The Hideout has the latest software and equipment to copy those old vinyl and ceramic LPs or cassettes to CD.  Noise as well as the click and pops inherent in these old media can be removed resulting in clean audio.

 Rates

 Restoration and clean-up   $30.00 per hour

Simple transfers to CD    $2.00 per song or $15.00 per LP

Audio restoration is a generalized term for the process of removing imperfections (such as hiss, crackle, noise, and buzz) from sound recordings. Audio restoration can be performed directly on the recording medium (for example, washing a gramophone record with a cleansing solution), or on a digital representation of the recording using a computer (such as an AIFF or WAV file). Record restoration is a particular form of audio restoration that seeks to repair the sound of damaged records.

Modern audio restoration techniques are usually performed by digitizing an audio source from analog media, such as lacquer recordings or magnetic tape. Once in the digital realm, the Hideout’s engineers can restore and clean up recordings using our digital audio workstation (DAW) which can perform various automated techniques to remove anomalies using algorithms to accomplish broadband de-noising, de-clicking and de-crackling, as well as removing buzzes and hums. We also can use our DAW to manually remove "pops and ticks" from recordings, and 'retouching' techniques allow for the suppression or removal of discrete unwanted sounds. With our DAW we are capable of removing the smallest of anomalies, often without leaving artifacts and other evidence of their removal. Although fully automated solutions exist, audio restoration can be a time consuming process that requires experience in music recording techniques.

The demand for restored audio has been fueled by newer technologies such as CD and DVD. Modern audio reproduction systems require that sound sources be in the best condition possible to enhance the listening experience. Audio buffs recognize the importance of having clean, pristine sound to enhance their listening experience.

A byproduct of restoration is that many analog audio sources, such as older LPs, are brought into the digital world and preserved for future use. An unfortunate fact is that most of the sound recordings created over the past century have been lost due to improper storage and neglect.

Audio restoration is a subjective process, and there are many strategies or perspectives that the audio engineer or sound editor can employ. The archival perspective says that audio restoration should restore the recording to its original condition, while the commercial perspective says that the recording should be both restored and enhanced to appeal most immediately with modern audiences.