Sound Model: Collaborative Infrastructure for digital audio

SAA--Perfecting your pitch Liz Bishoff, Director

BCR Digital & Preservation ServicesAugust 13, 2009

CDP & IMLS Sound Model Grant

• CDP served as a model for library & cultural heritage collaboration

• Provided infrastructure for digitization of primary source materials

• Digital audio collections represented collective memory of those who populated the Rocky Mtn West

• “Collectively, these local sounds and voices represent development of western history from an extraordinarily broad yet person perspective, putting a human voice to the text and images already available in CDP’s Heritage [database].”

IMLS Sound Model Project goals:

• Expanded toolkit for collaborative project management.

• Model regional collection of digital sound recordings. • Enhanced training materials• A diverse but standards-based and interoperable

approach to finding aids• A diverse but standards-based and interoperable

approach to presentation of audio material• Lesson plans that conform to state K-12 standards

Project outcomes

• Created 1500 hours of digital audio

• Updated and expanded Digital Audio Best Practices

• Created exhibit that integrates digital images and audio

http://www.bcr.org/dps/cdp/archive/exhibits/soundmodel/intro.html

Collaboration and Innovation

• 2000 audio objects—20 organizations

• Centralized digitization of audio files--SafeSound

• Centralized streaming—University of Denver

• Audio retrieval via Speech Find—University of Texas-Dallas

• Rights management support—Michigan State

• Centralized metadata—CDP Heritage West

Heritage West http://www.bcr.org/dps/cdp/hw_search.html

Transcriptions: Research

What worked:

• Outsourcing works• Shared access works• Exhibits—enhances the

images and brings life to the oral histories and sound recordings

• Digital Audio Best Practices Version 2.0 expanded and revised

What didn’t go so well• Transcribing

– Quality of originals resulted in increased editing– Multiple iterations of editing would have improved

quality– Speechfind is still a ‘research project’.

• Lack of transcripts– No metadata or original transcripts resulted in an

in ability to match content on return from post processing

• Content management system– Wasn’t ready for us

Where are we now?

• Project ended in 2007• BCR and DU continue to partner to make the

Sound Model content available• BCR is exploring options for new content

management system to continue hosting the Sound Model content

• BCR has submitted an IMLS grant for long term access solution creating the MetaArchive West

Thanks and questionsLiz Bishoff

303-751-6277

lbishoff@bcr.org