Ken Lutes Audio Restoration

Preserve Precious Memories on CD!

Most Requested Services

Services

Prices

Examples

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For a specific breakdown of services, click a link to the right:	SINGLE ALBUMS
	COMPILATIONS
Most often requested options are directly below.	BASIC SOUND RESTORATION
	SPECIFIC PRICING SCHEDULE
	SHIPPING

MOST OFTEN REQUESTED SERVICES

Pricing restoration services for every possible situation is impossible to simplify, but following are the three most requested services and their prices. Additional services are available for recordings requiring treatment to correct particularly stubborn "pops", or clicks due to scratches or manufacturing flaws.

All options provide Basic Sound Restoration for a single LP or tape that is less than 50 minutes, 12 tracks or fewer. Some recordings may require additional noise removal; see Other Services for more info.

Option 1. Simple transfer - $22.50

Straight transfer of the record or tape (no restoration service); individual tracks are indexed. Details

Option 2. Restored transfer - $35.00

Transfer of record or tape with basic restoration services; individual tracks are indexed. Track list provided. Good option for those who create their own art work. Details

Option 3. Deluxe transfer - $30.00 + cost of Option 1 or 2

This is the most popular service: $65.00 when combined with Option 2.

Indexed transfer with scanned album cover, in jewel case; liner notes* (if any), plus tray liner, tracks list, disk label (full disk label made from album cover image or from provided art work).
This service yields a professionally complete CD.

* up to 2 pages in the booklet; liner notes must be scannable or typed transcription provided.

Double Albums: 2x Options 1 or 2

Multi-Source Compilations: Details

45's & 78's: Details

Read these Questions & Answers to understand more about Audio Restoration.

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HOW I FIGURE PROJECT COSTS

Simply converting records of tapes to CD's is the easiest, most straightforward service I provide. This service copies the recorded music "as is" to a CD and costs $22.50.

Every restoration project will be different, however, because each record or tape has inherently unusual characteristics due to wear, manufacturing, and quality of materials used in production, etc. Also, every person is unique in their personal listening needs; some want the record or tape to be restored to nearly perfect condition, while others are pleased to eliminate the most annoying surface noises and clicks. Therefore, estimating the exact cost of a project can be difficult. With that in mind, I have developed a Specific Pricing Schedule of the most commonly asked-for services. For a simple guide to help you estimte your project costs, click here.

I am always willing to negotiate services that may not fall into a category listed on the Specific Pricing Schedule, so please feel free to tell me what you'd like to have done, and I'll work up a quote for you.

SINGLE ALBUMS

Converting a single LP is kinda like taking your car in for repairs. What it costs to repair depends upon the level of service, what needs to be done. Single albums or tapes can be converted for as little as $22.50; Basic Sound Restoration runs about $12 dollars more.

Occasionally, there are stubborn clicks--typical of a scratched record--that occur with each revolution of the record. Because this type of click is especially annoying in more quiet sections, I prefer to remove as many clicks as possible by using Manual Track Adjustment (MTA). Within a given segment, there may be one or two pops or clicks, or there may be twenty. I will remove as many as reasonably possible without interferring with musical integrity.

My Deluxe Product service will buy the record jacket cover copied to a CD insert or booklet, liner notes with a listing of the songs, and a disc label--all this presented to you in a jewel case as a final product that not only sounds great but looks great, too!

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COMPILATIONS

In addition to converting complete albums, you might want to consider compilations of your songs. Reaching into my personal history, I can say that I have purchased many albums because of one or two songs I liked, only to be disappointed that the rest of the songs were losers. For more info, click here: single-song compilations.

Remember that nearly 20 four-minute songs can fit on a single CD I once compiled a two-CD set with 62 songs from the '50's and '60's (they were pretty short tunes in those days).

MULTI-SOURCE COMPILATIONS can save you money. If you want to combine the contents of one record or tape with additional selections from various sources, then this service is for you!

When you buy the Multi-Source service and the Deluxe Product service, you get more for your money. I will create a custom package including record jacket covers or other art. Of course, you get a CD insert or booklet, liner notes with a listing of the songs, and a disc label--all this presented to you in a jewel case as a final product that not only sounds great but looks great, too!

BASIC SOUND RESTORATION

The quality of materials and manufacturing play huge roles in the ability to restore LP's, 45's, and 78's. And of course, these sources have imperfections caused by wear-and-tear or even by poor factory imprinting processes. They all have inherent surface noise. Basic Sound Restoration services provide refined "cleaning" processes to overcome most of these imperfections.

The Basic Sound Restoration service includes de-clicking and de-noising processes. What does that mean? Sophisticated software designed specifically for audio restoration, can detect the difference between pops (or clicks) and music and can remove them without disrupting the musical integrity.

All recordings will benefit from from this service. Using Manual Track Adjustments, recordings in very good to excellent condition can often be restored to near CD quality, with virtually all the annoying pops and clicks eliminated. Unfortunately not all recordings can be converted to perfection. The condition of the source (LP, 45, 78, tape) will determine the success of restoration; for instance, inherent distortion cannot be eliminated (check out the examples).

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What kind of project do you have?
Estimate your project costs

SPECIFIC PRICING SCHEDULE
Use this schedule to help determine pricing for services which do not fall simply into the above options. Please refer to line numbers when ordering.

Service Description

Unit Price

SINGLE LP & TAPE TRANSFER & RESTORATION Use when you have a single source, that is, one LP or tape The songs transferred to CD will be in the same order as the source You might want the Deluxe service. Additionally, Other services may be required, such as Manual Track Adjustment
1. LP or Tape Transfer Only: up to 12 tracks, 50 minutes or less, indexed	22.50
2. LP or Tape Transfer with Basic Sound Restoration: up to 12 tracks. 50 minutes or less, and includes indexing (to access any individual track) and track listing	35.00
Additional tracks or minutes may be added. See "Other Services" - Lines 8-9

