Digital Audio Field Recorders
Recently I attended a Workshop given by Andy Kolovos at the Vermont Folklife Center and it was on the topic of digital field recorders and digital audio preservation. Of course I think it would be prudent for the WHS to purchase this type of equipment because I think the cassette recorder is outdated and inadequate for long-term preservation, but I would like to highlight what I think is important for you to know.~Steve Robinson
- Digital Audio Recorders and Digital Audio Preservation
Recommended Field Recorder – Marantz PMD660.
Advantages: - It has no moving parts, thus, a longer lasting recorder. When you record, it creates and stores the digital audio recording on a removable Compact Flash memory card identical to the kind used in many digital cameras. Although the cards themselves are a little expensive, they can be used over and over again, so in the long run prove quite economical.
- This model is a less expensive professional unit that meets most historical society requirements. It creates a standard, uncompressed audio file in the WAV file format.
Audio files can be uploaded to the computer and then burned onto CD. Once on CDs, it can be stored in the Vermont Room, at the Circ desk, and in the vault. - It is the current media used in professional audio capture, music and voice.
Can convert cassette audio to digital. We have many an professionally can cost as much as $100/hour for the technical work alone. - Quality! You can monitor and adjust the quality of the sound being recorded.
Easier storage. CDs are more compact and there is no tape to protect. Files can also be stored on a hard drive or external hard drives.
Preservation: - Interoperability – creating digital files in standard, non-proprietary formats that will be supported over time.
- Redundancy – storing files in more than one place and creating multiple back ups on secure media.
- Migration – shifting files to new media before the old media degrade and/or become obsolete, and shifting files to new standard file formats before the old formats are no longer supported.
Price range:
$450-$500
More advanced models can run about $600-$650
For more information:
http://www.d-mpro.com/users/folder.asp?FolderID=3629
http://www.oade.com/digital_recorders/hard_disc_recorders/PMD-660MODS.html
www.vermontfolklifecenter.org/res_audioequip.htm
posted by Williston Historical Society @ 9:45 AM
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