Tape to CD conversions - What to charge?

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evm1024

evm1024

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Hi All,

I've come across a few chances to do a tape to CD conversion for folks who have recorded their weddings and such 30 years ago and want them on CD.

What is the going rate to charge for such a service? Any pitfills to lookout for?

--Ethan
 
Ethan,
Look up Graham Newton who's done a fair bit of this work and is in your own Canada. I think his webpage listed prices for various services.

Regards, Tim
 
$35.00 to $50.00, or more depending on where you live. If you can improve the audio and/or video in the process your work will be more valuable to the client. Basic video enhancers once made by Radio Shack can make a discernable difference in picture quality, and muffled audio can be restored with the Alesis Micro Enhancer or Aphex Aural exciter. There are also plenty of digital tools as well… take your pick. I find the analog tools are more intuitive and predictable than the affordable digital tools.

I have an Archer Super Video Enhancer made by Realistic and the Alesis Micro Enhancer. Together they can make you look like a miracle worker... just don’t overdo it. There were several models of video enhancer sold by Realistic and other companies like JVC and Vidicraft.

:)
 
One pitfall is underquoting and then your time blowing out. A long, straight recording can be set going and left unattended , dialing in a time limit for the DAW to stop. That only ties up the gear, not you.
But it's the little bits, like doing lots of little edits and making separate CD tracks that can blow it out. You need to quote for your actual time, not simply the time of the entire raw recording. It can be tricky.

Tim
 
Well said Tim. If you're doing just a straight across dupe your time is worth a certain amount. If you are going to clean up or otherwise improve on the original then you will have more time invested for which you should charge accordingly. You might want to consider a two tiered approach fee wise - say $12 for a straight dupe no frills and $15 a hour for a dupe with clean up and other improvements. Obviously where you live will have a bearing on what you can (and should) charge. Call around to some other folks who do this in your area (acting as a potential customer) and find out what they are charging. That would be a good way to get a feel for what your market finds acceptable for this type of work. The biggest pitfall is undercharging. I've always heard that you should take into account what you earn at your day job. If you are earning $15/hour there then your time doing dupes should be worth close to the same.

It's weird, but people in a general sense will consider your services to be lacking if you charge too little. Another angle might be to think about what you yourself would pay for such a service and charge accordingly. Even if it is just a side thing don't sell yourself short. It's your time, gear, and money invested in that gear that makes you worth whatever you decide to charge for this kind of service. Best of luck!
 
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