Understanding the technical and listening checks that protect the quality of an audio preservation transfer.
Why is audio QA necessary?
A successful transfer must be more than a file that opens. Quality assurance confirms that the file represents the intended source and meets the agreed technical specification.
Check 1 — File identity
The file should be correctly named and associated with the right source item, reel, cassette or programme.
Check 2 — Technical characteristics
NARA's published WAV QC approach includes sampling frequency, number of channels and bits per sample, while duration, average level and peak levels can also be recorded.
Check 3 — Completeness
The technician should confirm that the recording starts and ends correctly and that expected programme material has not been omitted.
Check 4 — Listening
Technical metadata cannot identify every audible problem. Listening checks can reveal drop-outs, distortion, mistracking, noise, unexpected silence or other issues.
Check 5 — Documentation
Any unusual condition, intervention, treatment or playback limitation should be documented so that the digital file has a clear relationship with the original.
Check 6 — Integrity
Checksums can be used to confirm that files remain unchanged as they move between systems or into long-term storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does audio QC check?
It can include file identity, sampling frequency, channels, bit depth, duration, levels and listening checks.
Should every audio file be listened to?
The appropriate listening/QC approach depends on project scale and risk, but significant preservation transfers require meaningful quality assurance.
What happens if QA finds a problem?
The source and transfer chain should be investigated and, where appropriate, the recording re-transferred or corrected before final delivery.
Further Reading
Oxford Duplication Centre — Practical Expertise
Audio preservation depends on the original carrier, compatible playback equipment, a controlled signal path and careful quality assurance. The preservation master should retain the best practical representation of the source, with access files created separately.
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