DAT.
The master on the shelf.
The session you thought you’d lost.
Specialist Digital Audio Tape transfer for studio masters, broadcast recordings, location sound and private collections.
£16 per tape · Standard playable media
Start a DAT transfer ↗
Digital audio.
Physical tape.
DAT stores digital audio on magnetic tape. Its small cassette became part of studio, broadcast and location-recording workflows, and many collections still contain production recordings and original masters on the format.
Digital storage does not make the physical tape immune to damage. Tape condition, the shell and the playback mechanism all matter. Transferring it creates files you can access and back up without depending on a DAT machine.
If the label tells only half the story, a transfer can also help identify what is actually in an archive before a rights holder plans cataloguing, valuation or reissue.
The right route
off the tape.
We use specialist SGI DDS computer DAT drives with audio-capable firmware for compatible transfers. These can read the audio digitally into a computer, avoiding an unnecessary analogue conversion stage.
Compatibility matters: not every DDS drive reads audio DAT, and not every tape suits the same workflow. We choose the appropriate transfer method for the tape in front of us, with inspection and any necessary preparation first.
Our equipment and handling ↗
Handled as if it’s
the only copy.
Because sometimes it is. We assess the tape for mould, physical damage and shell or mechanism faults before playback.
Where cleaning or repair is needed, we’ll contact you to discuss the work and agree any extra charge before proceeding. Tell us about known faults before sending the tape, and avoid further playback if you suspect damage.
Your transfer includes WAV files plus MP3 listening copies, delivered by digital download. Other file formats, special delivery and restoration requirements are quoted individually.
Tell us about your tapes ↗