You have an old family recording as a file. Noise, crackle or a dull sound make it hard to listen to. At Tonstudio Leipzig I reduce this interference and make your memories easier to hear again. One thing matters: the recording has to be digital already.
Many families own digital copies of old memories: transferred tape recordings, digitised cassettes, records, video soundtracks, voice messages or old files from a hard drive. The content is often precious, but the quality is difficult: noise, crackle, a dull sound, quiet voices. These are exactly the files I work on at Tonstudio Leipzig.
For detailed advice, book the initial consultation in the studio shop. For short questions, reach me by email or WhatsApp. I discuss the price transparently in the initial consultation, because it depends on how much material you have.
Many digital files hold valuable memories.
Often hold songs sung by grandparents, or recordings from family celebrations and a parents' wedding. Typical problems: tape hiss, pitch fluctuation and lost top end. These can be reduced in a targeted way.
Often hold family mixtapes, dictaphone interviews or children's birthday recordings. Restoration often brings back more than expected: there is usually more information hiding under the noise than you would think.
Often have pops, crackle and surface noise. I reduce this interference without destroying the characteristic vinyl sound.
If an old family video is already digital, the soundtrack can be improved separately, for example a dull sound or unclear speech. Delivered as an audio file, or embedded back into the video by arrangement.
The hardest category emotionally: last voice messages from relatives who have died, dictaphone recordings or family interviews. Restoration makes them listenable again, often as a lasting family keepsake.
Modern recordings benefit too: eulogies with wind noise, wedding speeches with too much reverb, conversations with background noise. Because the source is digitally clean, the tools work especially well here.
Three packages depending on how many files there are, in the initial consultation I work out which package suits your material.
A lean way in for one file or voice message: full restoration, delivered as WAV and MP3. Often a test run before a larger family archive.
The most popular package: several already digitised recordings from a family collection, fully restored. Ideal as a gift for a golden wedding anniversary or a milestone birthday.
The premium package for extensive family collections: several files, worked on carefully over several weeks. Optionally combined with small CD runs for several family members.
With long recordings, I work with you to pick out the most important moments and edit cleanly down to what matters.
On request, several versions: heavily restored, moderately restored with more original character, plus the unedited source file.
Online noise filters and apps help with harmless problems. With precious family recordings, they often destroy more than they repair.
Online tools reduce noise but often distort the voice along with it. At the studio I work with iZotope RX, which separates noise from voice cleanly, the same approach used in film studios and police laboratories.
Automatic tools smooth everything out, so old voices end up sounding like synthesisers. I restore with restraint: only what genuinely gets in the way is removed. The warm original sound stays.
Online services treat every recording the same way. In the initial consultation I listen to the story behind it, and we decide together what fits.
A good audio restoration works well beyond the moment of handover, often across years and generations.
Many people cry the first time they hear it, others just sit in silence for a while.
The recording becomes an anchor for the memory, with relatives who have died often part of the grieving process.
Grandchildren hear, for the first time, the voice they previously only knew from stories.
At a golden wedding, milestone birthday or funeral service, it often becomes the emotional high point.
Safely stored, copyable and passed on to children and grandchildren, while analogue originals keep ageing.
In thirty or forty years, grandchildren can hear voices they never got to meet in person.
Good preparation makes the difference: targeted restoration instead of work without a clear aim.
Is it WAV, MP3, M4A, AIFF, FLAC or a video file, how long and how large? That helps me judge the effort and strategy. I do not accept analogue originals for digitising.
Noise, pops, a dull sound, background noise, or too quiet? The more precisely you describe it, the more targeted the restoration.
Tell me briefly what is on the recording and why it matters. That shapes the pace and care of the work.
Maximum cleaning for the clearest result, or restrained work that keeps more original character? Tell me which direction matters more to you.
Standard delivery is WAV plus MP3 by cloud link. The unedited source file is kept as a backup.
For funerals, golden weddings or family occasions, get in touch early, ideally six to eight weeks ahead. Duration depends on the package, see FAQ.
Four steps from the first enquiry to the finished restored recording.
