Digitization and Audio Preservation

Some people tout digitization as the answer to all preservation concerns.  But I have my doubts.  Within the past year, I’ve seen hard drives crash, data become mysteriously corrupted, and CDs crack.  The digital world just doesn’t look all that permanent to me.

I posed this concern to Cassandra Gallegos, Preservation Administrator at George Blood Audio and Video.  Do I really need to digitize my cassette tapes or should I just keep the tapes and make duplicate copies?  Cassandra acknowledged that my worries were legitimate but nevertheless sees an important role for digitization in audio preservation:

“The tape copy should be digitized.  Digitization remains your best defense against analog obsolescence – and it’s obsolescence and accessibility that are my two primary concerns here. Obsolescence is a big concern with any media as well as playback devices.  The cassette tape has already reached its obsolescence point with the popularity of optical media.  Playback equipment will become increasing harder to find and it will be even harder to find replacement parts for the equipment if it is to require maintenance.  CDs and digital files also have issues with obsolescence as technology advances.  Digital isn’t forever.

“The idea behind preserving audio materials is to sustain the audio essence from one media/format to the next.  My recommendation is to digitize the cassette and have the file saved to a hard drive (either on your computer or externally) and placed onto a CD for accessibility.  Copies should be stored in geographically separate locations.  Some basic metadata (preferably embedded into the header of the audio file) will also help preserve the object.

“Magnetic tape and CDs each have their own inherent vices.  The actual digital files on the CD will be the easiest to sustain.  By this I mean that although both the cassette and CD will happily sit on the shelf with no physical signs of decay, the CD with digital files is one step ahead of the analog cassette preservation-wise.  Having said this, it is important to remember that CDs are by no means a long-term preservation solution.  Technology changes quickly so who’s to say if 10 years from now the CD is no longer seen as a viable media format.”

© 2011 Lee Price

Proper Storage for Your Old Cassettes

Three of the audio studios at George Blood Audio and Video.

(The fourth entry in a six-part series on audio preservation.)

As part of our June and Art collection, we have four audio cassettes of oral history that my mother recorded in 2003.  Also, we have a strong interest in preserving the audio cassette of our wedding ceremony from 1987 (not technically a June and Art item, but we’d like to think it’s an important part of our family history, too!).  We can’t just put the originals of these tapes anywhere, can we?  They’re way too important!

I asked Cassandra Gallegos, Preservation Administrator at George Blood Audio and Video, for advice regarding how to best store the precious original tapes:

“Tapes should always be stored in a case of some sort. I recommend an inert plastic case that closes securely.  The enclosed cassette should be stored on its longest side with the spine facing up.  This will help keep water out of the case if it gets wet. 

“The recommended storage conditions for magnetic tape are 65°F with 40% relative humidity.  Of course, in practicality, it is hard for even the most advanced archive to remain at these conditions.  Slightly above and below these parameters is perfectly fine.  Luckily these more relaxed conditions are the optimal comfort level for most people.

“The rule of thumb is to keep the cassettes in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight or contaminants.  Storing in archival boxes or drawers will help protect them from dust, temperature and humidity fluctuation and sunlight.  If nothing else, keep the tapes out of the attic or basement!”

© 2010 Lee Price

That Old Tape Recorder in the Basement...

(The third entry in a six-part series on audio preservation.)

Sometimes I write things that make preservation professionals shudder.  For instance, I’m afraid I may have made Cassandra Gallegos, Preservation Administrator at George Blood Audio and Video, involuntarily shudder when I sent her the following question:

When we went to listen to these tapes, we had trouble finding a working tape cassette player.  We eventually found an old Panasonic SlimLine player that worked.  Should we be concerned about old playback systems damaging the tape when we listen to them?

If this conjures up a scene of me carelessly popping an audio cassette into a dusty tape recorder manufactured a quarter of a century ago…  Well, not only am I guilty this time but I’ve even been through this before with other valued tapes, such as the audio cassette of my wife’s and my wedding service from 23 years ago.  Finding a tape recorder that works is always a hassle.  Our basement is something of a graveyard of unusable tape recorders from years past.  I should have been more careful – both times.

Answering the questions above, Cassandra responded with good information and recommendations.  And I think I sense a gasp in her response as well, as she imagines me popping in the tape and recklessly pressing the “Play” button.

“There is potential for damage every time a tape is played back.  A cassette tape is most vulnerable as the machine pulls the tape from the cassette towards the playback head.  This is the reason that it is suggested that tapes be stored with the tape wound onto one hub.

“It is a real concern that you tried an old playback system that could have potentially damaged the tape.  Do not use old playback equipment or tape recorders without putting them through a thorough inspection, preferably by an expert.  At the very least, test the equipment in various modes (fast forward, play, stop, etc.) with a cassette that is not collection material.  Another concern is that you may accidentally record over the audio when attempting to play back the cassette.  The machines at our

studios always have the record button

removed to ensure this never happens.”

