional USBs, CDs or digital download links. Many customers choose extra copies to share with family, bandmates or archives.
A: Yes. We regularly digitise master tapes from studios, broadcasters and archives. If your reels are multi-track or use a rare professional format, just let us know — we can usually accommodate them or suggest the best solution.
A: We can usually clean light mould and surface residue before transfer. However, mould can spread if left untreated, so it’s best to send your reels as soon as you notice any signs of damage. Our cleaning process is gentle and safe for vintage tapes.
