Portable Open Reel and Cassette Digitization Systems

Gerry Lawson - Coordinator, Oral history and Language Lab

ICT Summit 2012

Museum of Anthropology

Renewal Project

Oral History and Language Lab

OHLL Research Suite

Recording

Digitization and Media Workflow

Open Reel and Cassette Digitization Systems

• How did we become involved?

Informal request for hardware advice• This ListAudio Cassette Digitization System

Hardware Checklist.

•Laptop, Dell Precision - M6600•Speakers (2), M-Audio - BX5a Deluxe•Headphones, Beyer Dynamic – DT990PRO•Rugged Case - contains:

Cassette Player Tascam - 202mkvAnalog to Digital Audio Converter Avid - MBOX 3

Power Conditioner Artproaudio - SP4X4 ProCables Various - Labelled 1 – 8 1 - 2 TRS to XLR (MBOX to Speakers)

3 - 4 Power – Speakers 5 USB – MBOX to Laptop 6 Power – Laptop 7 - 8 – RCA to TRS – Connections inside the

case

Cassette System - Hard Choices

• No real boundaries on hardware choices.– Budget undefined– New or Used Cassette Player?– OS undefined

• Windows or Mac?– Form factor undefined

• Desktop or Laptop?– Digitization hardware dependent on above answers

• No piece of hardware that choices could cascade from.

Guiding Principles

• Equipment must be of sufficient quality to digitize accurately and consistently.

• Cheapest hardware comes with hidden costs– Maintenance

• Most expensive hardware might not be maintainable over the long run– Not only more expensive to buy – more expensive

to repair• Used equipment equals higher likelihood of breaking

and more complexity in servicing.

Cassette player

• Used is out– As system must travel maintenance must be

simplified

• Tascam 202-MKV– Designed for durability– Best available specifications new

Platform and Operating System

• Laptop over desktop– Ease of transport (fewer components)

• Which laptop? Depends upon– Screen size– OS– Specifications (processing speed)– Input/Output Ports– Compatibility with analog to digital converter

• Dell Precision - M6600

Analog to Digital Audio Converter

• Support at least 24bit 96kHz recording• Input GAIN control• Durable• Intuitive• Controls on front• Connectors in back

• AVID - MBOX 3

Other Components

• Quality Speakers• Quality Headphones• Power Conditioner• Rugged Case

Open Reel System

• Formal Partnership between FNTC, MOA Archives and MOA OHLL

• National Archives Development Program Grant funded project– FNTC purchased digitization equipment– MOA Archives provides cash requirement for

digitization intern• Deliverables

– Approximately 80 reels from the MOA Archives to be digitized

– Equipment specific digitization manual to be developed for use in communities.

MOA Project Participants

• Ann Stevenson, MOA Information manager– Primary Author of Collections Assessment, metadata

portions of manual.• Katie Marshall, Information Dept. Work Study (SLAIS)

– Procedure testing, Author, Research, Illustrations• XDelsílem (Dustin) Rivers

– Digitization Intern – Open Reel project• Gerry Lawson, Coordinator MOA OHLL

– Stuff• Krisztina Laszlo – MOA Archivist

– NADP Open Reel project administrator