03/2008
- AVPS Moves Our Office Location
AudioVisual Preservation Solutions has moved its operations to
71 West 23rd Street, suite 504
New York, NY 10010
While we will miss Brooklyn we are happy to have found our home in the historic Masonic building at the corner of 6th Ave. and 23rd Street.
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02/2008
- New York Archivist Roundtable Workshop on Moving Image and Sound Preservation
Serving as Education Coordinator for NYART, Chris Lacinak hosted and participated as a speaker in a workshop titled "Preserving Your Moving Image and Sound Collections: An Overview of the Present with a View Toward the Future".
The workshop featured an array of impressive speakers including Howard Besser, Lee Shoulders, Joshua Ranger, Tanisha Jones and Peter Kauffman. The workshop quickly reached maximum capacity attendance and audience feedback forms proved the event to be an overwhelming success.
To see the workshop description click here
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01/2008
- AVPS Project with Cunningham Dance Foundation and NYU Featured in New York Times Article
The New York Times article linked to below features the "Mondays with Merce" project. AVPS plays a multi-faceted role in this Mellon Fondation grant funded project involving the Cunningham Dance Foundation and NYU. AVPS is designing and installing a system for the recording and editing of “Mondays with Merce”, a project aimed at capturing the technique of living dance legend Merce Cunningham. The system design is exciting and challenging involving a highly technical system and complex system installed withinin the beautiful Cunningham Dance Foundation studio.
The system highlights include a single operator with remote control over 4 High Definition videocameras, 2 of which are on robotic arms. Secondly, AVPS is developing highly innovative preservation oriented workflows for the Cuningham Dance Foundation that will deliver preservation worthy deliverables to the NYU digital library team. NYU is serving as the digital preservation repository and host of the content, as well as team members in the devlopment of applications, workflows and processes.
To see the article click the link below. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/arts/dance/20bloo.html
Dance: An Old Mentor's New Medium
Sunday New York Times, January 20, 2008 By JULIE BLOOM
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01/2008
- Chris Lacinak Becomes Vice Chair of AES Standard Committee 03-06 on Audio Metadata
Chris Lacinak was honored to receive an invitation to co-chair the Audio Engineer Society Standards Committee Working Group on Audio Metadata. As a long time participant in the development of metadata standards for moving image and sound Chris enthusiastically accepted the invitation to take on this role. Chris co-chairs alongside his esteemed colleague Chris Chambers of the BBC and long time standing chair of SC 03-07. The scope of the SC-03-07 Working Group on Audio Metadata includes the co-ordination and support of metadata activities within the AES, and harmonization with other bodies through working-group level liaisons and the preparation of related documents.
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12/2007
- AVPS Releases The 2007 Holiday Card
For the 2nd year running, AudioVisual Preservation Solutions releases an original holiday card. The 2006 holiday card features the VR-1000 Quad videotape machine in honor of the 50th anniversary of videotape. This 2007 card features an illustrated disk with an original AVPS label that pays homage to the wide array of classic decorative 78RPM labels.
To see the 2006 and 2007 holiday cards click here
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11/2007
- AVPS Recognized in AMIA Annual Report
AudioVisual Preservation Solutions receives recognition and mention in the AMIA annual report for our continued work with the MIC project and representation of the AMIA community at the NRPB hearings. Chris Lacinak’s involvement with the MIC project consists of volunteering his time over the past years working alongside Hannah Frost of Stanford University to develop the Preservation Portal of the MIC website. Chris has also worked alongside alongside Jane Johnson, MIC project manager, to develop aspects of the MIC metadata scheme and dictionary.
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08/2007
- Audio Recording of AVPS Oral Testimony at NRPB Hearing Available Online
As mentioned in previous months Chris Lacinak represented AMIA and AES at the National Recording Preservation Board Hearings in December of 2006. Chris provided oral testimony as well as written submission to the NRPB. The oral testimony is now available to hear online at the Library of Congress website
To listen to the audio recording click
here.
To read the written statement click here.
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07/2007
- Chris Lacinak Elected as New York Archivist RoundTable Education Coordinator
The New York Archivist Round Table (NYART) elected Chris Lacinak for the position of Education Coordinator. Chris is proud to carry on the great work of his predecessor Mary Hedge in serving NYART. He aims to provide a rich set of relevant programs and workshops including topics addressing moving image and sound preservation, emerging metadata and cataloging tools and media asset management systems.
To find out more about NYART click
here.
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07/2007
- AVPS receives a letter from the Archivist of the United States
Chris
Lacinak, founder of AVPS, was honored to receive a
letter from Dr. Allen Weinstein, Archivist of the United States,
thanking him for his contribution to the 21st
Annual National Archives Preservation Conference held April
30th and May 1st, 2007. The title of the conference was Managing
the Intangible: Creating, Storing and Retrieving Digital Surrogates
of Historical Materials.