The problem of aging and obsolescent playback equipment is becoming ever more serious as each new generation of audio technology enters the market.  There are relatively few people qualified to repair the old machines and replacement parts can be hard to find.  This being the case, the best solution may be to migrate the audio information to a newer format (say, audio cassette to CD) and then only listen to it in the new version.  Preserve the original, of course.  But only use the new copy.

© 2010 Lee Price

The Shell That Protects the Tape

(The second entry in a six-part series on audio preservation.)

A confession:  In approaching this topic, I thought we’d be saving the cassette shell!  But to a preservation professional, the cassette shell – with its plastic and pins – is a distant secondary concern:  the real focus is always on the tape itself.  Ultimately, you don’t even have to preserve the shell.  It’s just a box that holds the real treats inside.

Cassandra Gallegos, Preservation Administrator for George Blood Audio and Video, makes the process of protecting the precious magnetic tape sound relatively easy:



The pressure pad on this cassette
has deteriorated necessitating
changing the cassette shell.

“The most common cassette problems – such as missing or deteriorated pressure pads, rusty pins, or pest infestation – can be fixed by simply changing the cassette shell.  However, the solution here brings up an additional problem.  Finding empty cassette shells can become a lesson in futility.  We buy as many as possible when we find them.  Another option would be to use the cassette shell from a cassette that you do not wish to keep, making sure to carefully indicate the oral history on the new cassette shell.

“There are two types of cassette shells: sonic welded and 5 screw.

“The halves of a sonic welded cassette shell are sonically vibrated until the plastic fuses together.  If you find yourself in possession of one of these cassettes, carefully score along the welded edge with a sharp blade.

“The 5 screw is screwed together with 4 screws in each corner and one screw in the center (an eye glass screw driver should do the trick).  Make sure the new shell is a 5 screw so you’ll be able to close it up once you’re finished transferring the tape to it.  Always keep the cassette on a flat surface to keep the tape from falling out of the shell as you work with it.  Take note of how the tape is wrapped around the various plastic posts inside its shell.  Transfer the two plastic hubs (the tape will be attached to both) to the new cassette shell (and remember to use gloves!).  You want the cassette to sit in the new shell the same as it did in the old shell with all the same pieces present.  If you are missing some pieces in the new shell, which can be the case if you purchase an empty cassette shell, transfer these pieces over as well.  You’ll probably notice

two rectangular pieces of plastic

Open cassette and
slip sheets.

inside the shell. These are slip sheets.  They keep the tape running smoothly.  Now screw the two new shell halves together again.  Place a pencil or your finger in one of the center gears to make sure your tape moves as it should.  If it doesn’t move, you probably didn’t wind the tape around the plastic posts correctly.  The ease at which you perform this activity depends on manual dexterity and your tolerance level for frustration!

“A good primer on the handling and storage of magnetic tape is Magnetic Tape Storage and Handling by Dr. John W. C. Van Bogart, available as publication #54 through the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR).”

© 2010 Lee Price

The Science of Preserving Sound

With the assistance of my sister, my mother recorded four cassette tapes of her memories of her youth and the old family stories.  These cassette tapes are seven years old now.  As physical items within our family collection, we are concerned with ensuring their long-term survival and accessibility.



The staff at George Blood Audio and Video with
Preservation Administrator Cassandra Gallegos on far left.

During the next two weeks, I will be sharing excerpts from an interview with Cassandra Gallegos, Preservation Administrator for George Blood Audio and Video.  The Safe Sound Archive at George Blood Audio and Video is one of the country’s leading providers in preserving, reformatting, and storing audio and video media.  Their clients have included the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Boston Symphony, the Cleveland Symphony, the Curtis Institute of Music, the National Park Service, and the Library of Congress.

According to Cassandra, “There are many simple and common sense actions you can perform to protect and preserve these cassettes.”  We’ll start with three of the most basic of Cassandra’s recommendations:

1.  Inspect the Playback Equipment

“Do not use an old playback system or tape machine without putting it through a thorough inspection, preferably by an expert. At the very least, test the equipment in various modes (fast forward, play, stop, etc.) with a cassette that is not collection material.”

2.  Remove Recording Tabs

 “Immediately check to see if the record tabs on each cassette have been removed.  This reduces the chance of accidentally recording over a tape when you mean to listen to it.”

3.  Keep the Tapes Wound to One Side

“Make sure the tape is wound all the way to one side.  A cassette tape is at its most vulnerable when the machine pulls the tape from the cassette towards the playback head.  This is the reason it is recommended that tapes be stored with the tape wound onto one hub.”

© 2010 Lee Price

A Thoughtful Approach to Preserving Memories



While this blog is often narrowly concerned with preserving the memories of immediate family members, the subject of preserving family stories and individual voices is one that naturally expands outward.  The lives of our loved ones intersect with many others, and their memories and keepsakes may offer valuable contributions to a broader knowledge of our changing world.

Last week, I wrote about how my sister made recordings of my mother’s memories of her childhood and ancestors.  But it didn’t occur to me that this isn’t always a job simply for family members.  Other organizations – such as libraries, historical societies, and community centers – have often taken the lead in soliciting these stories in order to benefit the entire

community.

