8.5 SOUND RECORDINGS, PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AREA

8.5A. Preliminary rule

8.5A1. Scope

See 1.5A1

8.5A2. Punctuation

For instructions on the use of spaces before and after prescribed punctuation, see 1.0C.
Precede each occurrence of this area by a full stop, space, dash, space or start a new paragraph. [5]
Precede other physical details by a colon.
Separate each part of the description of other physical details by a comma, conjunction, or preposition.
Precede dimensions by a semicolon.
Precede each statement of accompanying material by a plus sign.
Enclose physical details of accompanying material in parentheses.

8.5A3.

In presenting information in the physical description area, follow the instructions set out in 1.5A3-1.5A5.

8.5B. Extent of descriptive unit (including specific material designation)

8.5B1

At all levels of description, record the extent of the unit being described by giving the number of physical units in arabic numerals followed by one of the specific material designations given below.[6]

Optionally, if the general material designation is used, omit audio from the specific material designation unless it is needed to make the designation understandable (as with audio videocassette)

• audio cartridge
• audio cassette
• audio compact disc
• audio disc
• audio reel
• audio videocassette
• cylinder recording
• [instrument] roll
• wire recording

12 audio cassettes

2 audio discs

4 cylinder recordings

Use [instrument] roll, as appropriate, for rolls.

2 piano rolls

Optionally, if the parts of the unit being described are numerous and the exact number cannot be readily ascertained, give an approximate number.

ca. 200 audio cassettes

Optionally, record the number of containers or the linear extent or cubic measurement followed by the phrase of sound recordings. If the general material designation is used, omit the phrase of sound recordings.

10 boxes of sound recordings

6 m of sound recordings

8.5B2.

When the unit being described contains parts that fall into three or fewer special classes of material, give the physical extent, including the specific material designation for each special class of material.

8.5B3.

When the unit being described contains parts that fall into more than three special classes of material, give the physical extent plus the specific material designation of the most predominant special class of material followed by the phrase and other sound recordings and describe the remaining material in a note (see 8.8B9). Omit other physical details and dimensions.

103 audio cassettes (ca. 120 hrs.) and other sound recordings
Note: Series also contains: 12 audio reels, 7 audio discs, 4 wire recordings

Optionally, give the physical extent, including the specific material designation and duration for each special class of material.

8.5B4. Accruals.

When accruals are expected, give the physical extent as instructed in 1.5B4.

225 audio reels (ca. 30 min. each)
Note: Accruals are expected

8.5B5. Duration.

Always give the playing time of the unit being described. If the precise duration is not known, estimate it.

2 audio discs (1 hr., 20 min.)

1 audio cassette (ca. 40 min.)

8.5C. Other physical details

8.5C1.

At all levels of description, identify any physical details[7] other than extent or dimensions, if known and considered important. Give other physical details in the order set out here:

8.5C3. Playing speed.

Give the playing speed of the physical unit as follows:

i) Audio (cassettes and reels). Give the playing speed of an analog tape in centimetres per second (cm/sec).[8]

1 audio reel (30 min.) : 19 cm/sec.

ii) Audio discs. Give the playing speed of an analog disc in revolutions per minute (rpm).

1 audio disc (30 min.) : analog, 33 1/3 rpm

iii) Cylinder recordings. Give the playing speed of a cylinder recording in revolutions per minute (rpm).

1 cylinder recording (2 min.) : 160 rpm

iv) Wire recordings. Give the playing speed of wire recordings in centimetres per second.

3 wire recordings (ca. 6 min.) : 19 cm/sec.

8.5C4. Recording method.

Give information about the way in which the sound is recorded. If the sound recording was made “instantaneously” (i.e., on the spot) give the term instantaneous. If the recording method was acoustic rather than electric, give the term acoustic. Give the recording system used for audio videocassettes. If the sound is recorded digitally (rather than as an analog recording) give the term digital. Information about more than one recording method may be given.

1 audio disc (30 min.) : electrical

2 audio discs (1 hr.) : instantaneous, acoustic

10 audio cassettes (ca. 10 hrs.) : digital

2 cylinder recordings (4 min.) : electrical

8.5C5. Groove characteristic.

Give information about the direction of the groove cut and its size. If the groove cut is vertical rather than lateral give the term vertical cut. If the groove size characteristic of an audio disc is not standard give it as coarse groove or microgroove.[9] For cylinder recordings, specify one of the following groove characteristics: coarse groove (100 grooves per inch[10]), microgroove (200 grooves per inch[11]), and other.

1 audio disc (12 min.) : 33 1/3 rpm, coarse groove

1 audio disc (7 min.) : analog, 78 rpm, microgroove

1 cylinder recording (2 min.) : 160 rpm, microgroove

8.5C6. Number and configuration of tracks.

