Search

The Digitized Tape Recordings subseries consists of digital reproductions of 360 tapes represented by 2,170 digital audio files and 4,890 images of the tape boxes. Tapes were selected by Leo Sarkisian for digitization based upon the value or uniqueness of the recorded content. The University of Michigan created the digital surrogates between 2008 and 2012 utilizing international standards and best practices for audio reproduction. Substantial technical and descriptive metadata accompanies each digital reproduction. The content of the vast majority of the digitized tape recordings is Leo Sarkisian's original field recordings made in sub-Saharan African countries, original live recordings made by radio engineers trained by Leo Sarkisian, and original recordings sent to Sarkisian by musicians and scholars. Inventory lists provide detailed descriptions of items in this subseries.