Capturing Reel History: Ball State University
Libraries' Film, Video and Audio Digitization Project
Society of Indiana Archivists 2014 Annual Meeting
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Moderator: John B. Straw, Assistant Dean for Digital Initiatives and Special Collections
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Michael Szajewski, Archivist for Digital Development & University Records
Blake Stiener, Metadata and Digital Initiatives Developer
Tom Barker, Tom Barker Video
Senator Birch Bayh speaks at
Ball State, 1970
Westinghouse Electric Plant
groundbreaking in Muncie, 1959
Ball State University Libraries
A destination for research, learning, and friends
Project Overview
• Converted over 4,000 analog film, video, and audio assets to digital
format to facilitate global access to historical content.
• Formats included: 16mm film, VHS, MiniDV, U-matic, Betamax,
Betacam, Reel-to-reel audio, audio cassette
• Ball State University
• Significant campus events
• Social life on campus
• Athletic events
• Notable campus visitors
• Faculty research
• Muncie & Delaware County
• Athletic events
• Interview segments for television
• Local business and industry
• Family life and social activities
• Natural disasters (floods, fires,
tornadoes)
• Made globally available in Digital Media Repository (DMR), Ball State
University’s CONTENTdm instance.
Ball State University Libraries
A destination for research, learning, and friends
Units Involved
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Metadata and Digital Initiatives (MADI)
Archives and Special Collections
Library Information Technology Services (LITS)
Tom Barker Video, digitization vendor
Ball State University Libraries
A destination for research, learning, and friends
Project Workflow
Digital capture
Selection for
digitization
Archives
LITS
MADI
Vendor
Digital content uploaded
for review
Content reviewed, edit points suggested,
basic descriptive metadata provided
Content edited
Asset uploaded into Mediasite
Digital files
archived offline
Full metadata record created
Asset published in CONTENTdm
(DMR) for public access
Ball State University Libraries
A destination for research, learning, and friends
Selection for Digitization
• Assets separated by format type, boxed and prepared for
digitization in priority order
• Evaluation of content based on metadata available
• Project tracking spreadsheet created to document
preparation, capture, and return dates
• Used Google Docs to support shareability, scalability
• Film length estimated for purpose of pricing
Ball State University Libraries
A destination for research, learning, and friends
Review and Basic Metadata Creation
• Review all assets to determine:
• If content is able to be made available online
• If copyright edits are needed
• If content from one reel/tape needs to be separated into unique digital
assets
• If content from multiples reels/tapes needs to be combined to create
one digital asset
• Provide basic descriptive metadata for each digital asset
• Event
• Date
• Persons picture
• Places pictured
• Edit decisions and descriptive information entered into spreadsheets
Ball State University Libraries
A destination for research, learning, and friends
Digital Capture
Video Cassette Recorder/Players: Betamax, Betacam, VCR,
U-matic, Digital HD
Ball State University Libraries
A destination for research, learning, and friends
Digital Capture
Audio equipment: Tascam audiocassette recorder/player, Crown
reel to reel player
Ball State University Libraries
A destination for research, learning, and friends
Digital Capture
Analog/Digital Converters: PreSonus Firestudio Mobile (Firebox),
Grass Valley Bi-Directional Analog/Digital Converter (Canopus)
• Combined efforts - staff (Digital Media Specialist) and student
involvement
Ball State University Libraries
A destination for research, learning, and friends
Digital Content Uploaded for Review - Djnco
Ball State University Libraries
A destination for research, learning, and friends
Editing Files
• Final Cut Pro 7 (Mac) – Used to capture and edit video files
• Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 (Mac/PC) – Used to edit video files
• Sony Sound Forge Pro 10.0 (PC) – Used to capture and edit
audio files
• iZotopes RXII (Mac/PC) – Used to restore audio
Ball State University Libraries
A destination for research, learning, and friends
Creating Access Links with Mediasite
Creating Access Links with Mediasite
Ball State University Libraries
A destination for research, learning, and friends
Uploading Links and Creating Metadata
Ball State University Libraries
A destination for research, learning, and friends
Uploading Links and Creating Metadata
Ball State University Libraries
A destination for research, learning, and friends
Described Items are Uploaded into the DMR
Ball State University Libraries
A destination for research, learning, and friends