007 - Sound Recording (R)

A storage medium containing recorded sound or a representation of a musical composition from which sound can be mechanically reproduced, such as a piano roll. A fill character (|) is not allowed in this position.

A loop of flexible plastic or magnetic film on which audio signals are mechanically recorded, commonly known under the trade name Dictabelt.

Sound discs are thin circular objects that vary in diameter (e.g., 7 in., 10 in., 12 in.), on which sound waves, recorded as modulations or pulses, are incised or indented. Compact audio discs are typically 4 3/4 in. in diameter.

Cylinders are cylindrical objects on which sound waves are incised or indented in a continuous circular groove. Mass-produced cylinders are made of plastic. Early cylinders were made of tinfoil or wax.

Sound cartridges are containers holding a single sound tape, run as an endless loop.

Sound-track film is a sound recording on film that is not intended to accompany visual images. Note: Code i is also to be used when it is not known if a sound recording on film is intended to accompany visual images.

Roll of paper, for example, for player piano or player organ, on which the notes of a musical composition are represented by perforations in the paper and from which sound can be mechanically produced.

Digital sound recording that is accessed, processed, executed, etc. remotely. In this case, the digital sound recording is used via input/output devices connected electronically to a computer. Frequently this involves connection through a computer network.

Sound cassette is a container holding a narrow, usually 1/8 inch, sound tape on two reels, one to feed (and rewind) and the other to take up the sound tape.

Sound-tape reel is usually designated an Open Reel or Reel-to-Reel. It is an audiotape-transport system with separate supply (feed) and take-up reels.

Special material designation for the sound recording is not specified.

Wire recording is a round steel wire on which sound waves are magnetically recorded.

None of the other codes is appropriate.

Speed is calculated from the distance the playback mechanism covers on the surface of the disc per second, and not the number of revolutions of the disc. It is associated with compact discs (CDs).

Speed occurs, for example, on half-speed mini-cassettes used in small portable recorders.

Speed occurs, for example, on standard cassettes.

Speed occurs, for example, on consumer and nonprofessional reel-to-reel tapes, cartridges and very unusual cassette tapes.

Speed is not applicable to remote digital sound recordings because it pertains to calculations specific to physical aspects of carriers.

Speed occurs, for example, in reel-to-reel, nonprofessional, and studio tapes.

Speed occurs, for example, on reel-to-reel, studio tapes.

Speed occurs, for example, on reel-to-reel, studio tapes, but is rarely used.

None of the other codes is appropriate.

Configured to be played back on one channel.

Configured to be played back on more than two channels. Use this code for Dolby surround sound tracks and other multichannel techniques.

Configured to be played back on two separate channels.

Configuration of playback channels is not known.

None of the other codes is appropriate.

Microgroove disc or a fine cylinder. Discs issued at 16, 33 1/3, and 45 rpm are usually issued as microgroove. Cylinders issued at 160 rpm (which have 200 grooves per inch) are usually issued as fine.

Item does not contain grooves. Used for tapes and compact audio discs.

Coarse or standard groove. Discs issued at 78 rpm are usually coarse. Cylinders issued at 120 rpm (which have 100 grooves per inch) are usually standard.

Groove width/groove pitch is not known.

None of the other codes is appropriate.

Height and width of the cassette are 3 7/8 x 2 1/2 in. Used for a standard compact cassette.

Sound recording is not a reel, disc, cassette, cartridge, or cylinder.

Height and width of the cartridge are 5 1/4 x 3 7/8 in. Used for a standard audio cartridge.

Dimensions of a cylinder are 2 3/4 in. (diameter) x 4 in. (length).

Dimensions of the sound recording are not known.

None of the other codes is appropriate.

Most cassettes use 1/8 in. tape.

Nonprofessional, consumer, and some professional reels, and most 8-track cartridges use 1/4 in. tape.

Item is not a tape or does not include a tape. For example, code n is used if the item is a disc.

Recording studios customarily use 1/2 in. tape. Some 8-track cartridges have been issued in 1/2 in. tape.

