One way to "play" the tape is play it at 3.75 into a computer set at 88200 sample rate.
Then resample the file at 44100 which will give you the equivilant of 1 7/8 speed.
Resample the 44100 file at 21500 which is half again should equal 15/16. The quality cant be any worse than the original voice recordings at that tape speed.
Someone correct me if my logic is wrong
dnelson

--- On Wed, 1/12/11, Roderic G Stephens <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> From: Roderic G Stephens <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] 15/16 Recording Speed
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 10:49 AM
> I believe that, as Tom has just
> mentioned, only the spoken word will be best served in this
> slow speed format, and that was what it was used for as I
> remember.  I think it was even labeled "Talking Book" in
> some of the recordings and uses.
>
> --- On Wed, 1/12/11, Scott <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> From: Scott <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] 15/16 Recording Speed
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 10:16 AM
>
> I think you might talk to Richard Hess on this list, he
> might have good
> insights on this matter and can play the tapes for you.
>
> Scott P.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of George, Stephanie
> Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 12:04 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [ARSCLIST] 15/16 Recording Speed
>
> Hello, All -
>
> I've run up against an interesting scenario (for us,
> anyway) and I'm asking
> for some feedback from the collective wisdom of this
> group.
>
> We've been doing a lot of our own digitization, but we've
> now run across a
> reel to reel tape that was recorded at 15/16 speed.  It
> doesn't appear as if
> any of our reel to reel recorder/players offer that as an
> option, so,
> obviously, we'll need to send it out.
>
> How common was this recording speed and are there any
> general assumptions I
> might be able to make about the circumstances of the
> recording (i.e., Were
> there consumer-grade recorders available with this speed
> option?  Years it
> might have been a popular option?)
>
> Thanks in advance --
>
> Stephanie George
> Archivist
> Center for Oral and Public History
> California State University, Fullerton
> (657) 278-3693
> [log in to unmask]
>