Re: arsclist record archive (data, sound or both?)

[<stevenc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As I understand it, most of the "archives" mentioned in this thread are
essentially on-line catalogs of library holdings (I could be wrong)...and
as such they will only contain non-commercial recordings and alternate
takes, especially unissued ones, if these are among the library holdings.

My long-term solution, of course, is the creation of a sort of ultimate
data archive...a database covering every known sound recording (or
even every known 78rpm [+/-] sound recording) with as much
information as is known on each. I think this is what the creators of
AVRL had in mind.

However, a simpler and easier temporary project might be an
"archive of archives"...that is, a listing of all digital, particularly
internet-accessible, archives concerning either 78rpm or all
sound recordings held or compiled by different individuals or
institutions, along with URL's and information on the accessiblity
(private or public? cost? hardware/software requirements? etc.)
of these archives. This could then be rewritten in HTML and
posted to, or linked to, discographic sites. This way we (and,
for some on the list, our clients) would know where to find any
information we might seek (assuming it is web-accessible).

There are still problems, of course...two of these are the various
formats used to create the archival files and the accuracy of the
data therein. I am hoping to see the first taken up by ARSC (in
fact, have suggested this as a program subject to Sam B. for the
next ARSC), since it is an area where standardization would help;
the second simply requires proofreading and correction (if
possible).

In any case, we now have the technology to create a practical
archive of information and make it available. It might, in fact, be
feasible to archive digital versions of the actual sound of the
recordings (I figure around 4TB of storage would be needed).
Who is going to do it, and how, remains to be seen...
Steven C. Barr
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "joe@xxxxxxxxxxx" <sergei01@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, December 11, 2002 1:18 PM
Subject: Re: arsclist record archive


> Does it also catalog non-commercial recordings such as air checks,
> transcriptions, alternate takes?
see above...
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