Apr 27, 2021 23:00:00

What is the method used by the Internet Archive to digitize records over 100 years old?

The Internet Archive, a non-profit organization that archives all kinds of information such as websites, books, and music, is promoting the 'Great 78 Project, ' which digitizes and archives the ' SP records,' which first appeared in records. In such a Great 78 Project, the Internet Archive explains how to digitize SP records with an official Twitter account.

At the Internet Archive, this is how we digitize # 78 rpm records.
Our partner @georgeblood_lp has perfected this technique, digitizing with 4 different styli at once.

Put As Much We Effort Into Capturing The #Metadata As We Do Digitizing The Music. Pic.Twitter.Com/dn4EjXTS9z
— Internet Archive (@internetarchive) April 25, 2021

The Internet Archive packs every 80 SP records in a box and stores them in a well-controlled warehouse.

Wear

nitrile gloves (rubber gloves) when handling SP records.

In order to digitize an SP record, first read the barcode attached to the SP record and register it in the database.

Next, set the SP record in the record cleaning device.

Then, sprinkle distilled water on the SP record.

Sprinkle distilled water over the entire record to remove dust and dirt from the grooves.

Next, use a suction device to absorb the water.

By observing the water sucked in, you can see that it contains dust and dirt that had adhered to the SP record.

Daily maintenance is indispensable for record cleaning equipment.

Distilled water before cleaning the SP record is colorless and transparent, but ...

After cleaning the SP record, it will turn black with plenty of dust and dirt.

After cleaning the SP record, take a picture of the board.

Next, while looking at the pictures taken, register the SP record information in the database.

Finally, after recording the contents of the SP record, digitization is complete. According to the Internet Archive, SP records have different record needles that are suitable for playback depending on the item. Therefore, the Internet Archive records the contents of SP records using a dedicated recorder equipped with four types of record needles.

The Internet Archive responded to the question, 'Existing SP records are very fragile, but can they be broken with as many as four types of needles?' Diamond record needles can play music with less than 10% power compared to the steel needles used in the old days. '

We asked
@georgeblood_lp : 'LPs are soft & played with a very small diamond. 78s are made from shellac which is hard and abrasive. Originally they were played with steel needles at 10x the tracking weight used by our modern equipment. (1/2) )
— Internet Archive (@internetarchive) April 25, 2021