Re:

[Brian Levy <xernaut@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thank you, Anthony, you've given me a lot to work with, I'll need to
think it through some more, esp. the part about video capture and storage
to hard disk, since our budget is so limited right now.  Maybe we
can get a grant for that soon, though.  What would be wrong with
burning DVD's directly from our old VHS, Beta, HI-8, and now, Digital-8
(non-professional quality equipment) masters?  I mean as soon as DVD
burner technology gets more affordable, and more standardized, say in the
next three years or so? 
I guess video capture might be worth the investment in proper computer
and capture equipment in the meantime, is that right?  And then it
would be all the easier to transfer the computer .mpeg2 or whatever files
to burned DVD's?  
We don't intend any web access outside the Caddo tribe to our audio and
video, so it's not the same issue as say the Library of Congress here in
the US with their Folkways collection all or much of which is made
web-accessible.
We just want these audio and video recordings to be accessible by members
present, and, importantly, future of the Caddo Tribe.  I'm with you,
I've accepted the reality that vault storage without maintenance would be
disastrous, a fairy tale.  I don't buy the simulated aging tests by
CDR companies.  I see the need to migrate every five to ten
years.
And maybe to buy a CD tester in the meantime to monitor digital
deterioration.  
I guess it would also be best to capture all audio from first gen. CD or
DAT directly to computer hard drive, and have that be one archival
copy.
We already have two CDR copies of everything stored in separate location,
one silver dye, one gold, but I am considering doing only gold from now
on, based on what others on these lists have said about relative
longevities of the two, and particular problems with silver discs forming
silver sulfates or something due to sulphur contents in the atmosphere
all over the world.
Also interesting what you say about not 'going backward' and making
analog copies of everything, despite the possible lack of CD players in
say fifty to 150 years from now.  Esp. given, as you say, how
expensive professional modern analog reel to reel recorders and the like
would be.  I know others feel differently on this issue, in the end
it's also a matter of man-hours, we just don't have the staff to do every
possible backup strategy, so we have to choose carefully amongst all the
options.  Migrating seems the safest, though it pre-supposes people
after we die will still care enough to keep the process going, on that we
are banking.  And, as one linguist friend in Calif. said, 'we're not
going to let these precious language and cultural material die on our
watch [if we can help it!]'.

I really appreciate you help.

                 
Brian Levy

------------------------------------------
Brian Levy
Cultural Activist
Kiwat Hasinay Foundation:
Preserving Caddo Heritage
211 W. Colorado Ave.
Anadarko, OK  73005  USA
(1) 405-247-5840