Re: arsclist Assistance for Armenian Ethnomusicology Archive

["Lawrence A Appelbaum" <lapp@xxxxxxx>]

Thanks to George for clarifying issues with this archive and collection. I know someone who has offered to help purchase and donate equipment for this archive, if ARSC can arrive at some concensus about what's needed. Power and eq issues aside, I had assumed they'll need:

open reel and cassette playback 
mixer 
cables
test equipment
speakers/stands
CD burner
A/D converter
DAW
soundproofing materials (optional)

It would be helpful to make specific suggestions with model numbers and price. Would it better to recommend a user-friendly porta-studio that is designed for such transfer work rather than a DAW, which might require more integration of equipment and training? Are there any recommended professional audio vendors who provide service for Armenian clients?

Larry Appelbaum

>>> pattac@xxxxxxxx 10/29/02 04:54AM >>>
From: George Brock-Nannestad, Preservation Tactics
Dear All,

while the Americans are quibbling about who knows the most 
about the usefulness of US equipment for Armenian use, please 
consider the following quotes from the original query:

"we need
advice which kind of equipment we need for rerecording (very 
detailed,
with prices) on CD , to preserve our archives."

----- this also means practical advice on how to connect to a sound 
card, for instance in a computer.


" recorded on
cassetes and some of them still on an open-reel magnetic tape. 
the records
was made by portable mashine started from 1930-1988."

----- do note that they were recorded on cassettes! And it seems 
that some mechanical recordings must also exist, at least before 
ca. 1952. A whole new can of worms

"Of course
we'll be glad to make a  sound restoration at the mean time, but it
depends on the cost of equipment"

----- so it is preservation copying by the cheapest means. Some 
loss of quality is inavoidable, but speeds, equalisations may be 
corrected at the cost of signal-to-noise ratios later.

"we will be happy even with used one"
"may be even this way we can find persons who can donate a used
equipment"

----- so, as they are not likely to bid on Ebay, do donate!


I believe that the institution in question must be:

Erevan Komitas State Conservatory Library
Date founded: 1926  
Sayat-Nova 1a
375009 Erevan  

Telephone: +374 (2) 581 164

Subjects:
Music/Music performance.

Media:
Books. Periodicals. Scores/libretti/music


There are local institutions in Yerevan (Erevan) which must 
certainly already be able to help, such as:

Central State Archives of Cinematographic, Photographic and 
Audio Documents of the Republic of Armenia   
Tbiliskoye Chaussée 25-a
375052 Erevan  

Telephone: +374 (2) 285 406, 284 895

A N D

Erevan State Institute of Fine Arts Library
Date founded: 1944  
ul. Isaakyana 36
375009 Erevan  

Telephone: +374 (2) 560 726

Subjects:
Dramatic theatre. Opera.

Media:
Books. Periodicals. Manuscripts. Scores/libretti/music. Sound 
recordings/CDs.

The Phonogrammarchiv of the Austrian Academy of Sciences is 
known to have in the past provided services and advice to archives 
that have not yet been able to accomodate to the incessant 
changes in format.

All of the above local information I found on SIBMAS 
International Directory of Performing Arts Collections and 
Institutions, at www.theatrelibrary.org.

Kind regards,


George





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