This guide provides a concise, practical introduction to safely and confidently using the audio and video digitizing equipment. Read through the sections that apply to the equipment you plan to use, follow the posted safety rules, and ask staff for hands-on assistance if needed.
- Book equipment and rooms in advance; arrive on time and respect session limits.
- Bring a storage device (thumb drive/flash drive) to save your files!
- No food or drink near equipment.
- Return cables, adapters, and other shared items to their labeled places.
- Audio playback devices: cassette deck, turntable, reel-to-reel tape machines, consumer/archival-grade players.
- Audio capture hardware: preamps, phono stage, analog-to-digital converters (A/D), mixers, balanced cables.
- Video playback devices: VHS/VCRs, consumer camcorders, VHS-C adaptors, 8mm film players
- Video capture hardware: time-base correctors/frame synchronizers, SDI/HDMI capture cards, character generators for timecode.
- Workstations: capture software, monitor speakers, headphones, waveform monitors, scopes.
- Storage: local capture drives, networked storage, backups.
- Inspect media condition: check for mold, sticky-shed, warping, physical damage.
- Clean discs, tapes, and records gently per lab procedures.
- For fragile or unknown-condition items, consult staff—do not force-play.
- Label media clearly with unique identifiers before capture.
5/21/2026