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