[QuadList] Audio-Video preservation - How To?

[Ian Richardson]

Hi Dale

This question is often posed on another news group, the TIG [Telecine
Internet Group.]

The longest lasting suggestion would appear to be that digital data
should be 'burnt' [exposed] into B&W film stock and processed as an
'optical' code if you get my drift ....with the decoding algorithm
included in the capsule.
One can assume that because the data is 'optical' and human eye readable
a suitable device can be reverse engineered to decode it some time in
the future.
Film stock has a proven record of longevity.
Much as most of us could work out the coding of an old punched 8 bit
paper computer tape. Mysterious at the time but not so now.

Interesting, but the cost of archiving feature films and the like this
way is another thing. 
But for short sound clips the economics may be different.
However you will not have time to pursue this.
However a full track hi-Coercivity analogue audio tape with an included
play head probably has some legs in time.


Regards
Ian Richardson
Sydney
Oz 

-----Original Message-----
From: quadlist-bounces at quadvideotapegroup.com
[mailto:quadlist-bounces at quadvideotapegroup.com] On Behalf Of Dale Lamm
Sent: Monday, 12 April 2010 2:48 PM
To: Quad List
Subject: [QuadList] Audio-Video preservation - How To?

2010 finds me as Dir of Engineering at a legacy AM/FM pair that has led
our 
smaller-sized radio market forever. Our 85th anniversary is this year,
and 
with short notice, promotions is planning an 85th birthday bash. All
hands 
are on deck. We have much printed historical matter now being scanned to

later be posted on our web site, including a series of FCC licenses from

1932 onwards (authorizing a whopping 10 watts at 1200 KC; we're now 15
KW at 
1480 KHz). The station went on the air in 1925, but those licenses (if
they 
even existed) are not to be found.

Because the "chief" is allegedly pretty clever, he has been given the
job of 
designing a time capsule that will preserve today's history for another
85 
years. A synthetic container and preservation-quality bond paper,
dessicant, 
poly bags, etc from a commercial "time capsule" vendor have been
identified 
and will be procured. A stable property location will be drilled so the 
container may be buried below the local frost line. A stone tablet
similar 
to a flush-mount grave marker is being obtained to identify the site.
I'm 
considering flooding the container with nitrogen or argon gas prior to 
sealing it before burial.

This group is a resource I trust when seeking answers to technical 
questions. The level of smarts here is amazing. TV (and especially 
quadruplex maintenance) took a lot of brains back in "our" day and age.
I am 
sorry that these questions come just as many of you are heading off to
NAB, 
but that's just the way it goes. Any input or comment appreciated. I
know 
this is a QUAD list, not a historical preservation discussion group, 
although there has been a fair amount of discourse on said topics this
year. 
Answer where you feel appropriate, either to the list or direct to 
dlamm at whbc.com.

Q1: Given archive-quality paper that is designed to last many years, how

would you print on it, ink-jet or laser printer? I want to give every 
current employee at the stations two sheets of 8.5 by 11 to write
whatever 
they wish.

Q2: Assume some folks desire to leave photographs. Best to use a
commercial 
lab's prints on good old Kodak paper? Or print it myself with the best 
ink-jet and the forementioned archive-quality paper?

Q3: (the big one) We want to preserve recored audio, maybe even a taste
of 
video. One twit said "just burn a DVD". I can't even find a working
8-track 
cartridge player 40 years after the format peaked. Does anyone think a
DVD 
player will be easy to find in 2095? Two thoughts came to mind... Dub to
a 
Philips cassette, and bury a playback machine with a schematic in the 
container. Second thought was to copy all content to a few flash-based 
personal playback units. Bury those with simple diagrams telling how
many 
volts to stick in and what button to push. Hopefully, the flash memory
in 
one of the units will hold it's content for 85 years.

Many thanks in advance. Birthday bash is April 22.


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