Few have access to heritage master tapes. We build the specialized hardware needed by those that do.

Why specialized hardware?

Analog master tapes from the 1950s through the 1980s have undergone chemical degradations often rendering them highly vulnerable to damage. It's irresponsible conservation practice to play these tapes back on vintage studio recorders. (We have a technical brief explaining why.) First, do no harm!

Further, it was long ago established that only a purpose-built platform can provide the highest quality tape playback. (We have another technical brief explaining this.) Using a studio recorder for playback presumes that the public doesn't care about hearing legacy master tapes in their highest fidelity.

Why use an ATAE professional reproducer?

1. To prevent damage to irreplaceable master tapes

2. To reveal how good a tape actually sounds

If you work with high-value tapes and are interested in the science behind our state-of-the-art reproducers that are engineered to protect tapes while also letting them be heard in their true highest fidelity, get in touch and ask for our list of technical briefs. We’re in California, USA.

Learn about the effort to preserve heritage master tapes at: recordedmusicpreservation.org