The ‘Race Against Time’ to Save Music Legends’ Decaying Tapes
The New York Times • • technology
Key Points:
- Much of America's musical heritage is stored on aging analog studio tapes, which are deteriorating and putting recordings by artists like Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, and Bruce Springsteen at risk of being lost.
- Audio preservation expert Kelly Pribble uses specialized, often handmade equipment to salvage and restore fragile magnetic tapes, some of which suffer from "adhesion syndrome," where tape layers stick together and become unplayable.
- The problem is especially acute for tapes from the 1970s and ’80s, due to manufacturing changes that have caused long-term degradation becoming evident only recently.
- Preservationists warn that without urgent and proper treatment, many original recordings from key periods in music history may be permanently lost, making the effort a critical
