[ARSCLIST] Project gramophone (sound preserve)

[Dave Radlauer <Dradjazz@xxxxxxx>]

In a message dated 7/21/04 9:02:08 PM, LISTSERV@xxxxxxx writes:

<< That is,
once a raw transfer is digitally restored, it can't be returned to the
original raw digital state for new restoration -- a restored version
is, in effect, a third-generation copy of the original (1. Original
disc --> 2. raw digital transfer --> 3. digitally restored copy.) It's
much better to have a digital library of raw transfers rather than the
restored versions where the raw transfers are not preserved or made
available. >>

The contradiction in the scheme outlined above is that stage 2 "raw digital
transfer" does not necessarily disappear with the restored copy and IS
therefore available for future advances in restoration.  Any self-respecting
institution or state of the art archive would be obliged to retain raw digital
transfers.

As for making raw transfers widely available, this will prove most difficult
to do in the US as copyright law is being extended due to lobbying -- and even
outside the US this would still impose many decades of delay before material
could be "freely available to the public."

One possible solution is to make either raw or processed audio available via
internet streaming technology which would allow listening (either freely, or
with a small fee) making the content available for audition, appreciation &
research without issues of ownership or possession.  Though for now
infrastructural limitation prohibit anything but data compressed copies to be streamed.
Still I feel it's better that such content be available with data compression
than not at all.  And audio codec technology has gotten quite good and is still
advancing.

Digital rights management has finally been sorted out to the degree that such
services are economically viable;  a reasonable (or at least stable) balance
has been reached between the interests of copyright holders, licensing
organizations, and online distributing entities.  Details for the curious at
www.soundexchange.com or www.digmedia.org.

Dave Radlauer
www.JAZZHOT.Bigstep.com