Reading Tapes Backwards: A Legitimate Approach to Saving Time and Money in Digitization Projects?

Audio carriers are subject to a fast and irreversible decay. In order save valuable historical recordings, the audio signal other relevant information can be extracted from source document stored on another medium, normally redundant digital storage system. This procedure is called ’content transfer’. It costly time-consuming procedure. There several solutions with which cost reduced. One consists of picking up all tracks two-sided tape in one pass. means that some will digitized forward backwards, subsequently corrected workstation. article concerned question whether reading backwards introduces unwanted effects into signal. particular, it investigates difference observed between signals read or and, if so, measurable. The results show observed, yet this not enough conclude “backwards” approach should used. complexity situation presented discussion. Future work includes reproducing experiment different equipment, as well perception test human subjects.