In the paid initial consultation I clarify the material, problems, emotional background and desired depth of restoration. Short questions work fine by email or WhatsApp.
You send the digital recording by cloud link or bring it on a storage device. I check the format, length and sound problem.
With iZotope RX and other tools I remove pops, reduce noise and optimise levels, in several passes if needed depending on the chosen depth.
You get the restored recording as a WAV and an MP3 file by cloud link. Your source file is kept as well.
The restoration work itself takes place at Tonstudio Leipzig, the easiest way to send files is digitally by cloud link.
Coming from Leipzig or the surrounding area, an appointment in person often makes sense: bring the file on a storage device or send it in advance by cloud link.
Please do not send records, cassettes, tapes or VHS cassettes by post, the studio has no playback equipment for them. All I need is a file that is already digitised.
For smartphone recordings, WAV or MP3 files, a cloud upload via WeTransfer, Dropbox or Google Drive is enough, and the restoration can start right away.
From Connewitz, Südvorstadt, Schleußig, Plagwitz, Markkleeberg or Halle, an appointment in person is often pleasant, you still send the file digitally in advance.
I work on digital family archives nationwide, all that matters is that the recording is already a file. We arrange details by email, WhatsApp or initial consultation, handover by cloud link.
The studio is at Bernhard-Göring-Straße 17 in 04107 Leipzig, within walking distance of the Karli. Parking in the courtyard, step-free ground floor access, easy to reach by tram or S-Bahn. Appointments by arrangement.
The most important answers before you enquire about your audio restoration. Short questions by email or WhatsApp, for detailed advice there is the initial consultation in the studio shop.
Professional work with iZotope RX brings out what is still in a damaged or noisy digital recording, reducing the acoustic debris so the voice comes through more clearly.
One thing matters: I do not digitise records, cassettes, tapes or VHS, the file has to be digital already. Result: a restored file as WAV or MP3.
This page is exclusively for private individuals and families with recordings that are already digital: voice messages, digitised family recordings, old demos.
If you work for a company, public body, club, museum or library, the separate business page is the better fit.
Suitable are WAV, MP3, M4A, AIFF or FLAC files, already digitised tape, cassette or record recordings, digital video files with a poor audio track, and voice messages or smartphone recordings.
Please do not send records, cassettes, tapes or VHS cassettes, I do not digitise analogue media.
Works very well: reducing tape hiss, removing pops and crackle, brightening a dull sound, raising quiet recordings in level.
Partly: heavy damage can be improved but not brought to studio quality. Not possible: completely unintelligible recordings, heavy clipping, or digitising analogue media.
An understandable concern with family heirlooms and last recordings of relatives who have died. The whole process is non-destructive, I work only on a copy of your file.
You get the unedited source file as a backup plus the restored version.
Best by cloud upload, for example Google Drive, Dropbox or WeTransfer. Please do not send records, cassettes, tapes or VHS cassettes by post.
If unsure, just tell me the format and length of the recording.
A single recording: one to two weeks. Family archive package: two to four weeks. Complete restoration: four to eight weeks.
For occasions with a deadline, such as family reunions, funerals or golden weddings, get in touch early, ideally six to eight weeks ahead.
The cost depends on the number of files, the source and the depth of restoration, a short voice message is much cheaper than hours of family material.
I work out your needs in the initial consultation, there is deliberately no fixed price list. Also available as a gift voucher.
For detailed conversations about the concept, book the initial consultation in the studio shop, especially for larger family archives or difficult recordings.
For short questions, email, WhatsApp or phone all work.
Yes, a very moving gift idea, for example when parents or grandparents have old recordings that have been almost unlistenable for years.
The restored recording makes a special keepsake for a milestone birthday, golden wedding or Christmas, and can be produced as a small run for several family members.
This page is for private clients only. For companies, public bodies, clubs, museums or educational institutions, there is the separate business site of Tonstudio Leipzig.
With project specific agreements and invoicing.
Write me a short note about which digital file you have, how long it is and which problems you can hear. For larger family archives or difficult recordings, the paid initial consultation in the shop is worth it. For short questions, a WhatsApp message or email works fine.