Hi--
Its seems to me that the a comprehensive solution would require only
one, preferably free, preferably cross-platform application, not
several expensive ones and separate steps.
I see this as a powerful database application that allows one to
create a file record from each outing incorporating text, images,
geodata, charts, links to sound files and other unique functions like
being able to "point" to a particular section longer recording. I see
each recordist being able to get the tools for free to start creating
their own record database on their own computer and if ever there is
a need, have the ability upload one or many records/with the
associated data to a public or non public server with no conversion
and no additional steps.
I'm starting to learn a program called, MYSQL, which seems to meet
all of the above criteria. The goal is an interface tuned to fit the
needs of field audio recordists. Another goal is establishing
guidelines for compatible, importable records should we ever want to
interrelate or combine different archives with many less hours of
labor.
Typing is always involved. I'm probably missing something, but I'm
not sure there is a clear advantage to typing the data in as metadata
or a ID tag at this point (assuming we don't want folks to spending
$$$$ for Soundminer). When I process/export any sound file through
any application other than iTunes, the data is stripped off. When I
need to know the background on a sound file, I'd rather have the file
name show-up in a Google search or computer search to take me to the
recordist's record sheet than to have to launch a specialized
software to only part of the story. Dreaming again I know, but why
not? Rob D.
At 12:19 PM -0800 2/29/08, Jeremiah Moore wrote:
>Having undertaken a long stream of media organizing projects for myself and
>others I can offer:
>
>- consider the future of your work and the data you generate. Portability
>may be key: if you're locked in to a certain app, and your needs change or
>the app ceases to be developed 10 years from now, that may be a painful
>experience. At the least, make sure you can export your tables.
>
>- Will descriptions be stored in an external database, or in the files
>themselves?
>
>- Consider maintenance and how the library will (or won't if that's the
>case) over time
>
>- Consider simplicity
>
>Personally, I'm a big fan of standardized embedded metadata. However, it
>doesn't exist or isn't mature and supported for every format, and the tools
>may not be free or cheap. For uncompressed audio, it's Broadcast WAV BEXT.
>
>Personally I use (and really this only relates to sound, not images or
>video)
>
>Storage: All media stored as files on drives (i.e. not residing internally
>to databases) sync'd to back up drived using rsync (unix) scripts
>
>Databasing: Soundminer for audio. Various custom Filemaker Pro databases.
>
>Metadata: All audio metadata is embedded into the files. Additionally,
>when designing databases I view the file's path (location in folders /
>subfolders) as a form of metadata, and a simple way of gathering and
>generating information about your files, simply by placing them in certain
>folders. For instance, sounds in a folder called "Burma Trip" would have
>the words "Burma" and "Trip" added to their keywords. Lately, I'm using
>long filenames (up to 255 characters) to contain descriptions. (there are
>caveats to this approach - notably that some filesystems don't handle long
>filenames.)
>
>Some of the others' suggestions are great! Ultimately, it's whatever works
>for you, and in my experience it can take an iterative process of
>approaching and adjusting to develop your best system.
>
>my inflation adjusted US$.02
>
>-jeremiah
>
>(cross posted)
>
>On Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 8:03 AM, Andy Wilson
><<andy%40lshift.net>> wrote:
>
>> greg
>>
>> some of the high-end audio editors include such audio database (actually
>> more cataloguing) facilities - I know that Wavelab does, for example, as
> > that what I use.
>>
>> a
>>
>>
>> Greg Simmons wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> > I'm looking for a media database that will allow me to catalogue all
>> > of my sound recordings and their related images and so on. Over the
>> > past few years I have collected many recordings from Nepal, Tibet,
>> > India, Borneo and Australia, along with zillions of accompanying
>> > photos and some video footage.
>> >
>> > I'm looking for something that I can type, for example, "tibetan nuns
>> > chanting" and up will come all of my sound recordings of Tibetan nuns
>> > singing/chanting, along with any pictures/videos that I might have
>> > taken (or otherwise collected), and anything else related to the
>> > recordings. It would all be accessible from within the database
>> > without requiring me to delve into folders or manually launching other
>> > apps. So for the search example above, the sound recordings could be
>> > auditioned directly by clicking on them, the pictures would be
>> > thumbnails that could be clicked on to view full size, and so on.
>> >
>> > I realise I'd have to do much of the initial indexing, creating key
>> > words and so on, but that's unavoidable.
>> >
>> > From what I can tell, this is known as Digital Asset Management (DAM).
>> > I have found many apps that do it, but most are either designed for
>> > corporate/network use (and thereby expensive, requiring dedicated
>> > servers and so on) or are focused almost entirely on photographic and
>> > video use.
>> >
>> > Does anyone here have any recommendations based on personal experience?
>> >
>> > - Greg Simmons
>> >
>> > P.S. I'm also posting this on the phonography list, sorry!
>> >
>> >
>>
>> --
>>
>> [][][] Andy Wilson | Mob: +44 (0)7739 908 253
>> [][] Managing Director | Tel: +44 (0)20 7729 7060
>> [] [] LShift Ltd | Web: <http://www.lshift.net>http://www.lshift.net
>>
>>
>
>--
>----------------------------------------------------------
>jeremiah moore | SOUND |
><jmoore%40northstation.net>
><http://www.jeremiahmoore.com/>http://www.jeremiahmoore.com/
>professional site and reel
><http://babyjane.com/timeweb/>http://babyjane.com/timeweb/ personal site
><http://northstation.net/>http://northstation.net/ music project
>
>
>
--
|