AVPS
is proud to support the National Archives in their effort to offer
continued leadership to the field and ensure ready access to essential
evidence that documents the rights of citizens, the actions of Federal
officials, and the national experience.
We would also like to thank Dr. Weinstein for his opening remarks
at the conference in which he exhibited a deep understanding and
passion for the issues we face on a daily basis in the preservation
of our heritage.
To
see the letter to Chris Lacinak from Dr. Allen Weinstein click
here.
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07/2007
- Chris Lacinak joins the Technical Committees of IASA and ARSC
Chris
Lacinak, founder of AudioVisual Preservation Solutions, was accepted
into the technical committees of the International
Association of Sound Archives (IASA) and Association
of Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC). As chair of the Audio
Engineering Society (AES) Technical Committee on Archiving Restoration
and Digital Libraries (TC ARDL), Chris now contributes as a member
to all of the relevant organizations creating best practices and
standards for sound archiving and preservation.
The
IASA technical committee has produced extremely important and definitive
publications for sound preservation over the past years. Chris looks
forward to contributing to current efforts starting with the revision
of TC-04: Guidelines on the Production and Preservation of Digital
Objects placing a heavy emphasis on metadata for sound preservation.
The
ARSC technical committee has served the field for many years. There
is currently a very important project in process under the direction
of Bill Klinger to produce the ultimate archival storage container
for cylinders at a cost effective price. Chris looks forward to
working with the knowledgeable and respected members of the ARSC
technical committee.
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06/2007
- AVPS sponsors the 2007 Joint Technical Symposium (JTS)
AVPS
shows continued commitment to advancing audiovisual preservation
standards and methods by taking on a sponsorship role for the 2007
Joint Technical Symposium.
The JTS is a very important symposium to the field of audiovisual
preservation. The symposium provides an international stage for
the community to assess the technical progress of the field and
for current projects to be presented for peer review and discussion.
AVPS views this symposium as having a definitive stake in the evolution
of the moving image and sound archive and preservation field into
a vibrant community of forward thinking and well-informed committed
professionals. We are pleased to support the sustained efforts of
all the attendees to continue to make this symposium the success
that it is.
For
more information on JTS 2007 click
here.
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05/2007
- AVPS coordinates the most comprehensive assessment and prioritization
session to date for the 2007 Joint Technical Symposium (JTS)
AVPS
has put together an international seven participant session for
JTS 2007 on the topics of collection assessment and prioritization
that is groundbreaking in both its comprehensiveness and scale.
The session is a survey and review of the most significant recent
moving image and sound collection assessment and prioritization
projects. There
has yet to be a session within any conference that has covered this
imperative topic with such depth and broad representation. As a
community without adequate tools for so long and with such a great
focus currently on digitization, tools for effective and efficient
selection are more imperative than ever. All of the speakers in
this session are helping to close that gap and advance the capability
of the field in this area. The speakers and subjects include:
- Chris Lacinak:
AVPS - Introducing
the topic of assessment and prioritization for moving image and
sound objects
- Léon-Bavi
Vilmont: Presto Space/CRCDG - Media Condition Assessment Work
Package
- Jean-Louis
Bigourdan: IPI/NEH - Magnetic Media Study
- Tanisha
Jones: NYU/Mellon - Magnetic Media Assessment Project
- Mike Casey:
Indiana University/Sound Directions - The Field Audio Collection
Evaluation Tool
- Janet Gertz:
Columbia/Mellon - Special Collections Materials Survey Instrument
- Dietrich
Schueller: Phonogrammarchiv/IASA - The Task Force on Selection
for Digital Transfer Report
For
more information on the session and full program click
here. We hope to see all of you there!
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04/2007
- AVPS at AMIA 2007
AVPS
has coordinated a session for AMIA 2007, taking place in Rochester,
NY highlighting the regions talent. The session is based on the
premise that over the years assessing audiovisual signals stored
on magnetic media has proven to be an evasive task. The lack of
tools and the need for relevant training has left the moving image
and sound archivist in a quandary over how to accurately perform
this activity. Assessment
efforts have typically combined visual inspection of the media with
informal experiential and speculative data. These are imprecise,
broad brush stroke approaches that disregard the whole of the system
responsible for producing the signal. They are not focused, accurate
or effective enough to inform solid preservation strategies or large
expenditures. This session aims to provide information and direction
that will inform good collection management and preservation planning.
The
speakers and subjects include:
- Chris Lacinak: AVPS
- Assessing dynamic audiovisual objects; Related research and
development projects.
