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RE: on-going discussion on archiving issues
I hope you guys aren't tired of this thread yet....
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
[GARDNER Anthony (PRESS)] i
bought a pc based system with a good quality video card (to
50Mbps),dvdreader, a dvdr and cdr burner, cheap authoring software for
dvd-video, some adobe siftware for editing and stills, and realvideo
software. This cost 25000dollars a year ago in europe.
. 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?
[GARDNER Anthony (PRESS)]
Nothing. Decide whether you are going to make DVD-videos, for playing on
any domestic DVD video player, and/or DVD ROM storing higher bit rate and
therefore better quality video. I would guess that your DV recordings
will come out well on DVD-video, as will probably VHS and HI8: for beta
(SP?) you might need to do some tests.
[GARDNER Anthony (PRESS)] The
BBC at JITS2000 talked about their tests for transferring their UMATIC
archive to DVDROM. They made tests at different bit rates on a selection
of critical material, and then examined the images in freeze frame for
any blocking or other artefacts. This is a good pragmatic way of doing
things, if not entirely rigorous. Choose imageswhich are a bit noisy,
shot in low light, with plenty of movement.
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?
[GARDNER Anthony (PRESS)] Yes.
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.
[GARDNER Anthony (PRESS)]
Understood
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.
[GARDNER Anthony (PRESS)] Do
they exist?
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.on our watch [if we can help it!]'.
[GARDNER Anthony (PRESS)] Once
again JITS covered this in some detail. I can forward some documentation
if you wish.
One point they made was to
chose the CDR disc and the recorder together: disc A in recorder X, and
disc Y in recorder B may well give excellant jitter and error rates,
whereas disc A in recorder Yand disc B in recorder X may give
unacceptable results - it is difficult to condemn either the discs or the
recorders in isloation.
They also made the point that
CDR is a domestic format and that this may well lower the quality control
and manufacturing standards of the project: thus your choice of good
quality discs from reputable manufacturers is good. I am not an expert in
the different types of CDR - I am sure you know more than
me.
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!]'.
[GARDNER Anthony
(PRESS)] A management and financing problem as much as a technical one.
You have to make the choices you feel are justified. We say here if you
have 5 experts there are always 6 'best' solutions.
I too enjoy these interchanges:
what did we ever do without email?
For me it is an opportunity to
apply my
ideas.
[GARDNER Anthony (PRESS)] Good
luck with your project.
I really appreciate you help.
Brian Levy
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
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