The Digital Production Center (DPC) at Duke University Libraries digitizes and preserves analog audio and video formats as well as still image formats (photographic materials, books and paper and more). DPC audio and video standards are listed below. If you have questions or would like to propose a project, please see the general DPC webpage and contact information here.
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Audio Digitization Standards
| Audio Preservation Master Specifications | Explanation of Terms and Acronyms |
| File Format: Broadcast wave (.wav or .bwf) | File format |
| Compression: Uncompressed | No data loss |
| Audio Bit Depth: 24-bit | number of bits recorded for each sample |
| Audio Sampling Rate: 96 kHz | Kilohertz, 1 kilohertz = 1000 samples per second |
| Audio Channels: Stereo | Distinct left and right channels |
| Audio Derivative Specifications | Explanation of Terms and Acronyms |
| File Format: MPEG-3 (.mp3) | File format |
| Compression: Lossy | Data loss, necessary for smaller file size |
| Audio Bit Rate: 128 Kbps | Kilobits per second. 1 kilobit = 1000 bits |
| Audio Channels: Mono | Identical left and right channels |
Note: The above specifications are for digitizing analog media.
When preserving content from a digital source, our goal is to maintain the specifications of the digital content, whether they are high or low, so there is no generation loss, up-converting, or any alteration of the original digital content. This necessitates a signal path which is digital > digital, as opposed to digital > analog > digital.
Audio Equipment
Audio CPU:
- Dell Precision T-1650
- Processor: 3.5 Ghz Intel Xeon E3-1270 v2
- Memory: 16 GB
- Graphics: Nividia Quadro 2000
- Storage: 3 TB
Audio Software:
- Adobe Audition CS5.5
- Steinberg Wavelab
Audio Interface:
- MOTU 828mk3
- 24-bit/96kHz
- 10 inputs (2 digital)
- 10 outputs (includes monitor outs)
Audio Signal Balancing and Routing:
- Henry Engineering Matchbox HD Stereo Interface Amplifier (2)
- Coleman Audio MS6 Audio Switcher
Audio Monitoring
- M-Audio BX5 Powered Monitor Speakers
- AKG K100 Headphones
Audio Input Decks
| Otari MX-5050 Open Reel Deck | Supported Formats:
|
| Pioneer PL-990 Turntable | Supported Formats: 33/45 rpm |
| Nakamichi “Dragon” Cassette Deck | Supported Formats: Compact Cassette |
| Tascam 122mkiii (3) | Supported Formats: Compact Cassette |
| Marantz PMD430 Portable Cassette Deck | Supported Formats: Compact Cassette |
| Tascam DA-P1 DAT Machine | Supported Formats: Digital Audio Tape |
| Sony M-650V Microcassette Recorder | Supported Formats: Microcassette Tape |
Video Digitization Standards
| Video Preservation Specifications | Explanation of Terms and Acronyms |
| File Format: QuickTime (.mov) | File format |
| Compression: Uncompressed** | No data loss |
| Video Bit Depth: 10-bit | Number of bits used to display color of a single pixel |
| Video Bit Rate: 225 Mbps | Megabits per second, 1 megabit = 1,000,000 bits |
| Video Width: 720 pixels | Number of horizontal pixels |
| Video Height: 486 pixels | Number of vertical pixels |
| Video Frame Rate: 29.97 fps | Frames per second |
| Video Chroma Subsampling: 4:2:2 YUV | Y-luminence / U-blue chroma / V-red chroma |
| Video Standard: NTSC | National Television System Committee |
| Audio Format: PCM | Pulse-code modulation |
| Audio Channels: Stereo | Distinct left and right channels |
| Audio Sampling Rate: 48 kHz | Kilohertz, 1 kilohertz = 1000 hertz of frequency |
| Audio Bit Depth: 16-bit | Number of bits recorded for each audio sample |
**In the case of Mini-DV, files are transferred in their native dv format instead of 10-bit uncompressed, as dv will be the highest resolution, most uncompressed version possible given the format.
| Video Access Derivatives Specifications | Explanation of Terms and Acronyms |
| File Format: MPEG-4 (.mp4) | File format |
| Compression: Lossy | Data loss, necessary for smaller file size |
| Video Bit Depth: 8-bit | Number of bits used to display color of a single pixel |
| Video Bit Rate: 2300 kbps | Kilobits per second, 1 kilobit = 1000 bits |
| Video Width: 640 pixels | Number of horizontal pixels |
| Video Height: 480 pixels | Number of vertical pixels |
| Video Frame Rate: 29.97 fps | Frames per second |
| Video Chroma Subsampling: 4:2:0 YUV | Y-luma/U-blue chroma/V-red chroma |
| Video Standard: NTSC | National Television System Committee |
| Audio Format: AAC | Advanced Audio Codec |
| Audio Channels: Mono | Identical left and right channels |
| Audio Sampling Rate: 48 kHz | Kilohertz, 1 kilohertz = 1000 hertz of frequency |
| Audio Bit Rate: 160 Kbps | Kilobits per second. 1 kilobit = 1000 bits |
Note: The above specifications are for digitizing analog media.
When preserving content from a digital source, our goal is to maintain the specifications of the digital content, whether they are high or low, so there is no generation loss, up-converting, or any alteration of the original digital content. This necessitates a signal path which is digital > digital, as opposed to digital > analog > digital.
Video Equipment
Video CPU
- 27-inch iMacs (2)
- Processor: 3.5 Ghz Intel Core i7
- Memory: 32 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M 4096 MB
- Storage: 1 TB SSD (Internal), 4TB G-Drive Pro via Thunderbolt (External)
Video Software
- BlackMagic Media Express
- Compressor
- Final Cut Pro
- HandBrake
- Live Capture Plus
Video Interface
- BlackMagic Mini Converters (Analog > SDI) (8)
- BlackMagic UltraStudio Express (SDI > Thunderbolt > CPU) (2)
Video Monitoring and Routing
- Behringer Ultralink Pro (Audio Balancing) (2)
- BlackMagic SmartScope Duo (Audio & Video Monitoring) (2)
- BlackMagic Smart VideoHub (Routing)
Video Input Decks
| Sanyo GVR-S955 | Supported Tapes: NTSC VHS, SVHS |
| Panasonic AG-W1 / Samsung SV5000W | Supported Tapes: PAL, SECAM, MESECAM, PAL-M, PAL-N |
| Sony UVW-1800 | Supported Tapes: Betacam, Betacam SP |
| Sony BVU-950 | Supported Tapes: 3/4" U-Matic |
| Sony EV-S3000 NTSC | Supported Tapes: Hi8 |
| Sony DCR-VX2000 NTSC HandyCam | Supported Tapes: MiniDV |
Information Last updated: 03/19/2015