|
Dear all,
See below message from our technology projects manager, I hope it's of use.
regards,
Alison
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Wright-ARCHIVES
Sent: 02 July 2002 18:39
To: Alison Stewart
Subject: RE: Film formats
Alison- Thanks for pointing this my way. We have advice on our
Preservation Project website (presto.joanneum.ac.at), but it is much too
detailed! Can you forward my reply to your list. My cc: to the list
bounced because I'm not a member. Thanks.
There are some basic points to start with:
- preservation on analogue or digital formats
- life expectancy
- usability
- what happens when the new format becomes obsolete
BetaSP is relatively cheap and high quality and common in general
professional use, but it is not digital. So it cannot be perfectly cloned,
and hence any future transfers to another format will involve a "generation
loss". Also BetaSP is not a current production format in the BBC, though it
may well live another 20 years in other places. We are already planning
transfers OFF BetaSP and onto Digibeta (or datatape when we make that leap).
DVD my be cheaper and longer lasting than BetaSP, but requires DVD mastering
equipment (though this costs no more than a few BetaSP machines). We copy
U-Matic to DVD in a slightly compressed format (MPEG-II at 20 Megabits/sec).
DVD would allow material to be played widely, though our high datarate needs
special software players.
DVD can then be automatically transferred to some other format in 20 years,
at lowest expense using a 'jukebox'. Whether this matters depends upon the
number of items. Certainly for 10 000 or more, automation of future
transfers is a major issue.
If access is a key issue, DVD or datatape on a robot are much better than
BetaSP or Digibeta or any conventional video format, because DVD's can be
put in a jukebox to make a mass-storage device. The choice of DVD vs
datatape depends on size and need for access. You can put about 3 terabytes
on a DVD jukebox for under £20k -- the cost of one professional videotape
recorder!
Film transfers are not easy whatever you do, because they need telecine
conversion, which is always expensive.
Quality is the overall issue. Beta and U-matic and film are all potentially
higher quality than standard DVD (which is 4 to 8 Mb/s MPEG-II), so the
transfer implies loss which is against archive principles. But ANY film
transfer to video implies loss, because video at 625 lines/frame is simply
worse quality than film. We are waiting with our film until high-definition
scanning becomes faster and cheaper.
I hope this helps and would be happy to discuss this in more detail
directly.
> Richard Wright
> Technology Manager, Projects
> Information & Archives
> BBC Finance, Property & Business Affairs
> * Work: +44 (0)20 857 61341
> * Mobile: +44 (0)7802 469 684
> * Fax: +44 (0)20 8569 9374
> ** S120 South Block
> Reynards Mill, Windmill Rd
> Brentford, Middlesex TW8 9NQ - UK
> * mailto:[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 02 July 2002 17:50
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Film formats
I wonder if anyone has any advice to offer about the current recommended
format for films?
We have a huge collection of films / videos on various formats, from reel
films, to umatics, to Betacam, to VHS. We are currently looking to
establish a conservation programme for this collection, and I had been
planning to use Betacam SP as our "master" format, with VHS as viewing
copies.
However, some doubt has now entered my mind as to whether we should in fact
be looking to DVDs, as viewing copies if not as master copies.
If anyone has any advice to offer, about the pros and cons of the various
formats - or, indeed, any reason why I should not be using Betacam SP as the
master format, I'd be very grateful.
Please feel free to reply to me off list at [log in to unmask] - I will
summarise responses for the list.
Many thanks
Lucy
Lucy Jones
Group Archivist
BT Group plc
> * Phone : +44 20 7492 8795 * Fax : +44 20 7242 1967
> * Mob: +44 7808 735000
> * e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> *: BT Group Archives, 3rd Floor, Holborn Telephone Exchange, 268-270 High
> Holborn, London WC1V 7EE
http://www.btplc.com/archives/
BT Group plc
Registered office: 81 Newgate Street London EC1A 7AJ
Registered in England no. 1800000
This electronic message contains information from BT Group plc, which may be
privileged or confidential. The views of the author may not necessarily
reflect those of the Company. The information is intended to be for the use
of the individual(s) or entity named above. If you are not the intended
recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the
contents of this information is prohibited. If you have received this
electronic message in error, please notify us by telephone or e-mail, then
immediately delete the email and destroy any copies of it.
This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal
views which are not the views of the BBC unless specifically stated.
If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system, do not use,
copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in reliance on it and notify
the sender immediately.
Please note that the BBC monitors e-mails sent
or received. Further communication will signify your consent to this.
|
