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Re: [ARSCLIST] Mass Digitization / Easing yourself into the thought...
Hi Don:
This MO gets done in different variations. For instance, I always try and prefer to do 1/2-track
tapes in one pass, and same for anything with 4 tracks on quarter-inch tape (quarter-track, mono x
4, quad). But, as Richard has discussed in detail, there are sometimes (maybe often) azimuth
problems with this approach. Your idea about 4 tape machines at once is viable for non-critical
audio, like perhaps low-quality voice recordings, but I would never want this done with my music
master tapes. I would expect the transfer engineer to LISTEN, CAREFULLY while the transfer was made.
I've learned to be able to hear problems backward and while the other channel has forward audio,
frequently encountered transferring half-track tapes in one pass. But I know I couldn't offer the
same QC with 4 channels going at once, never mind eight. Call me crazy but I just don't trust meters
and I certainly don't trust computers. Too much experience with ears and brain.
I would say that for certain formats, anything that has "forward" and "backward" tracks (half-track,
quarter-track stereo, quarter-track mono, cassettes, etc), the ideal robot machine would have a
separate head for each direction that would auto-adjust azimuth. Yes, such a thing could be built.
But at what cost vs. proper training, hiring and non-duplication of work in the field?
-- Tom Fine
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andes, Donald" <Donald.Andes@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 3:43 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Mass Digitization / Easing yourself into the thought...
To help ease some of you into the thought process of Mass Digitization,
I offer this an alternative to the fully robotic, super system, which
seems to scare the life out of some on the list. It may seem either
brilliant or old hat, but it's something I had toyed with years ago when
I was actually doing hands on work transferring.
(4) 1/4" machines feeding a single 8 channel converter. Each deck plays
and is recorded simultaneously, as a engineer monitors them all
intermittently (post) converters, via a switching matrix. Visual
metering, as well as on screen waveforms, of all channels simultaneously
keeps the engineer aware of major problems like channel drop outs,
clipping.
After the transfer is complete, a batch process through a Quadriga
machine generates a very detailed report in regards to phase issues,
clipping, and drop outs on a sample by sample basis (much better than
any human could analyze).
This system allow 4 times the work to be completed in an alotted
timeframe. Where slow speed or bi-directional tapes are concerned, you
could be saving LOTS of time or doing lots more transfers.
Q: Is this the same as 1 pair of ears completely dedicated to 2 channels
of audio? Nope, but when transferring lectures, spoken word, or other
oral history stuff, is it vital to monitor the entire program unless
your collecting metadata on the actual content?
Q: Does the loss of monitoring a program completely justify the offset
of increased speed and cost saving? I'd say usually (but of course not
always). Rememeber files could be auditioned in a non-linear way once
they are transferred.
Obviously, damaged tape would need to be handled differently, but you'd
be surprised how much time you'd have for that work, if well maintained
tapes were getting done is a 1/4 of the time.
Switch out the (4) 1/4" decks for DAT/Cass/etc. for added fun.
Don Andes
Director of Archives
EMI Music
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