Costs and Decisions Involved
in Basic Startup
Scope
- Decide on content of digital collection
- Decide on file sizes (whole side or individual tracks)
Capture
- Minimum of one computer with appropriate hardware and software (approximately $2,250)
- Audio equipment (turntable, tape decks, etc.) for analog input
- Decide on additional descriptive information (metadata) to include
- Choose level of staffing required
Compression
- Choose a compression type and ratio that meets your needs for audio quality as well as type and ease of delivery
Delivery
- Decide where you want to deliver sound (within a building, over a campus network, remotely over phone lines)
- Choose appropriate hardware and software for playback server from several available options
- Make sure the networking infrastructure is appropriate
Client Workstations
- Pentium-based PCs with compatible sound card
User Interface
- Decide how you want users to access the sound files and associated information
Storage
- Disk cache, optical disk, tape
- Remote or local