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Preserving the Sound of America

Posted by timothy on from the flac-and-ogg-would-be-nice dept.

jonerik writes "The Associated Press (by way of MSNBC) has this article on the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry, which 'seeks to ensure even greater protection for some of the most notable songs, speeches and other utterances.' To that end, the library's extensive collection of recordings and photos will soon be moved to a massive 41-acre complex built into the side of a mountain in Culpeper, Virginia. When construction on the site is completed - in about three years - anything stored in Culpeper should be available via computer at the library's Madison Building on Capitol Hill. The Library of Congress has been collecting recordings for almost 100 years, the first being a recording of a speech by German Emperor Wilhelm II. Since then the library has collected recorded speeches by every American President since Theodore Roosevelt, oral histories, music, radio broadcasts, and other examples of recorded sound." This sounds like a collection which will become more valuable as more people have access to the actual content of the collections.

11 of 202 comments (clear)

  1. How long before... by goatasaur · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...someone 'samples' this public-domain sound archive to make their own shitty techno music?

    hitler_vs_truman---battlerap.mp3

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    ~D:
    1. Re:How long before... by len_harms · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The law does. copy right office see chapter 7 section 704. The goverment is also exempt in many cases from paying IP payments.

      To get most of the extensions put forth in these laws you must submit a copy to them. Small price to pay for a 70+ year monopoly...

      Its ironic that the goverment is basicly the biggest warez collector there is! Then tells the rest of us to get stuffed!?

  2. P2P by Avsen · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or they could just put it on Kazaa. Less chance of records being lost if its on a lot of computers.

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    Massive networking attempt for friends

  3. Mickey Hart and Save Our Sounds by pyite · · Score: 5, Informative

    Mickey Hart of Grateful Dead fame has had a big part in this effort. It's a real noble movement they're participating in. Everyone thinks history is always written and suddenly people realized that we have the technology to make it more. Read more about his involvement and Save our Sounds here.

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    "Nature doesn't care how smart you are. You can still be wrong." - Richard Feynman

  4. Re:So.... by NanoGator · · Score: 5, Funny

    "What format would they deliver it in? MP3? Would they use their own government MP3 encoder and pay license fees? Ogg? Wav? Real? Audio out to a big loud speaker that gets pointed to your house? What? "

    Well, they wanted to make sure that every computer they use can play it. So they're using Midi.

    --
    "Derp de derp."
  5. Off-site backup? by kwoo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It's obviously a good idea to fortify the storage site, but what kind of arrangements will they have for off-site backup?

    If these are the most important recordings, it would be a tragic loss to have a natural disaster or similar event destroy what may be the only complete recordings.

    --
    unixkb.com -- articles on practical Unix issues.
    1. Re:Off-site backup? by ragnar · · Score: 5, Informative

      The facility is a former military building which is built into the side of a small mountain (more of a hill if you ask me). The first layer of protection is pretty good. It is referred to as a digital vault of sorts.

      At this stage of the planning there isn't a much concrete discussion about backup, not because it won't be needed, but rather because the technology is a moving target. If memory serves right, they hope to open the facility in about 3 years. Backups are no doubt on the integration plan, but a lot of the architecture is still in a planning phase.

      (disclaimer: I work on this project at the Library of Congress)

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      -- Solaris Central - http://w
  6. Re:So.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    And strangely enough, Reagan's last State of the Union address, when converted to midi, sounds a lot like the Peanuts theme.

  7. Mount Pony, Culpeper, VA by sulli · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This site is a former bunker for the Federal Reserve Board and once held $1 billion in cash in case of a nuclear attack. It was transferred to the LoC in 1997. (Presumably this cash is now held elsewhere.)

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    sulli
    RTFJ.
  8. What it used to be by Alegato · · Score: 5, Informative
    I live near and work even closer to this very interesting facility. It used to be the Federal Reserve System's Communications and Research Center (a pretty important part of the Federal Reserve System), and it also served as an emergency "continuity of government facility" at one time. Check these links for your browsing pleasure (links have pictures, Google search "Culpeper Federal Reserve" gives lots of info)

    Link1

    Link2

    Link3

  9. two meanings of the word 'protected' by tato+(and+tato+only) · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It is interesting that when the Library of Congress uses the word 'protected' in regards to a sound recording they mean exactly the opposite of what the RIAA means when they use the same word.
    I like the LOC's meaning better.

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    tato (and tato only)
    This post is strictly opinion, including the spelling.