Audio Engineering Society Standards Committee

December 2001 meeting of SC-03-02

[Last printing 29 April 2002] Report of the SC-03-02 Working Group on Transfer Technologies of the SC-03 Subcommittee on the Preservation and Restoration of Audio Recording meeting, held in conjunction with the AES 111th Convention in New York City, NY, US, 2001-11-30.

Vice-chair D. Wickstrom turned the meeting over to SC-03 Vice- chair D. Schueller who convened the meeting. The agenda and the report from the previous meeting at the AES 109th Convention were approved as written.

Current development projects

AES-X47 Minimum Set of Calibration Tones for Archival Transfer

D. Wickstrom and J. McKnight of task-group SC-03-02-A discussed the PTD last posted in 1999. No remaining substantive questions were brought up. Wickstrom will post a PWD by 2002-01 with a view to a PCFC by 2002-09.

AES-X64 Test Methods and Materials for Archival Mechanical Media

D. Queen reported by conference phone that the task group has made progress in replacing EMI as a source. Costs need to be estimated and the exact configuration of test tracks needs to be decided. There is a possibility of obtaining old stampers. He said that for the AES to produce the disc, it needs to be treated as if it were a standard, that is, the specifications for content and performance of the disc must be agreed upon by due process and published after a call for comment. The introduction could contain material on the history of the disc and the various means by which such discs have been manufactured. It could also describe how the AES will handle the production and distribution of the disk. While the standard would be able to be downloaded free in single copies, the disc itself would probably be sold by the publications department of the AES.

S. Winner asked if the disc is for 33-1/3 revolutions/min or 78 revolutions/min. Schueller replied that it is for 78s and with a 250 Hz turnover. Winner suggested it should be constant velocity with calibrations. Schueller suggested that the details of the design be discussed once a draft of the specification is posted on the FTP site.

McKnight asked if we were working from existing stampers, in which case it would be necessary only to document what is there, or is the group starting anew. Queen explained that if old stampers cannot be found, the group would need to write a new specification. He cautioned that it is unlikely the stampers will be found intact. In addition the old stampers were for shellac and may not be suitable for newer materials.

Schueller suggested that all approaches be discussed on the task group reflector. McKnight suggested a more clear scope is needed for the project. Some discussion took place on the best curve to use; but without resolution.

AES-X65 Rosetta Tone for Transfer of Historical Mechanical Media

No report was ready from task-group SC-03-02-A.

AES-X90 Analog Transfer of Audio Program Material

Wickstrom reported that the most recent problem has been incorporation of 7.5 in/s recording. He said that the project had been most important earlier in the activities of archivists. Schueller re-instituted the question of whether the need still exists. Winner brought up the continuing requirement of such bodies as the US Library of Congress and the New York Public Library. Schueller suggested that the PWD be better titled. The group decided to progress the document to PCFC by 2002-09.

AES-X106 Styli shape and size for transfer of records

No report was ready from task-group SC-03-02-M.

AES-X107 Compilation of technical archives for mechanical media

No report was ready from task-group SC-03-02-M.

New projects

No project requests were received or introduced.

New Business

There was no new business

The next meeting is scheduled to be held in conjunction with the AES 112th Convention in Munich, Germany.


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