Advice on Moving images

This section covers the digitisation of existing moving image collections. These technical advisory papers are specifically targeted towards readers who have hands-on or technical management responsibilities for developing an existing analogue collection.

• Choosing a Digital Video File Type

  Choosing a file format can prove overwhelming for someone new to the world of digital video. The aims of this document are to discuss some of the key factors that should be considered before selecting a file format and to suggest suitable choices for specific applications

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• Equipping a Video Digitisation System

  This document describes the configuration of a system which is intended to be used for the digitisation of analogue videotape to a computer hard drive. This document is intended to be of use to staff engaged in the digitisation of analogue video, whether dealing with only a few or a few hundred tapes.
  The advice document Selecting a Video Digitisation System provides an overview of alternative types of equipment configurations.

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• Generic Video Digitisation Workflow

  This introductory document is aimed at smaller video archives or paper-based collections which have a video element. This document may also prove beneficial to specially funded video digitisation projects. We shall look at ways in which best practice can be observed and incorporated into each stage of even the smallest video digitisation project, from selecting an initial digital format to delivery.

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• Planning a Video Digitisation Project

  The digitisation of an existing video collection has many potential benefits; newly digitised materials offer opportunities to reach new users and to engage with new and existing users in new ways. Digitisation may also prove to be the only viable way to make our vulnerable video materials available to generations of future users. The complexities of achieving a successfully digitised and fully accessible video collection can be considerable but through careful preparation, the task can be broken down into manageable stages.

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• Selecting a Video Digitisation System

  This document looks at a number of configurations of equipment which can be used to digitise analogue videotapes. This document is intended to be of use to staff engaged in the digitisation of analogue video, whether dealing with only a few or a few hundred tapes.

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• Transcoding Digital Video

  ‘Digitisation’ is a process in which analogue materials become digital, while ‘transcoding’ is the shift from one digital format to another digital format. This brief paper looks at some common situations which call for transcoding, such as when ‘migrating’ data to new formats in order to avoid obsolescence.

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Related cross-media advice:

• Analogue Film Types Used for Still and Moving images

  This document looks at the history of photographic and movie film and how and why the film type has altered over time. The document also contains some frequently asked questions on film types and handling.

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• Audiovisual Signal Types and Interconnects

  Over the decades various technical standards have been adopted for analogue and then for digital video and audio. As the popularity of systems declined they were generally replaced by improved technologies, making many system configurations entirely obsolete. Obsolete interconnects can be difficult to use in conjunction with modern equipment.

  This paper looks at the nature of audio and video signals and then surveys significant historical interconnects (such as RCA) and contemporary, digital equivalents (such as SDI and SPDIF).

  Any method of transferring digital data, such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) can potentially be used to transfer digital audiovisual files, but such technologies are not primarily associated with audio video signal data and so are not discussed here.

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• Basic Guide to Videoing Audiovisual Materials

  This document is intended for users who wish to record teaching materials such as those used during a lecture. This includes both projected materials, materials shown on a television screen and printed materials. It covers everything the novice should need to know from the first step to the last.

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• Budgeting for a Digitisation Project

  It is not possible to provide detailed information on budgeting for a digitisation project; these costs will depend on the nature, condition and amount of analogue materials to be digitised and the extent and accuracy of existing metadata. However, some general advice which assigns comparative values to different activities within a project may help when planning a digitisation project.

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• Choosing a File Name

  File naming is a vital first step for those beginning to digitise. This document examines planning and using an effective file naming system when managing digital files. This paper highlights the advantages of using the 8.3 convention and looks at some options when naming derivative, surrogate files.

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• Deciding to Digitise

  This brief document takes an introductory view of pre-digitisation project considerations. It is intended to be of use to resource management staff considering the digitisation of all or part of their collection.

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• Digitisation Services

  JISC Digital Media contacted a number of digitisation service providers for more information about the services they supply. The following list is not an endorsement of any of the services, but is provided to help you identify services to evaluate in more detail.

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• Digitisation Staff Training

  This paper takes a general looks at the staffing issues related to a digitisation project from a management perspective. It is intended to be of use to resource management staff considering the digitisation of all or part of their collection.

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• File Formats and Compression

  This document looks at the theory of file formats and the common methods of data compression.

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• Learning Lessons from Other Digitisation Projects

  This document proposes a number of potential challenges associated with the digitisation of a collection. It then examines the value of lessons learned from previous projects when attempting to meet those challenges. It is intended to be of use to resource management staff considering the digitisation of all or part of their collection.

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• Light Sources for Still and Moving Images

  The word photography means drawing with light, without light it is impossible to record a video or still image. So lighting whether in a classroom, office or dedicated photographic studio is an essential component in a photograph or video. The captured image is a record of the light that is emitted, reflected or absorbed by the subject. With a basic understanding of light and how it can be modified the photographer or filmmaker should be able to improve the appearance of their images. This document will look at commonly used light sources and how the user can get the most from them.

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• Links to Digital Media and Digital Preservation Organisations

  The list below survey a selection of audiovisual and digital preservation related organisations and provides links to their websites.

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• Overview of JISC Digital Media Materials for Digitisation Project Staff

  This guide provides an overview of the JISC Digital Media website materials we think digitisation project staff will find useful during the lifetime of a digitisation project.

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• Potential Sources of Funding for Digitisation Projects

  This document presents a selection of potential funding sources, which may be called upon to fund digitisation project work. Both public and private sector funders are included.

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• Project Management for a Digitisation Project

  This paper takes a look at the role and responsibilities of the digitisation project manager. It addresses common managerial challenges such balancing the expectations of stakeholders and ensuring the of quality of output. It is intended to be of use to the management team of time limited digitisation projects or to resource management staff planning to digitise their collection.

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• Quality Assurance and Digitisation Projects

  This document examines issues relating to quality assurance from a project management perspective. It proposes a four-layer model for assuring quality and looks at some of the more common reasons for problems with output quality. This document is intended to be used by collection managers intending to digitise their resources or by managers of digitisation projects.

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• Risk Assessment for Digitisation Projects

  This paper identifies some of the more common risks associated with a digitisation project. It is intended to be of use to the management team of time limited digitisation projects or to permanent collection management staff planning to digitise.

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• Selection Procedures for Digitisation

  This document looks at points to consider when developing a selection criteria for digitisation. Some of the points made here will not be relevant to all projects and collections, but the document has been designed to serve as a useful overview and to stimulate some further thinking and research. It is intended to be of use to resource managers who intend to digitise all or part of their collection.

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• Selection Procedures: Text Version of Decision Tree Diagram

  This is a text version of the 'Decision tree (simplified)' diagram in the Selection Procedures for Digitisation document.

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• Stands and Supports for Still and Moving Images

  One of the easiest ways to improve the quality of still or moving images is by using a support. Supports and stands can reduce or eliminate vibration or movement which otherwise would degrade the quality of the captured media. Supports come in all shapes and sizes: this document looks at a variety of support types including tripods, copy-stands, clamps and brackets as well as improvised solutions.

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• Systems for Managing Digital Media Collections

  Everyone's collection and context is unique, so your choice of a system (or systems) for managing your digital media will require a careful assessment of your needs and resources and an evaluation of the available options. This paper provides an overview of a number of different approaches to media management: from some very cheap and 'low-tech' approaches to much more complex and specialised solutions.

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• To Outsource or to Digitise In-house?

  This document is intended to inform the managers of analogue collections which have been identified for digitisation. It looks at the pros and cons of outsourcing digitisation work before contrasting these with carrying out work in-house.

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