I think the machines and replacement parts therefore are a larger concern
rather than tape itself.
Most archives will probably be forced to go digital like it or not, just
because that is the way the world is going. The hardware is available, the
software, the blank media, otherwise you are trying to climb the waterfall.
Joe Salerno
Video Works! Is it working for you?
PO Box 273405 - Houston TX 77277-3405
http://joe.salerno.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "James L Wolf" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2003 9:03 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Long-term/preservation audio
> Just want to correct something I said a couple days ago. I just
> learned thayt the Library of Congress Audio Preservation lab now makes
> their playback copies on CD-R, not DAT. The master preservation is still
> on reel-to-reel.
> One thing I also said that I'm not as sure about now. I said
> something like analog preservation will no longer be possible in the
> near future. I based this on the steady attrition of suppliers of
> magnetic tape, assuming that demand would dry up to the point that tape
> would no longer be available at all. Does anyone disagree with this? I
> suppose that tape could be made to order by someone (?), but it would
> have to be much more expensive than it is now.
> I still think digital is the way for archives to go eventually,
> mostly because a well planned digital repository can handle quality
> control and migration better.
>
> James