1. Our top pick
  2. Comparison table
  3. Advantages of Digitization
  4. Legacybox
  5. ScanDigital
  6. EverPresent
  7. ScanCafe
  8. Nostalgic Media
  9. Forever Studios
  10. Final Words

Summary of Our Top Pick

legacybox box kit

Editor's pick

Legacybox

They take their digitizing process very seriously and each item is hand-digitized by a team of technicians.

In today's digital world, many individuals are seeking methods to digitize their older media. One such form of analog media is audiotapes, which have been utilized for decades to store music, speeches, and other recordings. However, as technology advances, it is becoming increasingly difficult to play these tapes. Fortunately, cassette tape to digital online transfer services can help.

By utilizing the digitization process, analog audio recordings can be converted into digital audio files. This involves transforming the analog audio signal into a digital format that can be stored on modern devices or other digital storage mediums. Additionally, digitizing your audio tapes enables you to save them on the cloud, making them easily accessible and shareable with others.

Converting audio files can be complex, especially if you are not familiar with the different file formats and how they function. However, with the assistance of a professional audio conversion service, all the details can be taken care of for you, ensuring that your audio files are converted correctly and efficiently.

Best Audio Tape Transfer Services Comparison Table

Legacybox

ScanDigital

Everpresent

ScanCafe

Nostalgic Media

Forever Studios

Legacybox
iMemories
Southtree
Kodak digitizing
Kodak digitizing
Kodak digitizing

Website Link

Audio Conversion

Reel to Reel, Audio Cassette, Micro-Cassette

Audio Cassette, Reel-to-Reel

Cassette, Mini/Micro, Vinyl records, Reel to Reel

Cassette Tapes, Rell-to- Rell Tapes

Audio Cassette, Reel-to-Reel

Audio cassette, micro cassette, 33 record albums, 78 record albums, 45 record albums, and audio reels

Video Conversion

VHS, VHS-C, Mini-DV, Hi8, Digital 8, MicroMV, Betamax, 8mm Video Cassette

VHS, MiniDVD, BetaMax

VHS, VHS-C, 8mm, Hi8, Digital8, MiniDV, HDMiniDV, DVCam, DVCPro, Betamax, Betacam, BetacamSP, Digibeta

VHS, VHS-CHi8, Digital8, 

MiniDV 

VHS, VHS-C, Hi8, 8mm, MiniDV, 3/4 U-Matic, Beta, Betamax

VHS, VHS-C, S-VHS, Hi-8, Video8, Digital 8, and MiniDV

Film Conversion

16mm, 8mm, Super 8, Regular 8

8mm, Super 8 with sound, 16mm, 32mm

16mm, 8mm, Super 8

8mm, Super 8mm, 16mm, 35mm

8mm, Super 8mm, 16mm

Super 8, 8mm, and 16mm

Photo Conversion

Prints, 35mm Negatives, 35mm/126 slides

Photos, Negatives, Slides

Prints, Slides, Negatives

Photos, Slides, Negatives, Black&White, APS Film

Prints from:
3x3 to 4x6 300dpi

5x7 to 8x10 300dpi

Photo prints, Prints in albums, 35mm slides, and Negatives

What Can You Get Back

Digital Download, Thumb Drive, DVD Set

Digital Download, Thumb Drive, Hard Drive

CD, Thumb Drive, Digital Download

Digital Download, Thumb Drive


CD, DVD, Digital Download, Thumb Drive


CD, DVD, Digital Download, Thumb Drive

Audio Conversion Price

$59.99 for 2 audio items

$279.99 for 10 audio items

$559.99 for 20 audio items

$1099.99 for 40 audio items

$20.95 per tape

$9.50 per reel

$25.99 per tape

$22.99 per tape



$0.29 per feet of reel

Starting at $35 per tape

$15 per media

Video Conversion Price

$59.99 for 2 tapes

$279.99 for 10 tapes

$559.99 for 20 tapes

$1099.99 for 40 tapes

$20.95 per tape

Digital only $17.99 per tape

DVD $25.99 per tape

$22.99 per tape

Starting at $30 per tape

Starting at $30 per tape

Film Conversion Price

$59.99 for 2 films

$279.99 for 10 films

$559.99 for 20 films

$1099.99 for 40 films

Per Film Reel
3 inch $9.50
4 inch  $19
5 inch  $38
6 inch  $57
7 inch  $76

Digital only $0.22 per foot


DVD $0.32 per foot

$0.29 per foot

Starting at $0.22 per foot

$0.25 per foot

Photo Conversion Price

$59.99 for 2 sets of 25 pictures

$279.99 for 10 sets of 25 pictures

$559.99 for 20 sets of 25 pictures

$1099.99 for 40 sets of 25 pictures

$0.44 per photo 600dpi

$0.59 per photo 1200dpi

$0.59 per photo

$0.44 per photo

Photo 3x3 to 4x6 300dpi - $0.19 each

Photo 5x7 to 8x10 300dpi - $0.75 each

$0.39 per photo

Advantages of Digitization

old audio cassette

In today's digital age, digitization is becoming increasingly essential for preserving information and ensuring its accessibility for future generations. Unlike traditional cassette tapes or other analog media, digital files have a higher chance of survival and can be easily duplicated or shared.