Recording studios often use 1 inch tape. Some 8-track cartridges have been issued in 1 in. tape.

Tape width is not known.

None of the other codes is appropriate.

Full or single track.

Half track configuration is used to permit two tracks (channels) to be recorded on one tape. It is used with audio cassettes to permit monoaural recordings in two directions and with stereophonic recordings in one direction.

Quarter track configuration is used to permit four tracks (channels) to be recorded on one tape. It is used with standard audio cassettes to permit stereophonic recordings in two directions, and with quadraphonic recordings in one direction.

Eight track configuration is used with monaural, stereophonic, and quadraphonic recordings. Commercial eight track cartridges customarily include four pairs of stereophonic (two track) recordings.

Twelve track configuration is used in professional recording studios to permit separate control of various tracks which are later mixed to produce a stereophonic or quadraphonic recording.

Sixteen track configuration is used in professional recording studios to permit separate control of various tracks which are later mixed to produce a stereophonic or quadraphonic recording.

Item is not a tape or does not include a tape. For example, code n is used if the item is a disc.

Tape configuration is not known.

None of the other codes is appropriate.

Final tape production master that is used to make a disc master or a tape duplication master.

Represents the final mix including special processing such as equalization, compression, phasing, and sound synthesis.

Sound tape produced from the master tape.

Tape duplication master is played on a tape reproducer to produce the sound tape for cassette, cartridge, or reel.

Negative disc master that is used for the preparation of the mother from which more serviceable and longer lasting metal stampers can be made.

In the early years of recording, discs were pressed from the metal-plated disc master or matrix. As commercial recording developed, the disc master was used, and continues to be used, for the preparation of the mother.

Original recording of a sound event or performance intended for direct reproduction without further processing. In the early years of recording, a single sound event was sometimes recorded simultaneously on several cylinders or discs. All of these recordings would be instantaneous.

Includes discs or tapes issued as limited pressing or limited issue for private distribution.

Most commercial discs are mass-produced. Mass-produced discs are mechanically pressed for distribution, either commercially or privately; also, tapes reproduced from a tape duplication master for distribution either commercially or privately.

Mass-produced discs, cylinders, and tapes usually include the name of the issuing company, the issue number, and bibliographic information on a printed label or on the container in which the disc, tape, or cylinder is packaged.

Item is not a disc, cylinder, or tape.

Exact copy of the original disc recording pressed from the disc master. From the metal mother a negative metal stamper is made to press discs for distribution.

Many stampers may be made from a single mother.

Negative metal part, produced from the mother in an electroplating procedure, from which 500 to 750 discs may be pressed.

Either one finished disc or one of a very limited pressing is made, designed to be examined aurally before a decision is made to proceed with a pressing.

Type of disc, cylinder, or tape is not known.

Also used when it cannot be determined whether the item is instantaneous or mass-produced.

None of the other codes is appropriate.

Lacquer coated, but the base material on which the lacquer is applied is not identified. To also identify the base, use codes g (Glass with lacquer), i (Aluminum with lacquer) or r (Paper with lacquer or ferrous oxide).

Cellulose nitrate base. This code may be used for items such as memovox discs.

Acetate base with a ferrous oxide coating. May include acetate tape and belts, such as magnabelts.

Glass disc base with a lacquer coating.

Aluminum disc base with a lacquer coating.

Made entirely of metal. Includes the earliest cylinders, which were made of tinfoil, and aluminum transcription discs with no coating, as well as wire and metal tape.

Made of plastic base with a metal coating. The metal part of such an item is often a thin layer applied to the plastic base. Includes compact audio discs (CDs).

Kind of material is not applicable to remote digital sound recordings because it pertains to characteristics specific to physical aspects of carriers.

Made entirely of plastic. Also includes mylar, polyester and vinyl materials. Since the 1950s, commercial or mass-produced sound recordings on 16, 33 1/3, and 45 rpm discs, cassettes, and cartridges are made of plastic.

