MSU Libraries Audio Digitization Standards
Preservation. MSU libraries treats the digitized audio version of recorded voice materials as the preservation copy. We do not regard copying onto analog media as good long term preservation method because of the quality loss during the transfer, and the constant minor degradation in sound quality. This means, of course, that the digital capture must be done to high standards, that the digital object be migrated to fresh media regularly, and that the format be migrated to new formats as computing standards change.
Capture. MSU Libraries captures monaural spoken work audio recordings at a sampling rate of 44.1 Mhz, 16 bit, and stores the pulse code modulated (PCM) bitstream as a .WAV file. We use the .WAV headers for information about the capture and the source. Top quality analog equipment to minimize noise during the capture is critical, as is saving the information in an uncompressed format.
Use Copies. MSU Libraries uses a number of formats to provide use copies, including RealAudio and MP3. In general, MP3 is our preferred format. These are derivatives of the archival versions.
Metadata. MSU Libraries uses XML (eXtensible Markup Language) Encoded Archival Description (EAD) to describe spoken word sound recordings, whether analog or digital. EAD was chosen to reflect the collection-based nature of our materials, and to minimize description costs by letting detailed item descriptions in the container tags inherit collection level information. Links from the container level descriptions to digital sound materials should be made available.
Access. MSU Libraries uses an Innovative Interfaces Inc (III) developed harvester to load collection level information into our online catalog in MARC format. The EAD records are also available for use online directly with IE 5.0 browsers. There is also a Web page that permits browsing: http://digital.lib.msu.edu/cffindingaids/. Cocoon will be used to give access to these from all browsers in the near future. Access will also be provided through the National Gallery of the Spoken Word website, when that is ready.
Storage. MSU Libraries stores digital sound on the Andrew File System (AFS). MSU's AFS space uses cabinets of mirrored 36-gigabite drives, and the drives are backed up both weekly and monthly. CD-ROM copies are also made for some materials, but not as a long term storage medium.
Copyright. MSU Libraries requests copyright permission for Web
use for all protected recordings as a matter of policy. If the rights
owner denies permission, but we have a legal copy, we restrict its use
to the main library building where the Digital and Multimedia Center and
the Vincent Voice Library are housed. Speeches by US Federal government
officials on government business (e.g. the President's State of the Union
address) are considered to be federal documents and thus are treated as
public domain. Copyright guidelines for these materials are available at:
http://www.lib.msu.edu/vincent/EAD/copyrightguidelines.htm