Saving the Music: The History of Biddle University Quintet Funded by LSTA NC Exploring Cultural Heritage Online 5/30/2014.

Saving the Music: Saving the Music: The History of Biddle University QuintetThe History of Biddle University Quintet

Funded by LSTA NC Exploring Cultural Heritage Online

04/10/23

Project PurposeProject Purpose

Saving the Music: the History of Biddle University QuintetSaving the Music: the History of Biddle University QuintetFunded by LSTA NC Exploring Cultural Heritage Online

The overall purposes of Saving the Music: the History of Biddle University Quintet project were to:

•Transfer instantaneous discs into digital audio using the best practices,•Transcribe the instantaneous disks,•Create a website chronicling Biddle University Quintet using photographs, memorabilia, and music excerpts of the group, and •Create a curriculum guide for music and social studies teachers.

Project ActivitiesProject Activities


We advertised to fill the Digital Audio Engineer position.

As detailed in our digitization proposal, we purchased equipment and software recommended by George Blood and coordinated the training session.

Items OrderedItems Ordered


iMac Rondine Jr. Turntable 2 Lynx Aurora Analog to Digital Converters (ADC)

Styli Designed Shure M44-7 Competition

Cartridge



We contacted Safe Sounds Archive and scheduled training with Jonathan Thorn an expert in handling instantaneous discs.

The objectives for the training session with Mr. Thorn were to help the digitization team: Review and test equipment and software, Train in using the equipment and software, Review step-by-step procedures to transfer record albums into digital audio files, Learn preservation and storage of digital audio files, Learn how to deliver the digital files, and Train in creating web accessible MP# files.

Project TeamProject Team


Sean Foreman Michael West

Jeff Cramer

Michelle Orr Ruth Faye Richards Brandon Lunsford



While the digitization team were cleaning the instantaneous discs and transferring them into digital audio, the research team were reviewing and gathering resources for the web pages. The research team consisted of Monika Rhue, Director of Library Services, and Bobbie Brown, a recent JCSU graduate. They gathered materials for six links.



The next stage of the project involved working with web designer, Keith Wiggins. Mr. Wiggins was hired to design the webpage. He worked along with Andrea Hylton, Systems Librarian and library webmaster on the design and layout of the web pages.

Monika Rhue and Dr. Bessie Gage; Education Department Chair are responsible for creating the lessons plan.

Monika Rhue worked with a graphic designer for the program booklet.

The publication and the launching of the web pages will be completed and announced in September 2009 during the Library open house.

Web PagesWeb Pages


Biographies PhotographsMusic Selection

HistoryLesson Plans

MemorabiliaArticles

http://library.jcsu.edu/biddlequintet/

http://library.jcsu.edu/biddlequintet/

What Have We Done

Cleaned 569 instantaneous discs.Transferred 569 instantaneous discs into digital audio.Created master (preservation) copies of the instantaneous discs.Researched and provided contents for the web pages.Scanned photographs, commencement programs, music programs, and articles for the web pages. Provided an historical overview of Biddle University Quintet, in addition to resources on Johnson C. Smith University’s history and a timeline of Charlotte’s African American history. Set-up introductory web page.


The Digitization Process

Discs were arranged by date according to titles on their labels. Discs with limited information, ( i.e. #1 or #15), were placed into a collection called “Found Collection” according to where they were found in the original organization of the collection. Each side of a disc is considered one unit (A or B); however, multiple discs may make up one group, (i.e. 4/7/1940 – Founders’ Day).



We digitized one box of discs at a time to limit any confusion or disorganization. Using Disc Drs. Miracle Cleaning Solution and specially ordered cleaning pads, we started cleaning Side A of every disc in a box, followed by a rinsing with distilled water. The discs were then placed in consecutive order in a drying rack and air dried for at least an hour.

The Apogee ADC was turned on and the following settings were applied: 44.1kHz sample rate, 24 audio bit depth, Analog in, and Option out. The preamp and the re-equalizer were also turned on at this time.

The iMac was turned on and logged onto. Once signed on, we checked the Audio Midi setup to make sure that the System Settings were as follows: Input/Output was the ADC and the Audio Input/output was 44.1kHz and 8 channel – 24 bit rate.



Logic Studio an audio software package designed for professional audio production was opened. We used it as a platform to collect, edit, and export the digitized audio. We created a new project to record each unit and then exported the files to save them. We clicked record and then canceled the first window that appeared because we only wanted one audio track and not a full project. One more window appeared that allowed us to set a Core Audio Folder. We used the preservation folder as the core audio folder.

The analog started with the album on the turntable. The turntable we used was a reconditioned turntable manufactured by Esoteric Sound, which has various settings for discs other than general LPs. We used 78.26 and 45 at 6+. The cantilever for the tone arm was set at 2.5 and adjusted as needed. We had primarily used a Graco 2.0mil stylus for recording the discs.



The analog from the turntable was connected to the preamplifier to boost the gain (increase the volume) and was then plugged into the re-equalizer.

The re-equalizer’s function is to create an equalization of the rollover and turnoff in the sound. Prior to 1954, recording companies and home recorders would have their own equalization standard. We were satisfied with the results of keeping the settings of the rollover and turnoff on the left side of the spectrum, adjusting as needed.

The sound from the re-equalizer traveled into the ADC and then into the iMac and then back through the ADC for volume.



Once a disc was recorded, a preservation copy was exported from Logic and saved as a 24 bit .wav file in a specific preservation folder. The audio was then edited minutely by creating a two second fade in at the beginning and a two second fade out at the end. Extra sound at the beginning and end were removed. The file was then exported to a CD copy folder and saved as a 16 bit .wav file. The CD sound file was then copied to iTunes and converted to a 128kbps .mp3. Metadata was added to identify the file and the file was placed into a Web copy folder.


Lessons Learned Lessons Learned

We realized that transferring instantaneous discs into digital audio requires a professional digital audio engineer who specializes in handling and caring for instantaneous discs. The equipment was out of the ordinary to non-audiophiles and limited to few distributors who specialize in such items as archival styli or 15pin AES to XLR conversion connectors.

The digitization team spent a great deal of time troubleshooting how to connect all the conversion before the process could begin. In addition, we under-estimated the length of time needed to clean the record albums. For example, its takes only five minutes to digitize the albums, but an hour to go through the cleaning process, taking in consideration the time it takes for the record albums to dry.


Lessons Learned Lessons Learned

The digitization team believes all of the troubleshooting of equipment and software installation could have been alleviated by having the consultant

Select the equipment to use and Install the equipment and software as part of the training session.

The digitization team concluded that the Logic software was too complex for their use. The Peak Le software suggested by Mr. Thorn was a better product .



Saving the Music: The History of Biddle University Quintet Funded by LSTA NC Exploring Cultural Heritage Online 5/30/2014.

Documents

cultural heritage online

lsta nc

music programs

music excerpts

web pages

edubiddlequintet slide

project team

box of discs