There is a recurring question as to what is the best way to set azimuth for playing a tape. Many people assume that using the test-tape alignment is best. Well, that makes another big assumption: The recorder used a proper test tape alignment. While that can be the case, it usually is not.
education
Second seminar complete and was a success
We have recently completed our second audio tape restoration seminar.
We had three great attendees. One of them, Andy Kolovos of the Vermont Folklife Center shared these comments:
I want to thank you again for the workshop. I’m certainly still assimilating stuff in my head, but it was terrific. I learned so much… Through these workshops you’re doing the archival field a huge service. The ability to tap into your experience and take what we learn back into the world with us enriches everyone. Because you are willing to share your knowledge, skill, and passion with those of us who love these audio resources, work with them on a daily basis and are eager to learn all we can about their care, more of the aural heritage of the world will survive into the future. Your generosity is wonderful! Thanks again!
You can see the brochure for our November 2005 seminar here.
Comments from the November 2005 seminar are in the brochure for the May 2006 seminar.
The first three of the four days we were together about 13 hours a day (including dinner at various restaurants) and we didn’t stop talking audio. We covered a LOT of ground and the questions and discussions were great.
Peter Copeland Audio Restoration Handbook now available
I consider myself fortunate to have been one of many recipients of Peter Copeland’s generous assistance while working with some challenging tapes. I was saddened by his too-early passing in 2006.
The British Libary has now published his Handbook (click here).
IASA TC04 Guidelines on the Production and Preservation of Digital Audio Objects available online.
The International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives (IASA) has released their landmark Guidelines on the Production and Preservation of Digital Audio Objects as a free web (HTML) edition, available here.
I provided some information for the listing of tape equalizations, and I find the compiled table (here) most useful.
Thanks to Kevin Bradley and the IASA team for their work in making this available. If you want a PDF copy, join IASA and it’s available.
Open Source software…and other tools
I have been having a lot of fun recently looking for specific software tools that avoid having to purchase multiple licenses of the high-priced programs. Here are a list of my picks of free and low-cost software tools. I am sticking with Samplitude Professional for audio and Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for photo-graphics. The other alternatives, however, are wide open.
Open Source software…and other tools II
This is the second installment of my open-ended quest for great software. The previous (and inaugural) article is here.
The excitement is that the current version of LibreOffice has removed a good deal of the startup sluggishness. While still not as fast as MS Office 2003, remember with LibreOffice, you are starting the whole suite essentially. There is an option to load it at startup, which I do not use.