SINGLE SONG (45's, 78's) TRANSFER & RESTORATION Use when you have one or more songs on 45's or 78's to be transferred onto a single CD. If transferring single songs from tapes, see NOTE, below.
3. Single Song - Both sides of a record, if desired - assumes each side is less than 4 minutes. Minimum order is $22.50 for first source (record or tape)	22.50
4. Single Song Additional Sources - assumes each source, or side, is less than 4 minutes	3.00 per add'l source
Additional tracks or minutes may be added. See "Other Services" - Lines 8-9
*NOTE:* Songs transferred from tapes must be cued to avoid hourly fee for searching Top of page
MULTI-SOURCE COMPILATIONS using LP's, other sources Use this pricing when you want to: combine all the contents of one LP (both sides) with single songs from one or more sources, or combine all the contents of both sides of one LP with a third complete side of another LP, or convert a tape with more than 65 minutes or more than 18 songs For example, you might want to transfer all of "Meet the Beatles" and add your favorite three tunes from "Help" and four songs from "A Hard Day's Night." These songs were short, so you could probably fit between 15 and 20 songs on a single CD This option saves money over Single Song transfers. Because a complete album transfer is involved, the Single Song rates are discounted 20%. NOTE: There must be one complete album.
5. LP or tape - up to 12 tracks 50 minutes or less (same cost as line 2.)	35.00
6. LP or tape (three sides) - up to 18 tracks 65 minutes or less	57.00
7. Additional Songs, other than those included on the three sides - minimum 3 songs (each)	2.40
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OTHER SERVICES Use when you: have more than 12 tracks (lines 8-9) have more than 50 minutes * (line 9) want your CD to look like the original record or tape (line 15) are using Multi Source Compilation (lines 5-7, above) but have more than 65 minutes *some records that exceed the 12 track or 50 minute limits (such as classical recordings) might be recorded on three or more sides. In this case, options 6 or 9 (above) might better serve your needs
8. Additional LP or Tape Source - 4 minute max. (each)	3.00
9. Additional Minute or portion thereof (each)	.60
10. Song Order Changes (any song in any order different from LP presentation, per song)	1.00
11. Scanned Album Cover (or provided graphic) on insert book, with tracks list, in jewel case with printed back and spines (U-shaped tray liner)	10.00
12. Jewel Case with tracks listing on book insert, printed back and spines (U-shaped tray liner)	7.00
13. Scanned Album Cover (or provided graphic) with Liner Notes*	17.50
14. Disk Label (full disk)	5.00
15. Deluxe Product (everything in options 11-14): scanned album cover with liner notes, plus tray liner, tracks listing with running times, disk label (full coverage disk label made from album cover image), in jewel case. Use this service with compilations and save some money. This service (line 15) yields a professionally packaged CD.* * up to 2 pages in the book (the inside of the book); liner notes must be scannable (some fancy font characters cannot be correctly deciphered) or typed transcription provided. Additional pages extra.	30.00 7.00 per 2 pages
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ENHANCEMENTS
16. Manual Track Adjustments - maximum charge per 3-minute increment is $3.00. This charge is for any restorative treatment, beyond Basic Sound Restoration services, to remove specific, stubborn clicks--such as when a surface scratch results in a regular click with each revolution of the record. Typically, I would attempt to manually remove such clicks in quiet portions of the music, where the clicks would be more annoyingly obvious than in louder portions. It is not always possible to remove all clicks or all click "residue," but this treatment always results in a finer listening experience. IMPORTANT TIP: Listen to your recording and note (and count) particularly annoying pops or clicks you would to have removed. (Copies of comparative before-and-after wave forms are available upon request - see WAVE FORMS.)	.75 (each click) Max. charge per 3-minute increment: $3.
17. Normalize Gain - balance volume levels (per source)	2.00
18. Fade In/Out, Mute - These services are offered to "clean up" unwanted noises at the beginning and end of, or between, tracks (per indexed track) (max. $7 per 12 tracks or 50 minutes)	1.00
19. Revise File (tweaking) - This service applies to requests for changes to a project after it has been completed. Prices quoted on individual basis

20. Unscheduled Hourly Work	30.00

COPIES
21. Cassette copy of result from services (requires proof of ownership)	12.00
22. CD copy of result from services (requires proof of ownership)	7.00

WAVE FORMS
23. Comparative before-and-after wave forms (per set). (Must be requested when order is placed)	3.00

RUSH ORDERS
24. Email me for a specific quote. Typically $30 additional.

Prices subject to change.

Here's a list of projects.

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USEFUL SHIPPING INFORMATION

I use only USPS mailing services for returning all items I receive, unless you specify (and arrange) another service.
Shipped items must include the minimum payment for all requested services and return shipping costs (make checks payable to "Ken Lutes."). Typically, whatever actual mailing costs are to mail it to me is what I charge to return it, plus a handling fee of $4, so when figuring the total costs of a project, add return freight plus $4.
I suggest that you use a packaging service, such as Mail Boxes Etc or Packaging Store to assure the best possible protection of your items (check the Yellow Pages under "Packaging Service"). You are responsible for all damage due to shipping, including warping, breakage, or loss.*
Some packaging services, to cover their overhead, charge twice the actual rate to ship a parcel, so you might consider using a packaging service only for the packing, then sending the parcel from a USPS station.
Include your email address and phone number with your order. I will contact you when your items are received and discuss any additional service needs and payment options.
Expect 10-15 days turnaround.

Make checks payable to "Ken Lutes."
* SUGGESTION: If you want to insure "collectible" items for actual value, such as rare 78's, have a qualified appraiser estimate the value; present a copy of the apprasial to the shipping official.

Mail items to:

KEN LUTES
2800 VRAIN ST
DENVER, CO 80212
EMAIL: ken@kenlutes.com

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