Overview

"Working with historical mechanical and other obsolete formats requires historical knowledge and ideally knowledge of the conditions prevailing and the parameters that were varied during the generation of these recordings. It may well be necessary to call in consultants for special tasks or preferably for in-house training."
-International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives


According to Karl Miller there are several issues unique to audio that make its preservation more difficult than other media. Unlike a book or even a film reel, audio cannot be played back without some sort of equipment. Finding, using and/or repairing this equipment can be challenging. It may be necessary to calibrate or equalize equipment prior to using it. To make matters worse, there may be varying opinions when it comes to the proper pitch, needle size, noise reduction or volume for playback. A preservationist may not have the technical experience needed while a technical expert may not have the preservation experience. But skills in both fields as well as knowledge of audio history are required.

Unlike other phonograph records, Edison Diamond Discs feature grooves that were vertically cut, causing the stylus to "bob up and down in the groove, rather than from side to side or laterally." The discs ran at roughly 80 revolutions per minute (RPM). Because no electricity is required to operate an Edison Diamond Disc Phonograph (an internal horn system reproduces sound mechanically through the use of a hand crank) there is no way to connect an audio cord to a computer. The easiest way to transfer an Edison Diamond Disc is through the use of a microphone but the obvious drawbacks make it a less than acceptable option.

Edison Diamond Discs were designed to only work with the Edison Diamond Disc Phonograph; each phonograph had its stylus fit with a diamond point. Thus, extra care must be taken to acquire the proper Edison Diamond Disc Reproducer before attempting to digitize an Edison Diamond Disc. There are companies that specialize in manufacturing styli. It is possible to mount an Edison Diamond Disc Reproducer on a modern record player but ee sure to contact an expert before any attempts at digitization are made.

In short, the best quality recording should be chosen for digitization. This recording should be cleaned prior to transfer. The least intrusive replay equipment should be used and the recoding should be played at the correct speed. A choice needs to be made between transferring the original audio or attempting to equalize it as it is digitized. Any errors made during the transfer should be corrected. Prior to transfer, the equipment should be calibrated. Finally, the proper amount of time should be set aside for transfer; it may take as much as 400 hours to digitize 3 minutes depending on the complexity of the transfer.

Courtesy of Karl Miller and the International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives