1. Overview of the guide This guide is intended as a basic 'how to' for those wishing to use audio materials in the creation of digital resources. It deals with such issues as copyright, choosing equipment, playing audio media, delivery of audio to users, data management and preservation. It is not intended to be an exhaustive guide. It will almost certainly be necessary for you as the resource creator to consult additional more specialised sources according to your particular needs. The most important first task for anyone considering audio digitisation is to assess the scale of the project. This guide should help, and although the sections may be read and used as self-contained units, it is advisable initially to read the guide as a whole and acquire an understanding of the main issues. This could save you time and money later. What follows is a brief summary of each chapter. Chapter 2: Working with copyright An overview of UK copyright law and the way it affects digital resource creation. In particular, issues surrounding the copying and distribution of audio materials, including musical materials, are discussed. A practical approach to applying for and negotiating copyright licences is outlined. Chapter 3: Digitising audio: an outline A broad outline of digitisation, highlighting its advantages and potential pitfalls. A general description of the resources required is followed by a technical appendix explaining digital audio in more detail. Chapter 4: Playing back audio media This chapter considers the various audio media on which your source materials may reside, from early media such as phonograph cylinders to modern media such as CD. Chapter 5: Computers for audio An outline of the various common computer platforms which might be used to digitise audio, with a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of each. Guidance is given about how to make informed choices about audio hardware. Chapter 6: Other resources: skills and time A brief outline of the technical skills required of digitisation, along with a discussion of the factors which will affect the time required to complete the project. Chapter 7: Creating the digital audio files: a step-by-step guide The basic steps involved in transferring sound recordings from analogue and digital media to computer, and an outline of various post-digitisation tasks which may need to be carried out. Chapter 8: Documenting the data An introduction to cataloguing resources, explaining associated concepts such as metadata and standards. The reasons for creating metadata for digital resources are discussed and advice offered on how to go about creating a useful metadata record. Chapter 9: Presentation and delivery Information on some of the ways sound can be presented to users, considering downloading sound from the web, audio streaming, data compression, and presenting sound from CD-ROM. This also considers design aspects of incorporating audio into the resource, as well as access issues. Chapter 10: Preservation This considers the development of a strategy for preserving your digitised audio, both in terms of backing up the data and of maintaining support for file formats in the long term.
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