Magnetic Tape Alert Project

Magnetic tape replay equipment is fading out

An initiative of the Information for All Programme (IFAP) Working Group on Information Preservation

Today’s knowledge of the linguistic and cultural diversity of humanity is widely based on magnetic tape recordings produced over the past 60 years. Magnetic audio and video tape formats are now obsolete. Spare parts supply and service is fading, replay equipment in operable condition is disappearing rapidly, and routine transfer of magnetic tape documents is estimated to end around 2025. The only way to preserve these sounds and images in the long term, and to keep them accessible for future generations, is their digitisation and transfer to safe digital repositories.

While many professional memory institutions have already secured their audiovisual holdings, or have planned to do so in time, a great part of audio and video recordings are still in their original state, kept in small academic or cultural institutions, or in private hands.

With the Magnetic Tape Alert Project, the Information for All Programme (IFAP) of UNESCO, in cooperation with IASA, the International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives, intends to alert stakeholders of the imminent threat of losing access to their audiovisual documents. Part of this is to conduct a survey of existing audiovisual documents on magnetic tape that are not yet digitally preserved. The survey focusses on unique recordings rather than copies.

The information obtained through the survey on collections at risk will serve as a basis for the planning of adequate solutions for the safeguarding of these irreplaceable original documents in the long-term. Information gathered will be kept on the IASA website and will be used to compile a report that will be made publicly available. Names and addresses will be disclosed publicly only with permission.

To respond to the survey, please fill out the form below then press 'Submit'.

Deadline for completion: We are extending the submission deadline to 31 May 2020.

THIS SURVEY FORM BELOW HAS CLOSED. READ THE SURVEY RESULTS.

Survey of audiovisual collections on magnetic tape, endangered by the rapidly increasing unavailability of replay equipment.

1. Holder of the collection

Name of the collection / holder of the collection

Where the collection is held

Country name

Address where collection is held

This information is required but you may opt to keep it private

Institution the collection is part of (if relevant)

2. Content of the collection.

This survey concentrates on unique recordings. Please indicate main focuses in terms of subjects and regions where recordings were made, for example, oral/visual history, language/dialect, folk/traditional music, dances, rituals, cultural, historical and political documentation, popular music, natural sounds, radio content.

Content

Admin note (not visible): Word limit is stated to 500 except for Chinese characters language version where it states 750. In practise the limit is capped at 750 words for all language versions

3. Number of magnetic tapes in the collection

Estimate the number (digits only, no commas) for each format in the collection.

Audio

open reel

open reel

compact cassettes

R-DAT

Other digital

Video

VHS, Betamax

Video 8/Hi 8

U-matic

Other analogue

DV

Other digital video

4) Is there a preservation plan in place for the transfer of contents from original carriers to a digital repository?

Preservation plan options1

yes

yes, but not sufficiently financed

not yet

not sure

transfer to digital:

transfer to digital:

file based

carrier based

not sure

transfer to digital2

transfer to digital:

finished

partly finished

not sure

5) Availability and maintenance of modern replay equipment and professional staff

equipment

yes

no

professional maintenance

yes

no

trained staff

yes

no

6) In case of positive answers to 4 and 5: Would you be ready to assist other institutions?

assist

yes

no

7) Would you welcome training in audiovisual preservation?

Choose any number of options.

training

For managers

for archivists

8) Comments

comments box

Admin note (not visible): Word limit is stated to 400 except for Chinese characters language version where it states 600. In practise the limit is capped at 600 words for all language versions

Agreement

By filling in this questionnaire, I support the intention of the Magnetic Tape Alert Project that the information provided through the questionnaire will serve as a basis for the planning of adequate solutions for the safeguarding of these irreplaceable original documents in the long term.

I agree that information gathered will be kept by UNESCO and IASA and made accessible to (national) institutions, including government ministries/departments, and UNESCO Commissions.

I also agree that provided information will be used to compile a report that will be made publicly available.

Name of the person completing the survey

Telephone number

(this information will not be made public)

E-Mail Address

(this information will not be made public)

Retype e-mail address

Collection privacy option

Select one option before pressing the Submit button below.

I agree to the publication of the name of the collection/the collection holder and the address of its storage

I wish for complete anonymity concerning the name of the collection/the collection holder and the address of its storage in the report made publicly available

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