In just a few years the whole world can change

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In just a few years the whole world can change!

• Audio replay and storage systems critical
  equipment maintenance, storage and timing issues

Kevin Bradley Manager Digital and Audio
Preservation, National Library of Australia

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The Bringing Them Home Oral History project

• A Four year Oral History Project to record,
  preserve and administer access to the testimonies
  of Indigenous people affected by the forcible
  removal policies, as well as the missionaries and
  administrators of the time, the police and
  hospital workers, and the adoptive and foster
  parents

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The Past(which explains the present!)
Sound Preservation was an entirely analogue
process.
In the 1992 we began to collect digitally,
but preserve in analogue.
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The Preservation Past

• In 1995/6 we moved to making digital preservation
  copies on CD.

We were concerned about the integrity of CD and
so we implemented a strict testing regime.
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History (continued)(from which we have gained
experience!)

• The System we purchased in 1995 was a Sonic
  Solutions Digital Audio Workstation.
• During 5 years of use we produced 8,000 CDs, in
  CD-DA format as preservation duplicates of
  original material.

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The Present

• In November 2001, using the HDA QUADRIGA, we
  began to produce data files of audio to preserve
  the collection.

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The Preservation Target

• SAN switching
• CLARiiON FC4700 System (disk array)
• StorageTek Tape Library
• SUN E450 Server
• Navisphere management console with SUN Ultra5
  server.
• Capacity
• Disk Capacity
• Current 2.5TB, Max 7 TB, Future 17.7 TB  
• Tape Library Capacity
• Current 4-8TB (100 40/80GB tapes)
• Max 27-54 TB (700 40/80GB tapes)

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The Preservation Standard

• In BWF .wav format
• 48 kHz sampling rate (frequency response limit to
  24 kHz), or 96kHz (frequency response limit to 48
  kHz),
• 24 bit depth (practical dynamic range of about
  115dB).

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What are the NLAs Preservation Assets?
8,000 CD Duplicates
15,190 Preservation Reels
6,000 Original DATS
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What are the NLAs Preservation Liabilities?

• The Collection
• Unpublished, unique material
• 36,000 hours of original oral history items
• Some 2,500 sound recordings associated with
  personal papers including composers collections.
• Most recordable formats since 1940

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What are the Constraints?

• Resources
• Preservation of collection _at_ 1,700 hours per
  year.
• Upload of Preserved material _at_800 hours per year.
• Acquisition rate of lt1,000 hours per year.

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Format Obsolescence and Replay Equipment

• Tape replay machines are necessary to preserve a
  tape based collection.
• The manufacture of reel tape recorders of any
  type has largely ceased.

• Parts and Spares are available for a limited time
  only (Manufacturers agreement)
• The expertise is disappearing. (cooperative
  arrangements necessary)

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The Questions

• What can be automatically uploaded?
• Will the future use of the material be
  compromised by the process?

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How to Select Preservation Source

• The Original Analogue Recording

• The Original Digital DAT or CD-R recording

• The CD Preservation Duplicate

• The Preservation Reel

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The Original Analogue Recording

• As a rule, the most original copy is the best
  copy to select for the purposes of preservation.

• Benefits
• Most original copy, least chance of loss of
  content or alteration of signal

• Limitations
• Very time and labour intensive. Often requires
  manual intervention

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The Original Digital DAT recording

• DAT, though a good recording media, should be
  copies asap. Older DATS may show signs of
  degradation and fragility during replay

• Benefits
• Transfer original audio content in the digital
  domain

• Limitations
• Real time replay

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DAT Automatic Upload

• Automated DAT upload (Quadriga HDA).
• 4 simultaneous DAT real time replay (SONY 7040
  machines)
• Automated supervision of digital transfer status
• Reporting of errors CRC, MUTE, AVERAGE and HOLD
• Metadata-import of existing database information

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The CD Preservation Duplicate

• CDs may be downloaded quicker than real time and
  loaded into an automated system

• Benefits
• Very efficient
• Low in staff resources

• Limitations
• 44.1 kHz 16 bit
• Error checking and monitoring required

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CD Automated Upload

• CD Jukebox allows up to 50 CDs to be loaded in
  one sitting.
• Automated supervision of digital transfer status
• Reporting of errors CRC, MUTE, AVERAGE and HOLD
• Metadata-import of existing database information
  including coding history that reflects the copy
  status.

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The Preservation Reel

• Made accurately, the Preservation reel may
  constitute a single generation duplicate made
  before the orginal deteriorated.

• Benefits
• A high quality duplicate of the original.
• May take advantage of semi-unattended replay
  systems

• Limitations
• A generation represents a measurable loss of
  quality.
• Its still quite time intensive

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Source Choice Framework

• Easiest to upload
• CD
• DAT Original
• Preservation Reel
• Original Recording

• Best Quality
• Original Recording
• DAT Original
• Preservation Reel
• CD

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Source Choice Framework
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Source Choice Framework
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Source Choice Framework
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Source Choice Framework
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Source Choice Framework
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Source Choice Framework
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Source Choice Framework
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Metadata and Duplicate Uploads
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Metadata and Duplicate Uploads
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Metadata and Duplicate Uploads
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Metadata and Duplicate Uploads
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Metadata and Duplicate Uploads
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Metadata and Duplicate Uploads
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Metadata and Duplicate Uploads
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Metadata and Duplicate Uploads
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Conclusion

• Consideration of the appropriate source for
  digital upload includes the quality of the Source
  material and an evaluation of the duplicates.
• Appropriate metadata to maintain the authenticity
  of the item.

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Conclusion

• We must take seriously the risks to audio
  collections we have identified and be prepared to
  take appropriate action to minimise those risks.
• If we make decisions they must be informed by
  real knowledge of the consequence of those
  decisions.