Short Description
The ÆSR - FIELD RECORDING & DIGITIZATION/RESTORATION LABORATORY focuses, on the one hand, on recording and research techniques as well as methodologies in fieldwork; on the other hand, it provides technical equipment and expertise in the field of physical restoration and conservation of historical sound recordings, as well as their digitization. The lab explores experimental approaches to field recording, ethical and legal issues in (artistic) research with sound, the interface between analog/digital technologies and recording/playback equipment, the conservation and restoration of analog media, as well as digital processing and archiving.
Contact Person
Kerstin Klenke
Research Services
The main areas of focus are field research and digitization/restoration. The laboratories are designed as stationary research units and facilitate work in the areas of sound recording, playback, and post-production in the context of field research, as well as conservation and digitization — particularly with regard to historical sound carriers and equipment; mobile equipment such as recorders and microphones are also offered for field research.
Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure
The ÆSR - FIELD RECORDING & DIGITIZATION/RESTORATION LABORATORY is divided into two sub-laboratories with different areas of focus and expertise. The ÆSR - FIELD RECORDING LABORATORY facilitates the loan, exchange, and consultation with regards to (artistic) field research with sound and brings together various mobile recording devices, microphones, and other equipment for field research use (e.g., interviews, soundscapes) or the re-circulation of recordings. A high-end listening environment and editing station have also been set up on-site. The lab is complemented by specialized equipment such as tape machines and cassette players.
The ÆSR - DIGITIZATION/RESTORATION LABORATORY provides equipment and methodological expertise for conservation, restoration and digitization work (including an optical microscope, digital microscopes, a constant-climate chamber, a melting-point microscope, a heating spatula, restoration software, etc.) as part of the permanent infrastructure in the laboratory and studios. The supervisory expertise therefore encompasses research methodologies in the areas of field research, documentation, conservation, restoration, digitization, as well as ethical and legal issues and questions related to archival practice and the history of sound archiving. To date, these resources have been applied through collaborative exchange and outreach formats in teaching, in response to user inquiries, and as part of public outreach initiatives.
Angewandte - University of Applied Arts Vienna