Reference Department Training Guide 2009 

Converting Older Analog Audio Media into Digital Formats

Week of August 11th, 2009

About Digital Audio Conversion at the Freedman Center

As we have seen in the past few weeks, there are lots of things you can do to create and edit digital audio files at the Freedman Center.  This week we will explore the process for digitizing older analog audio media from vinyl records, cassette tapes, and other media using FC equipment and software.  One of the FC's claims is that they can help patrons figure out how to digitize audio from almost any older format.  This even includes audio from 8 track and reel-to-reel tapes!

Resources and Equipment

The FC has accumulated many older format audio players in order to accomodate patrons.  Most of them can be accessed and are located near FC audiovisual workstations.  Available players include:

Audio Cassette Deck

Some professors have a decade of lectures captured to cassette tapes which can now be digitized and burned to CD, or posted online as mp3s. The Freedman Center makes use of the JVC TD-W354 double-cassette deck with Dolby B-C NR HX Pro. This tape deck uses a Compu Calibration system: Load a tape, press a button, and in less than 20 seconds the deck adjusts bias, equalization, and sensitivity for the best possible recording with that specific tape.

Vinyl Record Player

The FC can help you digitize your vinyl records (33s, 45s, & 78s!) for education or listening enjoyment! You'll learn a lot about digital audio in the process. So bring in that old vinyl LP from you collection and make an mp3 to put on your computer or iPod. The Freedman Center uses four Audio-Technica AT-PL120 Professional HiFi 3-Speed (33-1/3, 45, 78 RPM) Fully-Manual Direct Drive Turntables.

Open Reel-to-Reel Audio Player

The department of Psychology found some valuable reel-to-reel audio in their collection.  The FC helped them digitize and restore their reel-to-reel audio and burn it to CD. The Freedman Center uses the Akai X-100D Cross Field open reel-to-reel player/recorder. The Akai operates at four speeds: 1 7/8, 3 3/4, 7 1/2, and 15 ips; offering a full 4-track stereo / monoaural system.

What Patrons Can Do at the Freedman Center

• Capture analog audio, convert to digitial format, edit and clean analog signals
• Produce high quality mp3s and other digital audio files
• Burn audio CDs, load mp3s to ipods and other USB storage devices, computers, and podcasting websites
• Apply audio files to multimedia projects (PowerPoint slides, image slide shows, podcasting and screencasting, video voiceover projects)
• Upload audio files to Web 2.0 sites and tools like Voicethread

Reference Interview Tips & Notes

FC Do's and Don'ts

Doesn’t – Instruct patrons on how to edit analog audio.  Basic editing procedures only.

Does – Help patrons set up computer workstations and software to start the audio capture process

Doesn’t – Provide audio capture fee-based services.  See the Premium Services web page for further information.

Does – Provide audio conversion and editing software such as SoundForge and Audacity (open source, but not supported at the FC)

Does – Provide training opportunities to learn more about audio editing through the CaseLearns program.

Doesn't - Store audio and video files on FC workstations in perpetuity for FC patrons.  Patrons can temporarily store such media files on FC workstations in folders labeled with their Case ID/username (letters & numbers) if they need multiple work sessions to finish a project, but all temporary folders will be deleted periodically from the workstations.

Does - Provide temporary storage of audio and video files on workstations for 7 days for 2 gigabytes and above, 30 days for anything smaller.

Does – Monitor the fair use of copyrighted audio media at FC workstations.  Staff will inquire about patron projects when appropriate, and workstation computers are regularly cleaned of audio files.

Top Audio Capture Activities

FC patrons use the audio analog to digital conversion capabilities of the FC less frequently, but the Center does see regular use of Premium Services for such needs.  Patrons will bring in batches of old audio media for processing. 

When patrons independently use audio conversion applications like SoundForge, they are usually converting music/songs from older analog media to a digital format for personal use.

To Post, or Not to Post, Audio on the Web

There are important considerations when working with audio media.  Here are some comments from our Creative Director of New Media, Jared Bendis:

"When it comes to copyright at Case Western Reserve University - the
first thing to do is to look at the University Copyright policy.

While fair-use exemptions exists within copyright law - it is
important to remember that is is almost never permissible to post,
distribute, or publish copyrighted materials on or across the
Internet.   In an academic environment such as ours it is not uncommon
to excerpt from copyrighted materials to use in face to face
instruction and following the fair uses tests this is often quite
legal.

Logic, however, often fails in these situations.  Copying your
commercial records to CDs is legal - copying your commercial VHS tapes
to DVD is NOT.

Converting home movies and home audio recordings is always legal.
Posting and distributing them is also legal IF they do not contain
copyrighted materials.  For instance, a home movie of me singing a Bob
Dylan song should NOT be posted online.

The staff at the Freedman Center can help guide you in avoiding common
copyright pitfalls and for complex questions can direct you more
knowledgeable library staff members."

So, instead of posting audio exerpts online, patrons should burn such files to a personal CD, storage device, or audio player.

Try it Out

*** Remember that that FC staff can always set you up at a workstation and help you get started ***

*** Remember also that the wiki tutorials can be accessed from any computer, including Freedman Center workstations. ***

This week's exercise may take a bit more time to work through, so plan accordingly.  This is also a good exercise to do with a buddy.

Try your hand at analog-to-digital conversion and convert one song or audio segment from either a vinyl record or cassette tape.  If you don't have any of your own, feel free to ask for a sample disc or cassette at the FC front desk.

• Review the  the FC tutorial wiki for either vinyl record or cassette tape audio capture.

• Bring your record or tape into the FC, or ask for a sample tape or disc from the FC front desk.

• Check out a computer key and audio headphone set from the FC front desk.

• Record one song or audio segment in SoundForge at one of the FC audio/video workstations.

• Try some of the cut/paste editing features in SoundForge to clean up your recording (just like we did in Week 4), then normalize and produce your audio track.

• Save your audio track on the FC workstation in a folder labeled with your Case ID (letters & numbers).

Getting Credit

Use iTunes to convert your voice file to an mp3.  

Since posting an mp3 to a web-based sharing site would potentially violate fair use laws, we will not share our mp3s on the web.  You cannot post mp3's to Voicethread in any case.

Please copy your mp3 to the folder labeled with your Case ID/username (letters & numbers -- see above) on the FC workstation where you worked.

Please post the workstation number where you did the exercise, and your Case ID, to the comment field of this wiki page.  I will collect the mp3s and burn them to a CD so that you will have credit for this exercise.

Notes and Comments

CASELEARNS 2009 SUMMER SCHEDULE IS NOW AVAILABLE

If you haven't already, take a moment this week to click the CaseLearns 2009 Summer Schedule tab at the top of the page in this training wiki for the schedule of upcoming multimedia workshops.  Please try to attend as many of these workshops as your schedule allows. These workshops will enhance your knowledge of multimedia and the FC tremendously!

It's worthwhile to study the University Copyright Policy in detail.  Take some time this week to study the links on the policy web page and learn more.  If you have further questions, you can always contact Karen Oye or Jared Bendis for more information and clarification on fair use.

Comment Summary and Overview

Many thanks to Kim for diving in on this week's task and setting the standard for us!  Sounds like the tutorials that the FC put together for us are really working well.  As Kim notes, iTunes can be a bit tricky, so please let us know if you experience difficulties.