Here are some of the advantages of using a professional audio conversion service for digitizing your audio files:

  • Quality: Professional audio conversion services use top-of-the-line equipment and software to ensure that the final product is of the highest quality possible.
  • Efficiency: With their expertise and specialized equipment, audio conversion services can convert your files quickly and efficiently without compromising on accuracy or quality.
  • Cost-Effective: Hiring a professional audio conversion service can often be more cost-effective than attempting to do it yourself, particularly if you lack the necessary equipment or expertise.

Digitization not only ensures the longevity of your audio files, but it also enables easy duplication and distribution while maintaining the original quality. By digitizing your audio files, you can eliminate the need for multiple copies in various formats, thus streamlining the archival process.
In conclusion, digitization is a vital aspect of preserving information for future generations. With professional audio conversion services, you can ensure that your audio files are of the highest quality and will be easily accessible and transferable for years to come.

1) LegacyBox

legacybox box kit

Editors Rating:

4.5 /5

What we like

  • Shipping kit provided for efficient process
  • Transfer Reel to Reel, Audio Cassette, Micro-Cassette etc.
  • Simple and easy process
  • Convenient shipping options
  • Regular deals and discounts available
  • Customers receive email updates throughout the digitization process

What we don't like

  • Some customers report a longer digitization process than expected

If you have any old analog media in your house like VHS tapes, family movies, or mix tapes from high school deteriorating due to age, send them off to Legacybox. They'll digitize the old media formats for a low price and make them easily accessible.

Legacybox has an overall 4-star rating on Sitejabber, which means customers are generally satisfied with their service.

What You're Getting With Legacy Box

legacybox audio tape digitizing kit

You can preserve your memories with ease and comfort. When you ship your items, they will be in safe hands with a team of professionals who will digitize them by hand and provide personalized updates during the process. 

The $1,000 Loss Guarantee is a one-of-a-kind offer that no other shipper can compete with. This exclusive coverage backed by UPS Capital will cover your packages during shipping for the rare chance they are lost or damaged.

You don't have to worry about losing your data when you get a DVD or thumb drive home. LegacyBox will keep all digital files safe with a 30-day onsite backup.

Legacybox now offers 10-Day Guaranteed Digitizing. This digitizing time option gives customers the best chance at getting their media converted by a deadline, and they got you covered with all order sizes.

How Does Legacybox Work?

Legacybox has such an easy process that is easy and convenient for you. First, sign up to Legacybox so you can make an order. They send you one big crush-proof box that contains everything you need to get started when you order. When ordering a box kit, you are offered a choice between a USB, a set of discs, and a digital download, on which you will receive a digital copy of your media. Also, you can pick all digital copy options available.

legacybox thumb drive
Thumb Drive
legacybox cloud
Digital Download
legacybox dvd
DVD Set

To ensure that your memories stay safe and go throughout the whole process, LegacyBox provides barcode labels inside the box so you can label each item you want to send. Extra barcodes are also included if you decide to include some additional items. In addition, every kit includes a pre-paid return UPS label for you to use when sending them your analog media.

Legacybox technicians will go through your media by hand and create a digital version. They will keep you up-to-date with the digitizing process and answer any questions that come to mind. It can take 6 - 8 weeks for your analog media to be digitized.

And finally, all your original media will be shipped back to you alongside the newly digitized files after the process is finished.

What Media Files Does Legacybox Accept Besides Audio?

  • Videotapes: VHS, VHS-C, Mini-DV, Hi8, Digital 8, MicroMV, Betamax, 8mm Video Cassette
  • Film: 16mm, 8mm, Super 8, Regular 8
  • Photos: Prints, 35mm Negatives, 35mm/126 slides

LegacyBox Price

The prices for LegacyBox kits vary depending on the number of items you choose:

  • $59.99 for two items
  • $279.99.99 for ten items
  • $559.99 for twenty items
  • $1099.99 for forty items

Be sure to check the official website because Legacybox has frequent discounts on their services.

legacybox audio digitizing box

In addition, the prices of the storage options are $5.99 for digital access (through Google Drive), $5.99 for a thumb drive, and $5.99 for a DVD set.


