Our mission is to ensure that the artist's creative work has been carefully preserved for enjoyment by future generations.
Haven't all the classic recordings from the 1950s through the 1980s already been preserved?
Not if you believe that preservation means no alteration and no loss of quality. When even casual listeners find an original analog recording sounding notably superior to its digital copy, we must question the quality of that copy. The surviving analog master tapes are the only true reference.
“Meanwhile, the analog tapes in the vaults are all disintegrating.” — Neil Young, 2019
Analog magnetic audio tapes can experience chemical degradation over time, rendering them fragile and vulnerable to damage on playback.
Today in 2025, historic master tapes are being retrieved for things like Dolby Atmos remastering, or cutting new lacquer masters for premium vinyl re-issues.
Whether for convenience or cost savings, these tapes are routinely being played back on vintage studio tape recorders, a potentially harmful or even destructive practice that is clearly not responsible conservation or preservation.
Bring in the scientists.
We’re building a multi-million dollar facility in Santa Barbara, California, staffed with expert personnel and equipped with state-of-the-art specialized hardware to prevent further damage or destruction to heritage master tapes. Our work will also let the public hear the often astonishing audio fidelity of many historic tapes for the first time.
Importantly, we’re making these services available to recording copyright owners worldwide, free of cost.
It's about respecting what the artists of the golden era of music recording created for us.