Tools
AVI MetaEdit & reVTMD
AVI MetaEdit supports embedding and validating metadata in RIFF-based AudioVisual Interleave format (AVI) video files. AVI is currently the target format for creation of Preservation Masters within the Digitization Services Branch at the National Archives.
reVTMD is an XML schema tailored to include fields that address the creation and long term management of reformatted videos, especially with the cultural heritage community. It is a concise subset of the large array of technical metadata available, structured in a way to make it highly usable for accessing and managing all types of video files beyond AVI.
Both tools were developed by NARA in collaboration with AudioVisual Preservation Solutions. AVI MetaEdit is available for download at NARA’s GitHub site, and reVTMD is available on NARA’s website.
BWF MetaEdit
BWF MetaEdit is a free, open source tool that supports embedding, validating, and exporting of metadata in Broadcast WAVE Format (BWF) files. BWF MetaEdit is available for download at SourceForge and was developed by the Federal Agencies Digitization Guidelines Initiative to support its guideline for embedded metadata in the bext and INFO chunks. The application was developed by AudioVisual Preservation Solutions.
Users of BWF MetaEdit can:
- *Import, edit, embed, and export specified metadata elements in WAVE audio files
- *Export technical metadata from Format Chunks and minimal metadata from bext and INFO chunks as comma-separated values and/or XML, across a set of files or from individual files
- *Evaluate, verify and embed MD5 checksums, as applied to the WAVE file’s data chunk (audio bitstream only)
- *Enforce the guideline (above) developed by the Federal Agencies Audio-Visual Working Group, as well as specifications from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Microsoft, and IBM
- *Generate reports that show errors in the construction of WAVE files
- *Choose from command line and GUI, for Windows/PC, Macintosh OS, Linux.
A Study of Embedded Metadata Support in Audio Recording Software
This report presents the findings of an ARSC Technical Committee study, coordinated and authored by AVPS, which evaluates support for embedded metadata within and across a variety of audio recording software applications. This work addresses two primary questions: (1) How well does embedded metadata persist, and is its integrity maintained, as it is handled by various applications, and (2) How well is embedded metadata handled during the process of creating a derivative? The report concludes that persistence and integrity issues are prevalent across the audio software applications studied. In addition to the report, test methods and reference files are provided for download, enabling the reader to perform metadata integrity testing.
PBCore Instantiationizer
PBCore Instantiationizer is part of a toolset for conforming extracted technical metadata to the PBCore 1.2.1 metadata standard instantiation element set. The automated approach to extraction and conformance of this element set allows for consistent application of standards to fields that require a strict level of control for usability while also relieving the burden from the cataloger to document what can be a large dataset that can be human-readable unfriendly. This draft version of the Instantiationizer Toolset contains an XSL stylesheet as well as a Mac drag-and-drop application for an even simpler conformance process.
**New Version 1.2 Available**
The update of the PBCore Instantiationizer tool to version 1.2 presents refinements that improve usability and user control. Follow the links below for downloading elements of the Toolset and further information on the latest version and the development and use of the tool.
DV Analyzer
DV Analyzer is a technical quality control and reporting tool that examines DV streams in order to report errors in the tape-to-file transfer process. DV Analyzer also reports on technical metadata and patterns within DV streams such as changes in DV time code, changes in recording date and time markers, first and last frame markers within individual recordings, and more. To those concerned with preservation and archiving, this means that you now have the ability to automatically monitor integrity during reformatting of DV tapes and extract meaningful metadata from DV files.
