--- Forwarded Message from "Ross, Andrew" <[log in to unmask]> ---
>From: "Ross, Andrew" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: "'Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum'" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: RE: #5457 Why Convert to Digital?
>Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000 11:18:45 -0500
------------------
I suspect that there are many facilities across the country that are/will be
finding themselves in this position - saddled with analog language lab
technology amidst creeping demand for increased access and distribution
capabilities. We are also in the midst of going over to a digital
distribution system for many of our audio holdings.
Here are some responses to specific issues:
"What compelling arguments are there for switching to a digital platform?"
The term "digital platform" is somewhat troubling here - if you're talking
about something proprietary, like Tandberg's Divace or a Sony digital
language lab system, I'd say that the compelling arguments are somewhat
fewer than they otherwise might be. The compelling arguments for us to go
digital were the following:
* We are a small (20-station) facility faced with growing demands for
very specific services (principally, multilingual word-processing and audio
playback - no recording or evaluated drill exercises), and frankly, not much
else. Yet.
* We have a relatively transient population of lab assistants, and
troubleshooting/rerecording audio cassettes isn't always guaranteed
foolproof.
* The tapes, per publisher policy, were available only in the lab, and
the masters generally of poor quality.
We have moved, not to a "digital platform" of the proprietary hardware type,
but to the Web as a means of distributing audio to our students.
* We purchased an inexpensive dual cassette deck, plugged it into the
RCA ins on one of our Macintosh 8600/200s, and captured and clipped the
audio using Adobe Premiere. Audio quality, although not brilliant, is
acceptable.
* We output AIFF files to a FireWire drive (easier than pushing large
files through the network), walk to our CD-burner, and create archive CDs,
then convert the files on them into MP3s, and upload them to our server.
* Total initial cost: +/- $1200.00. That's not a bad return on
investment.
* Capturing and clipping is done by student technology fellows @
$6.30/hr.
* Files are available only from on campus, and in the case of some
collections, through a password-protected directory.
* Students can access them 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.
* No more tape issues - overdubbing, eaten tapes, tape deck problems.
The notion of a turnkey digital language lab system makes me nervous - it
means that I commit to relying on a single source for hardware support -
plus the resultant headaches of file compatibility, remote access, etc. I
don't know about other folks, but the IS professionals I've talked to don't
seem to see a great deal of difference between the "digital media servers"
out there and something that you can purchase and run for a lot less money.
Other folks may have different opinions.
I hope this is helpful.
a.
Andrew F. Ross, Ph.D
Director, Multimedia Language Lab
G15 Puryear Hall
University of Richmond, VA 23173
Tel: (804) 287-6838
[log in to unmask]
"Worrying about a large institution, especially when it has computers, is
like worrying about a large gorilla, especially when it's on fire." --
Bruce Sterling
-----Original Message-----
From: LLTI-Editor [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2000 5:30 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: #5457 Why Convert to Digital?
--- Forwarded Message from [log in to unmask]
(Gordon Hartig) ---
>Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2000 09:41:51 -0500
>Subject: Why Convert to Digital?
>To: [log in to unmask]
>From: [log in to unmask] (Gordon Hartig)
A request to subscribers: Please send comments
about John Fick's posting
about converting from a traditional analog language lab to
the list.
At MCC we also are beginning to look at how to
upgrade our lab. The
centerpiece of our present 30-station lab is an 8-year-old
Tandberg IS10
(directing both audio and video). We also have 25
IBM-compatible PC's,
part of the college network, hooked up to a printer.
A basic question: What compelling arguments are
there for switching to a
digital platform? What I would like to see is a system that
would allow
students to work either in the lab or to download the
materials to
computers at home so they could use the materials at home
whenever their
schedules would permit it. This could not happen with
analog.
Yet I expect arguments to the effect that this is
not necessary and that
it is too costly. I cannot argue with people who point out
that audio and
video cassettes are inexpensive, easy to use, and easy to
maintain. And
the availability of these technologies is unlikely to
disappear anytime
soon. Our analog library is small, but concern also has
been expressed
about the cost of converting current materials and the fact
that digital
materials are more costly than analog when purchased new.
Thank you for any thoughts you might have on these
matters.
Gordon Hartig
[log in to unmask]
Language Lab Coordinator
Middlesex Community College
33 Kearney Square
Lowell MA 01852
(978) 656-3358
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