Date:         Thu, 17 Aug 2006 12:12:11 -0400
Reply-To:     Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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Sender:       Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:         "Richard L. Hess" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: Archiving and Reformatting Digital Files
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Hello, Kathleen,

You raise some interesting questions.

In fact, so interesting that I decided to answer them here
http://richardhess.com/notes/2006/08/17/dss-and-other-compressed-digital-files-in-an-oral-history-archive/
rather than in the thread.

Cheers,

Richard

Richard L. Hess                   email: [log in to unmask]
Aurora, Ontario, Canada       (905) 713 6733     1-877-TAPE-FIX
Detailed contact information: http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm
Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.


At 11:07 AM 8/17/2006, McCormick, Kathleen wrote:
>I am looking for information resources and suggestions on handling
>proprietary and/or compressed digital audio files for preservation.
>
>As an oral history archive, we are about to receive several collections
>from various constituents that will originate in the Windows Media Audio
>(WMA) format and potentially in the Digital Speech Standard (DSS)
>format, both of which are compressed formats (among other potential
>issues). I am trying to find information that relates to the
>issues/problems/hopes for handling these files - issues such as should
>and to what format should these files be converted to (can you convert a
>compressed file to an uncompressed format? [my understanding is no, not
>really.] or if you can, is there any benefit to doing that?).
>
>These are the first files of this type we will have to deal with and I
>am dreading their arrival. Any advice would be welcome.
>
>Despite my strong advice against using consumer grade digital recorders
>for collecting oral histories, professors and students are hard pressed
>to spend $500+ on professional field recording equipment. Given that
>there appears to be no middle ground recording equipment available for
>under $300, they are choosing to spend as little as possible to get the
>equipment. In which case, we are left to deal with the files in whatever
>format they come to us.
>
>
>Thanks!
>
>Katie McCormick
>
>Reference Archivist and
>Coordinator for the Oral History Program
>Special Collections - J. Murrey Atkins Library
>UNC Charlotte
>9201 University City Blvd
>Charlotte, NC 28223-0001
>
>[log in to unmask]
>704-687-6288
>http://library.uncc.edu/archives
>
>
>"Whatever we do we may fail, but if we do nothing, failure is
>guaranteed."