Re: [ARSCLIST] electronic reading of physical media, was: Preservation policy question

["Lambertus (Bert) Van Zelst" <lvan@xxxxxxx>]

Those fantasies, at least, are becoming reality as we speak! Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, in a project in collaboration with the Preservation Directorate of the Library of Congress, have developed an 3D optical imaging technology whereby the computer can create an actual playback from the optical image of a gramophone disk. This work is still under further development, but the technology has been demonstrated. It also should work for similar recordings; research and development plans include work on cylinder recordings.
With regard to magnetic tape, research at the National Institute for Standards and Technology in Denver have developed magneto resistance imaging sensors that image the magnetization on the tape and thus allow non-contact reading of the recording. Again, this work is still under further development, but the practical feasibility has been demonstrated.

Bert van Zelst - Preservation Directorate, Library of Congress




>>> inaudio@xxxxxxxxxxx 12/09/05 2:06 PM >>>
This is great food for future-thinking - does anyone think it will 
eventually become possible to make an image scan of a disc and have the 
computer read it, in the way a scanner and OCR can turn documents into 
type or ASCII code? And eventually magnetic tape might be read, the way 
we used to use chemicals to make magnetic patterns visible? I would 
think it was easily possible given advanced anough computers and 
software...

After all, I invented (in my imagination only!) memory chip delivery of 
music when I was 14 in the 60s... now look at us... if only I'd had the 
skills to manifest it then!

Fantasy becomes reality someday...

<L>

Lou Judson * Intuitive Audio
415-883-2689

On Dec 9, 2005, at 8:59 AM, Karl Miller wrote:

> To which I would add...while we believe we can get the best from any
> original, I always keep originals simply because I believe there is 
> always
> the possibility that technology will give us better capture in the 
> future.
> I would hate to think of some lacquer discs being tossed after transfer
> considering some of the possible use of the imaging technology for 
> capture
> becoming economically viable in the not too distant future. Perhaps we
> could have, or perhaps there is, some technology to capture, without 
> direct
> contact to a playback head, audio from magnetic tape.
>
> As for what you keep, versus your available space...that is a rough
> question at any time...
>
> Karl