Spoken Word Archive Project for BoD Meeting 23Jan03

The Spoken Word computer (DADA) was equipped with a better  
soundcard (CardD+) and a Marantz dual tape deck is connected to 
it.  There were some initial issues regarding how to monitor the 
sound quality throughout the encoding process, but new speakers 
and a set of professional headphones ($150 total) cleared that 
up. 

Some testing was undertaken to determine what encoding scheme 
to use.  The factors considered were quality of sound; size of 
compressed files; speed and efficiency of program; and the 
ability to create files in batches - unattended. 

The following formats were considered:  MP3, SpeeX, and 
OGGVorbis.  Though OGGVorbis offered excellent sound quality and 
Speex was a very fast working program, we decided to go with the 
MP3 format for now due to its widespread use and resultant 
compatibility with many other programs. 

As for encoders, we tried several, but found that the MP3 
encoder plug-in for WinAMP (OUT_ENC.DLL), running in tandem with 
the Disk Writer plug-in (OUT_DISK.DLL), enabled us to process 
files in batches, while at the same time using WinAMP's EQ 
function to boost (pre-emphasise) the treble (high frequency 
bands) of the sound samples. 

A program called mp3Trim is used to normalise the audio files 
after being encoded to MP3.  mp3Trim also has the capacity to 
process files in batches, and normalising the files at the 
encoded MP3 stage was much faster than at the raw WAV stage. 

After much deliberation the ingest process is as follows:  

1. Record the analogue signals as .wav files using Cool Edit Pro 
   (sample rate 44100, 16-bit mono) 


2. Encode the .wav files into .mp3 files (at 24 kBit/s, 
   22,050Hz, Mono) using WinAMP, while simultaneously boosting 
   the treble slightly. 

3. Normalise the .mp3 files using mp3trim.

File creation continues as well as work on a finding aid - a 
searchable version of the SW archive data records, which can easily 
be accessed from Studios A or B. 

Nathan Rambukkana, Spoken Word Project Leader 22Jan03