Audio Specifications and Standards

From UA Libraries Digital Services Planning and Documentation

Contents 1 Introduction: 2 Technical Information: 2.1 Default File/Output Settings 2.2 Associated Hardware/Software 3 Resources and Links:

Introduction:

The following provides a brief overview of our standard audio specifications.

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Technical Information:

Default File/Output Settings

• masters: .wav/WAVE at 24-bit/44.1khz
  • note: IASA TC-04 calls for a minimum sampling rate of 48kHz (preferably 96kHz). We will discontinue use of 44.1kHz sampling rates pending confirmation of appropriate storage space as 24/48 vs 24/44.1 should yield only an 8% increase in space requirements. Projects already underway at the 24/44.1 spec will maintain that specification. - arora, 062910

Update: given remaining storage concerns, we will continue with 24/44.1 - arora, 030911.

• • typically, 2s of silence is left or created at the beginning of each .wav, with 1s at the end.
  • RMS levels are typically set fairly low, to -25db

  For information on derivatives, see For_Creating_Derivatives

Associated Hardware/Software

• see Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)

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Resources and Links:

• Digitization and Preservation Standards
  • TAPE (Training for Audiovisual Preservation in Europe). European Commission on Preservation and Access.
  • Capturing Analog Sound for Digital Preservation: Report of a Roundtable Discussion of Best Practices for Tranferring Analog Discs and Tapes. (2006) Council on Library and Information Resources and Library of Congress.
  • Sound Directions - project website, maintained by Indiana University Digital Library Program.
    • Sound Directions: Best Practices for Audio Preservation. (2007) Casey, Mike & Bruce Gordon.
  • Grammy foundation® Basic Methodology for Preservation, Conversion and Archiving Recorded Media. (revised 2008) Grammy Foundation, Santa Monica, CA.

• File Formats - from LOC Digital Preservation/Digital Formats site
  • Wave

    see also Waveform Audio Reference - from Microsoft website

  • Broadcast Wave
  • FLAC (Free Losless Audio Codec)
  • MP3 Audio Encoding

• Audio Decision List
  • (ADL)/AES31-3
    • The AES31 Standard (2001) De Lancie, Philip.
    • AES31--Eliminating the File Exchange Conundrum (2001) Lambert, Mel.
  • Open Media Framework Interchange format (OMFI)
  • Advanced Authoring Format (AAF)
  • SimpleADL
    • SimpleADL
  • Other
    • AA Translator

• Tools
  • Metadata Touch
  • BWF MetaEdit