2) ScanDigital

ScanDigital

Editors Rating:

4.5 /5

What we like

  • example

What we don't like

  • It isn't very clear to find and select media types on the website

ScanDigital will make digitizing your old audio tapes easy for you and offer high-quality services to ensure they are converted with care. Pick out which videos or cassettes you want, then send them to them where they have state-of-the-art equipment waiting.

scandigital digitizing box

Your old files are digitized on professional-grade equipment and reviewed by three technicians throughout the process to ensure you are getting high-quality files back. You will receive email updates when your files start processing. The service includes noise removal, normalizing, and equalization. The price for Cassette Tape conversion starts at $20.95 per audiotape.


3) EverPresent

everpresent service

Editors Rating:

4.5 /5

What we like

  • Accepts cassettes, vinyl records, and reel-to-reel media types
  • Reasonably priced and offers various upgrades such as track labeling, custom audio editing, and custom file formats
  • Offers media home pickup for convenience
  • Suitable for both small and large orders

What we don't like

  • The digitization process may take longer than anticipated

EverPresent provides a unique service for storing and transferring audio recordings. They have accumulated over 10,000 hours of conversion every year in which you get excellent sound quality from all forms of tape or vinyl records and reel-to-reel cassettes.

Everpresent offers a wide range of services, including track splitting, custom labeling, and equalizing. They also provide de-hissing for your audio files to be more pleasing when played from CDs or USB drives.

EverPresent Pricing is as follows:

  • Standard cassettes is $25.99 per tape
  • Mini/Micro audio is $35.99 per tape
  • Vinyl records $35.99 per record
  • Reel-to-reel audio starting $35.99 per reel

They charge a service fee of $40 for all orders to ensure that they are properly handled and stored. This includes intake, item coding with physical storage, quality checks by senior technicians, and making sure your items arrive at you safely.

How Does Everpresent Work?

Complete order time depends on the size of your files. However, Everpresent states they have over 80% of their projects completed in one month.

For some customers, it's important to know that they can handle big orders. So at Everpresent, they digitize some projects that contain more than 10.000 items and manage millions of photos and videos annually. However, transferring audio tapes is not a priority for most companies since it's challenging and volumes are lower than other types of scanning.

If they do not have access to a piece of particular equipment because of the rare format, their team may subcontract and work with an archivist who specializes in rare formats. In all of these instances and out of concern for both their security, no items are ever sent through the mail. Instead, they directly bring the items into the lab, where they handle every tape personally.


4) ScanCafe

scancafe tb

Editors Rating:

4.2 /5

What we like

  • Reasonable turnaround time
  • Offers a digital download of files
  •  Highly rated by customers

What we don't like

  • ScanCafe's editing process may not be able to address issues such as background noise, poor microphone placement, stretched tape, or flaking metal.

ScanCafe offers award-winning, highly rated, and trusted services that will meet all of your needs. The interesting thing about ScanCafe is that they take safety very seriously. They even track the entire conversion process with video surveillance.

Using state-of-the-art equipment, they can capture both sides of a cassette tape from the beginning until the end and save it as a .wav file, so there are never any missing beats. They will provide a digital download, cloud storage, or USB drive. The turnaround time is 3-4 weeks at their Indianapolis lab.

ScanCafe's standard delivery method is a free digital download with a link that you can access for six months from checkout. After six months, you must contact their customer service to continue downloading content. The price for a USB or DVD depends on how many cassettes you want to transfer. You can find a price calculator for a USB drive and DVD set on the official site. The price for the Cassette Tape digitizing starts at $22.99 per tape.


5) Nostalgic Media

Nostalgic media

Editors Rating:

4.5 /5

What we like

  • They transfer a wide range of audio formats
  • Offer demaged tape repair for $20 each

What we don't like

  • Expensive
  • It doesn't include a digital download of files

Nostalgic Media is a trusted provider of digitization services for family treasures, such as aging tapes, film reels, audio, and photos. Their team of skilled and experienced technicians work diligently to ensure that your job is done right the first time in their lab located in Atlanta, GA.

The process is simple and stress-free. You complete your order, fill your box with media, and ship it to their facility. Once they receive your media, they will promptly call you to notify you. All work is done in their facility, and the average time for the whole process is around seven business days.

Your media is digitized in mp3 digital format and transferred to archival-grade CD, and you have the option to include a USB flash drive. When the job is complete, they will send back all your original media along with a digital copy.

Nostalgic Media provides three options for returning your digitized media, including archive CD, MP3 files, and USB flash drive. Usually, your media will be digitized and ready to ship within seven days of receiving your audio tapes. The price for cassette tape conversion starts at $35 per tape, and they also offer tape repair for $20 each.

Prices at Nostalgic Media are a bit expensive compared to other services. Besides that, they have a $30 minimum order fee.

For audio cassette tapes, up to 60 min, the price is $35 per tape and $45 per tape for up to 90 min. Micro-cassette price goes for $45 per tape. Reel-to-reel goes for $45 for setup + $20 for an hour per reel. If your reel-to-reel tape is blank, you will be charged a $45 setup fee.