- Jean-Louis Bigourdan:
Image Permanence Institute (IPI)- Report on the IPI Magnetic Media
Study.
- Ian Gilmour: Media
Matters - Discussion of emerging assessment methods and technologies.
For
more information on the session and full program click
here. We hope to see all of you there!
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02/2007
- AVPS in the AMIA Newsletter
AVPS
was pleasantly surprised to receive acknowledgment in the most recent
AMIA newsletter (Volume 75, Winter 2007). Chris Lacinak was recognized
for his contribution in representing AMIA at the National Recording
Preservation Board on page 2 of the newsletter under the title AMIA
at National Recording Preservation Board Hearings. Chris was
acknowledged again on page 24 in the MIC Update for his work within
MIC and presenting on MIC Metadata for Resource Management
at the 2006 AMIA Conference in Anchorage, Alaska. For more information
on MIC click here.
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01/2007
- AVPS asked to speak at the National Archives Preservation Conference
Every
year the National Archives puts together an impressive collection
of topics and speakers to make up their Preservation Conference.
This year will bring the 21st Annual Preservation Conference, titled
Managing the Intangible:
Creating, Storing and Retrieving Digital Surrogates of Historical
Materials. Chris Lacinak, of AVPS immediately accepted the invitation
to join this years conference to speak on matters involving dynamic
audiovisual objects. Specifically on two topics that AVPS has
gained extensive recognition for - Quality Control and Digitization.
Chris will be presenting on Quality Control on day one of the conference
and on Digitization on day two. Chris finds himself in good company
with an illustrious array of speakers lined up to discuss a fascinating
and relevant group of topics. For more information on the conference
and to see the program click
here.
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12/2006
- AVPS recognized in the Image Permanence Institute's Magnetic Media
Study Report funded by NEH
AVPS
was humbled to collaborate with the stellar team at the Image Permanence
Institute on their Magnetic Media Study. The study aimed to find
correlative and causal relationships between detectable degradation
mechanisms and quality of reproduction. In finding such relationships,
tools can be created similar to the IPI Acid Detection Strip, that
detect a known indicator of failure. AVPS was proud to be asked
to share our experience and knowledge on the matter of assessment,
and thankful to the Image Permanence Institute for the opportunity
to work together. You can see the special thanks to AVPS, and more
importantly the full report from the study in the coming months.
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12/2006
- AVPS represents AMIA and AES at National Recording Preservation
AVPS
was honored and privileged to receive the request from the Association
of Moving Image Archivist (AMIA) Executive Director , Keith LaQua
and President, Janice Simpson to represent the AMIA community at
the New York Hearing of the National Recording Preservation Board
(NRPB). The hearing was held December 19th, 2006 and was well attended
by a broad range of experts filled with passion on the topic. Naturally,
as co-chair of the AES Technical Committee on Archiving, Restoration
and Digital Libraries Chris Lacinak represented the AES community
as well. The National Recording Preservation Board (NRPB)was formed
through a mandate of the National Recording Preservation Act of
2000. The Librarian of Congress, in consultation with the National
Recording Preservation Board, is conducting a study on the current
state of recorded sound preservation and restoration in the United
States. The cumulation of the NRPB's activities will be compiled
into a report for the Librarian of Congress, and ultimately for
Congress to raise awareness and inform policy affecting our cultural
heritage. More information can be found here.
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11/2006
- AVPS
contributes to the newly launched EAI online preservation resource
When
AVPS was asked to contribute to the EAI online preservation resource
by bringing clarity to the client/vendor relationship we gladly
accepted. Given the present state of audiovisual preservation standards
and best practices, this is a topic worthy of a lot of conversation
and in need of much clarification. The client/vendor relationship
and matching of goals with capabilities is a particular area of
expertise for AVPS. We were happy to have the opportunity to lend
a helping hand in navigating the difficult path of the client/vendor
relationship. You can download the resource created by AVPS in resources
section of our website. You may also find the EAI online preservation
resource here.
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08/2006
- AVPS invited to sit on the Advisory Board for the recently launched
NYU Preservation Department Assessment Project, funded by the Mellon
Foundation
The
project titled "Developing Principles and Methodologies for
Moving Image and Audio Preservation in Research Libraries"
will conduct research to develop new surveying methodologies for
video and audio collections. Results will ultimately aid in the
development of best practices for assessment and preservation planning.
AVPS was asked to join the advisory board for the project due to
our experience with assessing dynamic objects (audiovisual media
and content) and perspective on the landscape of current assessment
projects and technologies. We are proud to serve on the advisory
board and look forward to working with the excellent team assembled
to take on the project.
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