[ARSCLIST] WHY save as WAV's when Mp3's can do??? (was Podcasting of 78's)

["Andes, Donald" <Donald.Andes@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Regardless of whether this is a preservation project of not, and
regardless of what bit rate or file format you go to, the process is as
follows:

1) The discs should be prepared properly (cleaned) prior to transfer.
	-The time involved here depends on the state of the collection.

2) The Playback device should be calibrated properly. In this case the
78 player should be of good condition, and have the correct stylus for
the record to be played.
	-The time here again depends on the state of the playback
device.

***At this point regardless of what you say to inside the computer, at
least you know you have the best (within reason) sound you can.

3) The record should be played back directly into the computer sound
card at robust enough level without clipping. (Since this is a 78, you
WON'T need to shoot the moon for a A/D that's $$$.)
	-The fact that this needs to be done real time, depends on
program length.

4) The file is recorded in the computer and saved.
	-This happens simultaneously with 3) above, except the "save"
part which takes seconds.

5) The files should be edited and correctly labeled. 
	-Time here depends on whether you are trimming heads/tails,
applying processing, and the amount of metadata you collect for each
file. (This is where preservation projects CAN eat time.)
 
6) The files SHOULD BE backed up.
	-This will take time and $ depending on what your plans are, but
is the only way to safeguard the time and work invested in the steps
above. (Again, this is where preservation projects CAN eat time.)

7) Enjoy/Use/Compiled Radio Show with recorded files.
	-Time again depends on what the final output will be.

Since there's so much time/work taken to transfer each record, you might
as well do it at the best quality (resolution) you can. 78's are mono,
and don't require "extreme" sample and bit rates, so if you did 16/44.1
BWF's you'd have something that was very good sounding. As for the
"prettied up grandparent analogy" you'd only run into that if you sent
time on 5) doing a lot of audio processing.

The Wav files can be EASILY batch converted down to a variety of formats
(including Mp3's). If you commit to Mp3's now, and in the future get to
do your show "on the air" you may be happy you can create a few CD's of
wav files to play instead of risking the transport of your 78's dealing
with stylus issues at the station.

There have also been a great deal of posts over the quality of Mp3's.
They CAN sound great and they CAN sound horrible. After admitting that
your hearing is hampered, I'd especially choose to save everything as
Wav files. What happens when you transfer everything to Mp3's that YOU
think sound good, but you audience cringes over? At least if you have
the original Wav files you can RE-convert them at a higher bit rate, or
change the compression scheme.

Last note, I'd worry about them limits of an 80 Gig hard drive, when
you're down to you're last 10 gigs of free space. You may be surprised
at how long it takes to get you there. Remember all the steps above need
to be taken for EACH side transferred.


Don Andes

-Getting started on the right track, is more important then finishing on
the wrong one, or pondering about the future possibility of a better
one.


-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David Breneman
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 8:32 AM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Podcasting--explained a bit...

--- Lou Judson <loujudson@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> Steven, I wonder if there is a idfference between and archivist and a 
> record collector? You definitely seem to be the latter. I wonder if 
> someone can get a grant to come and actually archive and digitize your

> collection?!?


I got the impression that what Steve had in mind wasn't a preservation
project, but to produce a podcast "radio show"
of music from 78s.  If that's the case, there's no reason to retain the
original wav files (although it would be
nice) after each show is produced, and the only cleanup necessary would
be to make the material more "accessible"
to modern listeners - not the kind of exacting noise reduction regimen
used by professional restorers for commercial releases.  


David Breneman         david_breneman@xxxxxxxxx

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