The price of Vinyl 33, 45 & 78 rpm is $35 per record. Also, they include cleaning records before digitizing them to eliminate surface noise.


6) Forever Studios

forever studios tb

Editors Rating:

4.5 /5

What we like

  • Offers digitization of various analog media types
  • Easy-to-use interface for selecting services
  • Highly rated by customers
  • They can repair each item for $7 per item

What we don't like

  • They are more expensive than some other services

Forever Studios is a digitizing service that helps keep your memories alive by providing multiple types of analog conversion. They offer services like:

  • Restoring your old photos. With the restoration service, they can enhance, colorize and retouch your favorite photo memories.
  • Creating photo art. Creating enables you to make personalized, handcrafted photos frames for your photos.
  • Digitization of old analog media. Digitizing audio, video, film, and photos, then transferring to digital copy.

They provide an easy-to-use interface that allows you to find and pick your needed service easily.

How Does Forever Studios Work?

forever studios digitizing service

The process of converting cassette tapes to digital audio sounds easy, and it probably is but for the professionals at ForeverStudio. In addition, they also digitize other formats, including microcassettes, 33 record albums, 78 record albums, 45 record albums, and audio reels, so you'll never have any trouble listening back again.

The whole digitization process at the ForeverStudios is done in 3 simple steps:

  1. First, you have to place an order at the official website
  2. Then ship all your items in their home ship kit box
  3. And finally, enjoy listening to your newly digitized audio files.

They can transfer the digitized audio files to a CD, USB, or Forever Cloud.

Once they receive your audio, they inspect your order to ensure they have all the items as expected and place a tag on each item to track it through the transfer process.

They fast forward and rewind your audio media to loosen it from "most likely" years of sitting around. Then they capture your audio media in its entirety using proprietary broadcast-quality digital capture equipment. After that, they enhance the sound of your audio recording.

Finally, professional technicians listen to your captured audio to check for quality or inconsistencies before creating your digital copy.

Their work is completed in 2 to 3 weeks, but they offer rushed services if you are too excited about your order. Select the "rush processing" option at checkout and get it done as soon as possible.

When the digitizing process is completed, you will receive all original and newly digitized media on your chosen digital copy.

What Media Files Does Forever Studios Accept?

They accept the following analog media:

  • Audio: Audio cassette, micro cassette, 33 record albums, 78 record albums, 45 record albums, and audio reels
  • Videotapes: VHS, VHS-C, S-VHS, Hi-8, Video8, Digital 8, and MiniDV
  • Film: Super 8, 8mm, and 16mm
  • Photos: Photo prints, Prints in albums, 35mm slides, and Negatives

How Much Does Forever Studios Charge for Their Service?

Forever Studios charges $15 per any media type for the audio digitizing process. For a digital copy of media, the price goes at: 

  • $29 for each Forever Safe USB  
  • $3 per Audio CD
  • $7 for 30 days of access at Forever Cloud

Do You Really Need Professional Audio Conversion Service?

professional audio conversion service

You can digitize documents and photographs with essential equipment, but making a high-quality copy of your audio records is more complicated.

Here are just a few reasons you may want to send your records for digitizing:

  • Audio production is an expensive and complicated process that requires special hardware equipment and software
  • You'll need the proper specifications and specialized software to digitize audio on a regular laptop or desktop computer. In addition, you may require more robust machines for large data throughputs and high-quality output
  • The fragile nature of these old recordings makes playing them back a complicated and delicate task and requires special care when playing them back
  • It's essential to be mindful of the condition and age of equipment you use when playing back your cassettes. You should never risk damaging an old tape by putting it onto a broken player

Professional audio tape conversion services have a wide range of skills and equipment to help you preserve your memories for generations. In addition, they will handle your order carefully to maintain them properly and keep them safe from harm or damage during conversion to digital format.

Upon receiving your converted audio files, digitizing services recommend backing up the MP3 files directly to a computer or cloud service. Over time flash drives can become corrupt for many reasons making it impossible to read data stored on them.

Final Words

There are many different ways to digitize audio. Professional service is the best option for digitizing your audio rather than a cheaper process that sacrifices quality or DIY, which can also ruin your cassette.

We've made the comparisons and found the best possible services for you. All digitizing services will professionally take care of your audio files and convert them into high-quality digital format.

The main difference between these companies is price and digitizing time.

We recommend LegacyBox as the best audio tape conversion service for the price. In addition, you are getting a safety protection guarantee with the ability to upgrade to 10-day priority digitizing.

Written by Abdo

Abdo is a Zoopy writer who loves spending his free time outdoors, camping, and enjoying the peace that nature brings. He also enjoys fixing things - he's particularly good with electronics. His favorite movie is I Am Legend, and he's fascinated by survival gear and safety.

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