Short Description
The media lab provides specialized technical infrastructure for the migration and sustainable archiving of obsolete analog and digital data and storage media.
Its aim is the preservation and documentation of information stored on outdated media such as magnetic tapes (e.g. VHS, U-Matic, Betacam), optical discs (CD, DVD), floppy disks, Zip drives, and in obsolete digital file formats or requiring outdated software environments for execution. This also includes specific requirements in the field of light art, such as the conversion of incandescent lamps to LED technology.
The infrastructure includes professional digital and analog playback devices, A/D converters, editing computers, as well as equipment for measurement, calibration, and inspection.
For software preservation, professional open-source computers are available that can virtualize and emulate obsolete software environments.
The lab supports scientific, museal, and curatorial projects in the preservation of digital cultural assets and time-based electronic artworks.
Student training is a central focus. The lab enables research in media archaeology, digital preservation, and the development of sustainable archiving strategies.
Use of the infrastructure is project-based and requires prior coordination regarding formats, technical requirements, and objectives.
Contact Person
Mag. Almut Schilling
Research Services
The media lab currently being established for the Academy will play a central role in the academic training related to the preservation of time-based electronic art.
The goal is to further develop innovative strategies in the field of contemporary art conservation, evaluate best practices, and establish long-term preservation methods.
To achieve this, the media lab will collaborate with other clusters within the Academy to promote sustainability, digital innovation, international exchange, and the pooling of resources.
Through research-based teaching and inter-institutional networks and projects, the discourse aims to establish a sustainable research infrastructure at a new location.
The basic technical setup for the media lab already available at the institute has been significantly expanded for this purpose.
Migration and Digitization
– Analog and digital video formats (VHS, U-Matic, Betacam, Video8, Hi8, DV, etc.)
– Digital formats (DVD, CD, Zip, Floppy)
– Signal transfer, A/D conversion, monitoring, and documentation using professional equipment
Software Preservation
– Virtualization and emulation of obsolete operating systems and software (e.g. Windows 95/XP, QuarkXpress)
– Use of open-source tools (QEMU, Wine, VirtualBox, Ubuntu)
Documentation and Metadata Management
– Structured recording of technical parameters, system environments, and processing steps
– Support in developing project-specific documentation standards
Reconstruction of Electronic and Software-Based Artworks
– Technical support for the reactivation and documentation of time-based electronic art (including light art)
– Replacement or adaptation of outdated components (e.g. incandescent lamps to LED, digital control modules, proprietary software)
Consulting & Cooperation
– Consulting on archiving strategies and sustainable data preservation
– Collaborations with museums, universities, private collections and archives
– Participation in ongoing research projects and networks
Cross-Institutional Trainings & Workshops
– Introduction to emulation strategies, format migration, and open-source tools
– Project-accompanying qualification of internal and external students
Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure
The research infrastructure of the media lab combines professional technical equipment with conservation expertise to enable the sustainable migration and archiving of obsolete media formats.
The applied methods include migration (signal transfer, analog-to-digital conversion, copying), emulation, virtualization, reconstruction, and documentation.
Particular emphasis is placed on the use of open-source tools, for example in the areas of emulation (QEMU, Wine, Ubuntu operating system, IntelGPU), format conversion (Axiom camera, FFMPEG), and metadata processing. This approach ensures transparency, traceability, and future reproducibility of all processes. The consistent documentation of technical parameters, file formats, system environments, and processing steps enables both efficient internal quality control and professional exchange with other institutions, archives, and research facilities.
The lab staff have many years of experience in the conservation of contemporary art, digital long-term preservation, and the supervision of complex restoration projects in the field of time-based electronic art. This expertise has developed through numerous cooperative research projects with museums, universities, and archives. The methods are designed for sustainability, modularity, and openness to foster and support synergies with partner institutions.
Allocation to research infrastructure
Interested individuals, institutions, or project partners may use the infrastructure after prior consultation and assessment of relevant expertise. This allows for the coordination of timeframes, supervision requirements, and technical needs.
In the new building, access to the media lab will be designed to be separate from the studio space, allowing for greater flexibility in how the facilities are used.