Re: [ARSCLIST] Is recording to Reel-to-reel still the preferred preservation method?

[David Lewiston <david.lewiston@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The following is likely to set off a firestorm of responses, but here
goes....

My archive consists of hundreds of hours of field recordings of traditional
music of many different countries, created over the past four decades. I've
just finished putting together a conservation proposal for these materials.
At the present time, I don't know whether it will be funded.

For the analogue recordings, this proposal calls for

1. Making two analogue copies on 1/4" tape at 15 ips.
2. Digitising at 176.4kHz, 24 bits, and saving the digitised audio to two
AIT tapes, two DVDs, and two hard discs.
3. Storage of the two sets at different locations.

(Conservation of my digital recordings hasn't been addressed yet.)

If this comes to pass, I hope that each copy of the archive will include a
computer fully loaded with the stuff necessary to play back the digital
versions (AIT drive, DVD ROM) since there's no guarantee that future
computers will be able to play back today's digital media.

Salutations, David Lewiston




----- Original Message -----
From: "Watsky, Lance" <lwatsky@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 9:49 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Is recording to Reel-to-reel still the preferred
preservation method?


Hello Everyone:

I was wondering if 1/4" reel-to-reel is still considered the preferred
method for creating preservation copies of audio recordings, or are we at a
point now that we are actually better off using gold CD's?

Thanks,
Lance Watsky
Preservation & Media Specialist
The Georgia Archives
5800 Jonesboro Road
Morrow, GA 30260
678-364-3764 (phone)
678-364-3860 (fax)
lwatsky@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.GeorgiaArchives.org