Re: [ARSCLIST] SV: Pre-wax tinfoils

["Prentice, Will" <Will.Prentice@xxxxx>]

Lars and all

My enquiry does relate to the work of John McBride & Co, as our tinfoil (ok, tin foil) has just been scanned in 3 dimensions and its contents rendered audible for the first time since it was removed from its recorder. The story and the audio itself are now available in a podcast here:
http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/whatson/downloads/ (mp3, 7mins 43secs, 2MB). 

While the resulting audio may seem disappointing to some, my feeling is that this is due to the lack of captured/retained info in the groove, not the retrieval process. In other words, I don't believe there is any further audio info ("primary information" in IASA TC03 terminology) to retrieve, and so future developments are unlikely to improve on what we now have. Secondary info may conceivably be another matter. The official blurb:  

"Since 2003, the British Library Sound Archive has been a partner in the Surface Scanning of Archived Sound Recordings research project at the University of Southampton. Professor John McBride, the project's manager and Nigel Bewley, head sound engineer in the Sound Archive, discuss the project. This podcast features audio transferred from the British Library's earliest object containing recorded sound, a Thomas Alva Edison tinfoil recording of c. 1877, unplayable by conventional means. Although the audio is of poor quality, it's extraordinary that the 130-year-old recording survives and is recoverable at all."

Enjoy

Will


-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Lars Gaustad
Sent: 16 December 2008 19:06
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ARSCLIST] SV: Pre-wax tinfoils

Dear Will,
In Norway we have one recording from 1879 that we just have signed a contract with the McBride gang to transfer for us early next year.

/lars

*********************''
**************************
lars gaustad
senior preservation advisor
national library of norway
www.nb.no 


-----Opprinnelig melding-----
Fra: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] På vegne av Prentice, Will
Sendt: 16. desember 2008 17:20
Til: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Emne: [ARSCLIST] Pre-wax tinfoils

Does anyone know of any pre-wax (or at least "very old") tinfoil recordings which have survived? We have one at the British Library which is assumed to be circa. the dawn of recorded time, and I presume there are others out there? All leads appreciated.

Thanks

Will 

..............................................
Will Prentice
Technical Services
British Library Sound Archive    Tel: +44 (0)20-7412-7443
96 Euston Road                       Fax: +44 (0)20-7412-7416
London  NW1 2DB                   http://www.bl.uk 
UK                                          http://cadensa.bl.uk (online
catalogue)

**************************************************************************
 
Experience the British Library online at www.bl.uk
 
The British Library's new interactive Annual Report and Accounts 2007/08 : www.bl.uk/knowledge
 
Help the British Library conserve the world's knowledge. Adopt a Book. www.bl.uk/adoptabook
 
The Library's St Pancras site is WiFi - enabled
 
*************************************************************************
 
The information contained in this e-mail is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended for the addressee(s) only. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete this e-mail and notify the postmaster@xxxxx : The contents of this e-mail must not be disclosed or copied without the sender's consent. 
 
The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the British Library. The British Library does not take any responsibility for the views of the author. 
 
*************************************************************************