Date:Thu, 17 Aug 2006 18:16:34 -0400
Reply-To:Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:Re: Archiving and Reformatting Digital Files
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Boy, some things never change. WMA and DSS sound like the latest version of microcassettes and 1
7/8IPS , 3" reel recorders. Sigh. The human voice CAN sound wonderful. Unfortunately, many field
recordings do not bring that quality back to the archive.
-- Tom Fine
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard L. Hess" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 12:12 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Archiving and Reformatting Digital Files
> 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."