Audio services

NFSA audio services technicians can repair, rejuvenate, clean and copy a wide range of audio material and equipment — starting from the first Australian sound recordings made on wax cylinders in the 1890s.

More than 160,000 individual audio items (known as carriers) are held in the NFSA’s collection — varying from cylinders and lacquer discs to digital audiotapes and compact discs.

Repair and reconstruction

Sound recordings can deteriorate, making content retrieval quite difficult. Discs and cylinders suffer damage (shown right), when played, resulting in scratches and other audible defects. They also break down over time: magnetic tapes can become sticky from binder breakdown, misshapen, shrunken or brittle from deterioration of the plastic tape base. Problems with CDs are now only beginning to be understood.

Producing a restored sound recording begins with the skillful repair of damage to the original sound recording (known as a carrier). Technical experts make an assessment of the damage, then carefully carry out repairs, often with the aid of a binocular microscope (shown left) to ensure precise matching of broken pieces.

Rejuvenation

Some materials, such as magnetic tape, suffer chemical deterioration. This can be partially reversed by heating in a low humidity environment, rejuvenating the tape and transferring the content to more stable formats.

Cleaning

Vacuum, abrasive, ultrasonic or solvent cleaning are used to clean the carriers. Different methods are needed for different carriers. For example light solvents, ideal for cleaning vinyl discs, may destroy lacquers, while water-based solutions damage gelatine discs.

Reproduction

Audio Services staff have technical expertise in all areas of sound reproduction, from turntable and stylus geometry, through to sampling rates and sub-codes. This ensures efficient and expert reproduction of all recordings, from a straightforward copy of a 78-RPM disc to a major reconstruction of a damaged lacquer disc, or reproduction of poorly recorded or damaged tape material.

Copying

Using analog (shown right) or digital processing and noise reduction systems, we can restore and enhance the quality of sound to its original level, regardless of the original format. New copies are then produced for ready access on compact discs, cassettes or video audiotracks, and preservation copies are placed in the collection for long-term safety.

Copying or duplication is an essential part of media archiving. When fragile material is copied, we obtain a new preservation copy to ensure the survival of the original. In addition, making duplicate or access copies of collection material allows public access without endangering the preserved copies. Preservation copies are now made on polyester-based materials for archival permanence.

Digital restoration

The NFSA’s digital audio workstations are the latest in archiving and mastering technology. All studios are equipped with Cube-Tech Dual-Pentium 'AudioCube’ computers, using the most powerful software to remove clicks, crackle, hiss, buzz and a multitude of audible defects from disc, tape, film soundtracks and digital recordings.

Film sound

The NFSA’s Film Sound section has two studios devoted to the reproduction and restoration of Optical and Magnetic formats from 16mm to 35mm. Damaged, shrunken and/or deteriorated material is replayed on 'Sondor’ and 'Perfectone’ reproducers incorporating modified heads, and restored using the latest European digital audio workstations.

Mastering

The Mastering studios use a variety of tools including Sonic Solutions 'Sonic Studio’ and Cube-Techs 'AudioCube’ workstations, Steinberg 'Wavelab’ and 'Nuendo’ software to ensure the highest standards of mastering for video, DVD, CD and film.

Services

Audio Services also assists people and organisations with specialist archival needs, provides technical expertise and advice and maintains contemporary and obsolete equipment to support its audio work.

Further information on how to care for your audio and a technical glossary of common audiovisual terms can be obtained from this website or contact us for further information.