Best way to store cassettes

[jimmyrules712]

My church has thousands of cassette recordings, every service for the last 30 years, on cassettes. These backups are important and Im wanting to know if anyone can tell me if theres a good or best way to store these that will keep them from deteriorating, and just ageing in the air. We're in the process of backing them up to MP3s, but I still want to know if the backups can be stored in a way to keep them from deteriorating.

[TwoRails]

Beside the obvious dry and not to cold or hot, make sure you don't place them along a wall where there is wiring runnign thru. I've seen folks put tapes near things like outlets, wall wiring, and the like, only to find partially erased tapes.

[SonicVanguard]

30 year old tapes will certainly have some bleed through and if they haven't been stored in a humidity-controlled area, some of the older ones may be stuck together.

If you're smart, start converting the older tapes ASAP. And be prepared to have some of them professionally restored - if they are as important as you say.

And good luck with the project.

Dave.

[jimmyrules712]

Originally Posted by SonicVanguard

30 year old tapes will certainly have some bleed through and if they haven't been stored in a humidity-controlled area, some of the older ones may be stuck together.

If you're smart, start converting the older tapes ASAP. And be prepared to have some of them professionally restored - if they are as important as you say.

And good luck with the project.

Dave.

Yeah I am, Ive got 4 computers set up with cassette players that I use to back em up at the same time. RIght now Im doing about 40 tapes per week (over 2,000 total). Im trying to find ways to speed up the process tho because im hoping to have this project finished by the end of next summer.