Joe Da Rold, the Director of the Plainfield (NJ) Public Library, launched a local oral history program in 2007 as a natural outgrowth of the library’s commitment to preserving and honoring local history.  For his previous leadership with history initiatives, Joe was recognized by the New Jersey Historical Commission in 2004 with their Award of Recognition for “outstanding service to public knowledge and preservation of the history of New Jersey.”

Joe’s own involvement with collecting local oral history was sparked by a collaboration with StoryCorps, a national organization which solicited the library’s participation in a project to record the stories of local African-Americans.  This led Joe to develop new collaborations to serve Plainfield, including “Latinos in Conversation” and participation in StoryCorps’ nationwide “Historias” project.  In 2007, Joe received the New Jersey Library Association’s Susan G. Swartzburg Preservation Award, and he is currently the 2010 New Jersey Librarian of the Year.

Over the next week, I’ll be sharing from an interview I conducted with Joe last week that touches on the many ways available to preserve the voices of loved ones, from recording oral histories to encouraging the practice of memoir writing.

© 2010 Lee Price

Regrets for Lost Memories

The four hours of stories and reminiscences that my mother recorded onto audiocassettes in 2003 are a treasure of our family collection.  My sister Jamie’s foresight in organizing this project can’t be underestimated.  However, I will share her regrets in the hopes that they might inspire others to go even further in capturing their family’s histories while there’s still time.

Jamie’s original intention was to preserve the old family stories.  When Mom initially made recordings that concentrated on her youth and courtship, Jamie redirected her toward the older stories that she had heard growing up.  While we do have some very good reminiscences of her early years, the tapes shift to an emphasis on the old Virginia stories when Jamie is assisting.  Jamie and I love these stories, but now we regret that there isn’t more personal detail from her own life.

Jamie regrets not doing this with our father, too.

As I work on the June and Art blog, I become increasingly aware of the gaps in the descriptions of everyday life.  People take pictures of the big events and

the red letter days – we have hundreds of pictures of vacations, weddings, and birthdays.  But we have so few pictures of the kitchen,

the family room, the bedrooms, the basement, and the back yard.  These are the places that we take for granted.  It’s as if we think

they’ll always be there and always be the same.  So I’ll add this to the list of our oral history regrets:  I wish that there was more on everyday life back in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, when my mother was a child, a teenager, and a young woman.

© 2010 Lee Price

Preserving Memories on Tape

Christmas 2002:  Aware that our mother’s health was rapidly declining, my sister prepared a special present for her.  That Christmas, she gave Mom the opportunity to preserve memories:  an oral history package consisting of a cassette tape player, four blank cassette tapes, and a small booklet of family history to trigger memories.  After Mom opened the present, Jamie explained the intent of the gift (to record her memories of family stories), asked her to attempt recording the stories herself, and promised to help if needed.

Although she was nervous, my mother managed to record nearly 90 minutes of material over the first few months.  She usually recorded in segments of about five to ten minutes.  When she returned for the next session, she would listen to what she had said previously and then would open with any corrections.

Jamie visited twice during the spring and summer of 2003.  While my father was out doing his volunteer work at the local hospital, Jamie spent time with Mom, helping her move ahead with the oral history.  Jamie would ask leading questions or bring up subjects and then let Mom talk.  When needed, Jamie would ask for clarifications.

“She was very self-conscious doing it,” Jamie said, “but she conceded it was a good idea.”  She understood that it was important to keep these stories alive within the family.  Jamie was particularly interested in getting a record of the old Virginia stories.  “I wanted her to tell about Aunt Snick holding off the Yankees with a shotgun and how Uncle Frank started the Page County Fair.”

These stories, and many more, are on the four hours of reminiscences preserved on the cassette tapes.

© 2010 Lee Price

Our Family History on Audio Cassette

Shortly after my mother died in late 2004, my sister gave my wife four cassette tapes to have copies made.  My wife made two copies of each tape.  My sister kept the originals, our family kept one set of the copies, and the third set went to my uncle (my mother’s brother).  The tapes are each 60 minutes long, 30 minutes per side.  On the tapes, my mother talks about her life and shares older family stories that she heard growing up.

I put off listening to these tapes for over six years.  It was something I could always put off.  I was confident the tapes would be there when I needed to hear them.

Well, the time has come.  I put the first tape in the cassette player, get comfortable on the couch, and listen.  I hear my mother’s actual voice for the first time in years, sounding weak and shaky from Parkinson’s disease.

“I am June Virginia Price.  My father and mother met in Culpepper, Virginia.  I was born in Patchogue, New York on January 25, 1929.  My father was from Deep River, Connecticut.  He had gone to Brown University and needed money to go back for the second year…”

Over the next two weeks, this blog will address the subject of oral histories – how my sister went about preserving my mother’s memories onto tape and how we now have a responsibility to ensure that this part of our family collection remains accessible.  I’ll be talking with my sister as well as with experts on oral history recording and audio preservation.

We are so fortunate to have these tapes.

© 2010 Lee Price