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

[Alyssa Ryvers <alyssa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

My vote firmly for 1/4". If I had my way, I'd be transferring master
CDs to 1/4".

No matter what virtues can be expounded with respect to digital files,
I can't imagine anyone would say stability and longevity is one of
them. I'm always nervous when I'm recovering something off a Gold CD I
recorded 10 years ago. In another 10, I'll be more nervous, and when I
die, I guess I'm just going to have to let go! And this is only my
little corner of the world - certainly not some of our National
Treasures.

I guess it's kind of hard to get funding, "We need $100,000 to transfer
these audio documents to 1/4" reel to reel." People would look at you
as if you had two heads.

"Everyone" understands a need to go "digital"...guess funding to do
something is better than funding to do nothing? If I were in a position
of responsibility for an archive project, I would do my damnest to
convince the people in charge of funding to migrate things to 1/4" to
satisfy my healthy fear, as well as go "digital".

At the end of the day, which one do you trust? I think it's a matter of
personal responsibility, but I'm just that kind of person. I'm waiting
for something I trust more than 1/4", and I await with bated breath...I
sure hope there continues to be quiet hold outs in that respect, all a
little too embarrassed to admit publicly they're not using those
Newfangled Shiny Gold Things (or other digital media for that
matter)...I look forward to hearing who on the list is still holding
out...I'm with you, Brother.

Alyssa.
_____________________
Composer / Sound Engineer
www.musicnorth.com

On Wednesday, September 29, 2004, at 03:49  PM, Watsky, Lance wrote:

> 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