Report of the SC-03-12 Working Group on Forensic Audio of the SC-03 Subcommittee on Preservation and Restoration of Audio Recording meeting, held in San Francisco, CA., US., 2004-10-29

The meeting was convened by vice chair E.B. Brixen in place of chair T. Owen

The agenda was approved as written with one addendum concerning the establishment of a TC on Forensic Audio.

The report of the Berlin meeting of SC-03-12 was approved as written. Technical Committee on Forensic Audio

Open Projects

AES27-R: Review of AES27-1996 (r2002): AES recommended practice for forensic purposes - Managing recorded audio materials intended for examination
No action was requested or required. Mandatory review is due in 2007

AES43-R: Review of AES43-2000: AES standard for forensic audio - Criteria for the authentication of analog audio tape recordings
It was agreed that the contents of this standard is still essential. However, it needs to be revised. There was a discussion whether the continued version should remain as a standard or should become recommended practice. Robert Skye of Skyelabs was appointed to be the editor of the revision. The group is requested to comment on the content of AES43 on the working group e-mail reflector.

Development Projects

AES-X010: Guidelines for Forensic Analysis: Study of Requirements for Identification and Enhancement of Recorded Audio Information
This project is assigned to: SC-03-12-B. No action was taken.

AES-X135: Forensic audio - Recordist Audio Evidence Collection (FARAEC)
This project is assigned to: SC-03-12-D. No action was taken.

New Projects

No new projects were proposed

New Business

Durand Begault explained the steps taken to establish a Technical Committee (TC) on Forensic Audio. Basically more background research and comprehensive reference papers are needed in order to provide a better input for the SC workgroup.

In connection with this topic a longer debate took place underlining the needs for standards in the daily work of engineers working in the field of forensic audio.

The proposed TC was expected to be presented during the upcoming meeting of the Technical Council in San Francisco. The meeting took note of this.

Next meeting The next meeting will take place in conjunction with the AES 118th Convention in Barcelona, Spain, 2005-05.