Paper or cardboard disc, tape, or cylinder base with a lacquer or ferrous oxide coating.

Made entirely of shellac. Most commercial or mass-produced 78 rpm discs are made of shellac.

Made entirely of wax. Most instantaneous cylinders were made of wax.

Kind of material used in the manufacture of the item is not known.

None of the other codes is appropriate.

Vertical cutting, with no lateral information intended for reproduction.

All cylinders and some early discs have this cutting.

Cutting containing lateral information intended for reproduction. Such discs may also have vertical components intended for reproduction. Most contemporary discs (i.e., all quadraphonic discs and nearly all stereophonic discs) contain both vertical and lateral information and are coded l. Monophonic discs are normally lateral only.

Item is not a disc or a cylinder.

Compact audio discs are coded n as they are pitted rather than cut.

Kind of cutting is not known.

National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) standard was used for the transcription of the recording and NAB playback equalization is required.

Comité consultatif de la radiodiffusion (CCIR) standard was used for the transcription of the recording and CCIR playback equalization is required.

Requires Dolby-B decoding playback equipment. Indicated on commercial recordings by the double D insignia (without indication of Dolby-C encoding). If Dolby is used on a tape recording without other indication, Dolby-B may be assumed. Despite the presence of the double-D or "Dolby" on a disc recording, this code is never used for commercial discs.

Used for disc or tape recordings which indicate on the label or package that dbx decoding is required. If descriptive material indicates that dbx was used during recording but that standard playback equipment may be used, this code should not be assigned.

Requires digital playback equipment, such as Phillips/Sony Compact Discs or Sony PCM tape recordings. Code e is not used when there is indication that digital equipment was used during recording, but that analog playback equipment may be used. No commercial recordings prior to 1982, and no analog disc or tape recordings require code e.

Requires Dolby-A playback equipment. It is used only for master tapes and other tape recordings where clear indication is given that the professional Dolby-A encoding was applied, and that Dolby-A decoding is required. Dolby-A encoding is never used for commercial tape or discs. (Instantaneous tape recordings labelled "Dolby" without other indication are normally Dolby-B, particularly cassette recordings.)

Requires Dolby-C playback equipment. It is used for tape recordings where the label or packaging clearly indicates that Dolby-C is required. "Dolby" or the double-D symbol without specific explanation normally indicates Dolby-B.

Requires CX encoded playback equipment. It is used for recordings where the symbol or mark CX appears. Such recordings may be labelled as compatible with standard playback equipment. No CX recordings will appear with pressing dates prior to 1981.

Item does not have special playback characteristics.

Playback characteristics of the item are not known.

None of the other codes is applicable.

Recorded sound originally captured using an acoustical horn and diaphragm and stored directly on a surface such as a disc or cylinder. Most acoustical recordings date from the era beginning in 1877, when the first practical commercial recording machines were developed, until the mid-to-late 1920s, a transitional period marked by the release of the earliest electrical recordings in 1925.

Recorded sound originally captured using microphones and other electrical equipment and stored directly on the surface of a disc. All recordings that were made with microphones and other electrical equipment used direct storage beginning with the earliest electrical recordings in 1925 through the late 1940s. More recent commercial recordings marked "direct to disc" or some equivalent phrase also used this technique. Also known as electromechanical recording.

Recorded sound originally captured electrically and stored using digital techniques, which became available in the 1980s. Such recordings may be identified as "digitally recorded" or by use of a similar phrase on the label or package. However, designations such as "digital remastering" or "digital mixing" are post-capture and storage processes and are not meant to suggest that the original capture or storage techniques were digital.

Note: Digital storage and digital playback should not be confused. The need for digital playback should be recorded in 007/12 (Special playback characteristics).

Sound recordings which were captured using electrical techniques and stored as modulations and pulses on a magnetic surface. Most recordings made from the late 1940s until the transitional period from the early 1980s through the early 1990s are analog electrical recordings.

Original capture and storage technique are not known.

None of the other codes is appropriate.