For audio tapes, give the number of tracks, unless the number of tracks is standard for the unit being described. If necessary, give the track configuration.

1 audio tape reel (60 min.) : 2 track

2 audio tape reels (30 min.) : 4 track, adjacent

8.5C7. Number of sound channels.

Give information about the number of sound channels using one or more of the following terms as appropriate: mono, stereo, quad.[12]

1 audio disc (56 min.) : 33 1/3 rpm, mono., stereo

1 audio reel (ca. 60 min.) : 19 cm/sec., 2 track, mono

8.5C8. Equalization and/or noise reduction system(s).

Give information about equalization and/or noise reduction systems.

1 audio cassette (30 min.) : Dolby

8.5D. Dimensions

8.5D1.

If appropriate, at all levels of description, give the dimensions for each unit being described as set out in the following rules. If the sound recordings differ in size, either give the dimension of the smallest or smaller and the largest or larger, separated by a hyphen or give the dimension of the largest followed by the words or smaller.

i) Audio cartridge. Give the width of the tape, if other than the standard width (0.7 cm), to the next highest 0.1 centimetre, and the dimensions of the cartridge, if they are other than the standard dimensions (13.5 x 20 x 2 cm), to the next highest 0.5 centimetre.

1 audio cartridge (20 min.) : 9.5 cm/sec., mono. ; 1.3 cm

ii) Audio cassettes. Give the width of the tape, if other than the standard width (0.4 cm), to the next highest 0.1 centimetre, and the dimensions of the cassette, if they are other than the standard dimensions (10 x 6.5 x 1.2 cm), to the next highest 0.5 centimetre.

1 audio cassette (30 min.) : 4.75 cm/sec., 2 tracks, stereo ; 0.7 cm

iii) Audio discs. Give the diameter of a disc in centimetres to the next highest 0.5 centimetre. If there are several discs with varying diameters, give the range of diameters.

3 audio discs (1 hr.) : 78 rpm ; 28-32 cm

1 audio disc (18 min.) : 33 1/3 rpm, stereo. ; 30 cm

7 audio discs (56 min.) : 78 rpm ; 41 cm or smaller

iv) Cylinder recordings. Give the dimensions in 0.1 centimetres which differ from the standard sizes.[13] Give the dimensions in the order: outside diameter, inside diameters at edge[14] and run-off[15], and length.

1 cylinder recording (2 min.) : 160 rpm, microgroove ; 5.5 cm x (4.7-4.4 cm) x 10.6 cm

1 cylinder recording (2 min.) : 160 rpm, coarse groove ; 12.5 cm

v) Audio reels. Give the width of the tape, if other than the standard width (0.7 cm), to the next highest 0.1 centimetre, and the diameter of the reel to the next highest 0.5 centimetre.

vi) [Instrument] rolls. Give the width of the roll to the next highest 0.5 centimetre.

vii) Wire recordings. Give the diameter and width of the spool to the next highest 0.5 centimetre.

1 wire reel (8 min.) : 19 cm/sec. ; on spool 13 x 2 cm ; 4 mils

8.5E. Accompanying material

8.5E1.

Give the type of accompanying material as instructed in 1.5E. See also 8.8B9c.

1 audio disc (7 min.) : 78 rpm ; 30 cm + 1 pamphlet

END NOTES

[5] This punctuation is repeated for each physical description.

[6] This list of specific material designations is based on the physical carrier of the unit being described, i.e., the material or object which contains, supports or presents the sound recording. Institutions are encouraged to use the recommended list. However, if an institution chooses not to use this list it should, nevertheless, establish a policy regarding specific material designations.
The following source may be useful in defining additional specific material designations: “Audio Preservation: a Planning Study” (Association for Recorded Sound Collections, Associated Audio Archives Committee, 1988).

[7] Table of Technical Specifications and Industry Norms for Sound Recordings*
This table indicates which specifications apply to each type of sound recordings. Specifications which are applicable are marked A, those which are not applicable are marked N/A. If there is a norm for a specification and type of recording it follows letter A.

Source: *International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, ISBD (NBM) : International Standard Bibliographic Description for Non-Book Materials, revised ed., 1987.

[8] Note: 19 cm/sec. = 7 ½ ips; 9.5 cm/sec. = 3 3/4 ips; 4.75 cm/sec. = 1 7/8 ips.

[9] Standard and non-standard groove characteristics are as follows:

[10] For example, Edison 2-minute cylinders.

[11] For example, Edison 4-minute cylinders.

[12] Use mono. for 1 channel; stereo. for 2 channels; quad. for 4 channels. If the unit being described indicates “hi-fi”, use stereo.

[13] The standard sizes for cylinder recordings are as follows:

[14] Edge is the end of the larger inside diameter.

[15] Run-off is the end of the smaller inside diameter.