The online fonds (Welcome to the digital nightmare. Until the 1980s, music was recorded on analog tapes that were stored in vaults and easily played back. In the digital era, that process has changed irrevocably. A new report issued by the Library of Congress calls digital formats "not inherently safe harbors of preservation," and raised red flags about how music collections are being stored. "There's a paradox," says Sam Brylawski, a former Library of Congress archivist. "We can record so easily now with digital recorders. But at the same time, the stuff is at greater risk than it used to be." Producer T Bone Burnett, who testified at a hearing on the topic, couldn't agree more: "Digital is a feeble storage medium.")

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Notes Welcome to the digital nightmare. Until the 1980s, music was recorded on analog tapes that were stored in vaults and easily played back. In the digital era, that process has changed irrevocably. A new report issued by the Library of Congress calls digital formats "not inherently safe harbors of preservation," and raised red flags about how music collections are being stored. "There's a paradox," says Sam Brylawski, a former Library of Congress archivist. "We can record so easily now with digital recorders. But at the same time, the stuff is at greater risk than it used to be." Producer T Bone Burnett, who testified at a hearing on the topic, couldn't agree more: "Digital is a feeble storage medium."

maura:

pop historians — or, really, anyone interested in music that’s older than a month or so — should read this.

Hey! Welcome to the next three to four decades of my career! Digital impermanence and migrating data! Not trying to sound snide; I’m really glad this issue is gaining a wider audience.

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eliz reblogged this from stayupgirl and added:

So interesting. Same goes for digital image files. Will we be able to open Camera Raw files in 20 years?
bminortoa reblogged this from archivist
stayupgirl reblogged this from maura and added:

1. Analog tape hardly lasts forever, but rather comes with its own preservation issues. 2. LOCKSS: Lots Of Copies Keep...
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archivist reblogged this from maura and added:

Hey! Welcome to the next three to four decades of my career! Digital impermanence and migrating data! Not trying to...
ninexthesame said: girl, you should definitely go to library school, it’s bomb. Besides, we need more people like you!
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wallsconcesandgreenshutters reblogged this from maura and added:

The thing is digital media can be reproduced perfectly. No other medium allows for perfect duplication. While the...
karaj liked this
laurenbarbato reblogged this from maura and added:

this is why i never strayed from analog…
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exileonbrainstreet reblogged this from maura and added:

This is definitely an important story, highlighting the need for labels and artists to do
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therichgirlsareweeping said: ::sadface::
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mattack reblogged this from theoreticalgirl and added:

Ugh… I kinda figured this would happen. Even if you keep meticulous backups, software gets old, and often won’t even run...
bunnycaper said: I am definitely going to library school soon (next fall?) and I really want to study more about this.
theoreticalgirl reblogged this from maura and added:

I’ve learned the hard way about digital preservation from watching some of my own stuff disappear into the technological...
theoreticalgirl liked this
rendit reblogged this from maura and added:

Haven’t read this yet, but I would take issue with the quote Maura picks out if only to say I’m not sure how much...
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titivil reblogged this from maura and added:

!! Also, Nicholson Baker is somewhere nodding grimly.
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