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Practical Preservation of Audio Recordings

The preservation and restoration of audio recordings present difficult technical problems that are unique with each set of circumstances, and often require specialized equipment.  The Audio Engineering Society does not itself provide services for preserving or restoring audio recordings, nor is the Society in a position to endorse or recommend anyone.

Therefore, in dealing with specific individual needs, it may prove wise to contact a preservation or restoration professional. You will find many Internet links to companies and individuals who do preservation and restoration in the Restoration Resource Finder .

On the other hand, preservation and restoration are often very time consuming, and therefore expensive. For those who want to "do-it-yourself", there are many links available to resources. One starting point is Tape Restoration Tips .

More detailed technical information is provided in the valuable booklet "IASA-TC04, Guidelines on the Production and Preservation of Digital Audio Objects", available from the International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives (IASA) , for 25 Euros including postage and handling.

Finally, these professional organizations have agreed to respond to questions and concerns regarding audio media preservation and restoration:
International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives (IASA) Technical Committee
Contact: Lars Gaustad, Chair
Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) Technical Committee
Contact:  Mike Casey, Co-Chair,
Coordinator of Recording Services,
Archives of Traditional Music,
Indiana University
Telephone:  812-855-8090		 Contact: Adrian Cosentini, Co-Chair,
34-22 214 Place,
Bayside NY 11361
Telephone:  718-224-9815
                      718-506-5893 (cell)
Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) Associated Audio Archives Committee
Contact: Brandon Burke, Chair
Archivist for Recorded Sound Collections
Hoover Institution Archives
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6010
vox: 650.724.9711
fax: 650.725.3445

Jay McKnight, Chair Emeritus
AES Historical Committee
2005-03-18  Rev 2005-04-19, 2010-01-13
AES - Audio Engineering Society