ARSC - audio preservation statement

ARSC TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
PRESERVATION STATEMENT

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections 
Technical Committee (ARSC TC) has published its 
current preservation statement in "Preservation of
Archival Sound Recordings." The document contains 
the committee's recommendations for preserving sound 
recordings, more specifically for transferring sound 
recordings to an archival digital format, based on the
state of the art and the technology in 2009.

This statement updates the ARSC/AAA (Associated Audio 
Archives) recommended practices that guided audio 
preservation work starting in the late 1980s.

"Preservation of Archival Sound Recordings" provides 
general guidance using, as much as possible, language 
accessible to a non-expert audience. Those with more 
experience in preservation matters may also find it 
useful. The document is not intended to offer specific 
procedures or best practices. For that level of detail, 
refer to the ARSC TC's annotated list "Essential
Resources for Audio Preservation," at the link below.

The updated preservation statement should provide useful 
guidance to public and private archives, libraries, museums, 
and other collections that include recordings of speech, 
music, ambient sounds, and other audio.

For more information about the ARSC TC and to view 
"Preservation of Archival Sound Recordings" and
"Essential Resources for Audio Preservation":



The Association for Recorded Sound Collections is a nonprofit 
organization dedicated to the preservation and study of sound 
recordings -- in all genres of music and speech, in all formats, 
and from all periods. ARSC is unique in bringing together 
private individuals and institutional professionals --
everyone with a serious interest in recorded sound.