Sound Directions: Digital Audio Preservation and Access for Global Heritage
The Indiana University Digital Library Program
Sound archives have reached a critical point in their history, marked by the rapid deterioration of original recordings, the development of new digital technologies, and the decline of analog formats and media. Most sound archivists believe that old analog-based preservation methods are no longer viable and that new strategies must be developed in the digital domain. However, few published standards or best practices exist for digital audio.
There are few published standards or best practices for audio preservation, and no published reports that cover in detail all parts of the audio digitization process. The analog to digital conversion process is not complete until safe and secure storage is attained and a way to insure readability over time is developed. In addition to developing best practices in a number of areas, Sound Directions will contribute the critical final step to a complete digital audio preservation process: the creation of interoperable audio preservation packages.
This project pairs one of the country's major public academic institutions (Indiana University) with one of its premier private universities (Harvard University), working in different settings towards shared outcomes and goals. To reach these goals, nationally recognized staff already in place at each institution will supervise audio engineers, programmers and project assistants who will be hired for this project. To insure that our results are broadly applicable to the field, Sound Directions will also convene an advisory board consisting of nationally-renowned, technical experts.
This work is funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. For more information, see: