Step 1: Determining what you have.

Reel to reel tape (or open reel tape) came in many shapes and sizes. The most common to the average consumer is 1/4" tape. Tape also came in 1/2", 1" and 2" but was reserved mostly for the professional recording market. To determine what you have, simply measure the  tape, the actual tape not the reel. It should measure 1 quarter of an inch in width. (Not thickness).

Next, reel to reel tape came on many different sizes of reels. Most common among these are 3 inch, 5 inch and 7 inch. Larger 10 1/2 inch reels were also made but not as common to the home user. Recording studio demo tapes and radio/ television programs more commonly used these sizes. Here at Reel 2 Reel 2 CD we transfer all sizes. To determine what size reel you have, lay it down on a table and measure across the surface of the reel as close to the middle as possible. Your measurement may not be exactly the measurements above but it will be very close to one of them. See the photo to the right for example. Pricing here at Reel 2 Reel 2 CD is based primarily on reel size. Tapes that are not full of tape are priced by how much tape, not how big the reel is.

If you still have a question or problem determining what you have please contact us by email at info@reel2reel2cd.com or toll free 1-800-617-8273 9am to 5pm  EST or leave a message anytime.