Overview
IEC TS 62702-2:2016 - "Audio archive system - Part 2: Audio data preservation" specifies requirements for digitizing audio for long‑term preservation. It defines objective inspection criteria for source media, recommended digitization practices for analogue and digital carriers, file and package formats, and rules for inspection, reception, preservation, access and dissemination of preserved audio. The Technical Specification focuses on preserving original sound quality and reliable archival workflows for audio archives.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Objective media inspection
- Criteria to decide whether recorded media should be digitized, including long‑term availability of playback means, media degradation and institutional continuity.
- Archival media selection
- Criteria for choosing preservation and dissemination media: long‑term availability, durability, energy efficiency and format popularity; rights management considerations reference IEC 62227.
- Digitization methods
- For analogue sources: capture via A/D conversion with attention to condition, environment and player output; preserve S/N ratio, frequency response and timing stability (jitter/wow‑flutter).
- Recommended digital signal format (from the specification): Linear PCM, 24‑bit depth, 48 kHz or 96 kHz sampling (choose sampling based on content frequency characteristics).
- File formats and packaging
- Use broadcast wave file conventions: BWF (RIFF/WAVE) for digitized audio files.
- Define and deliver an Archival Information Package (AIP) containing content and metadata required for preservation and future access.
- Quality control and inspection
- Inspection of digitized files and recorded media, reception checks and disk media inspection (informative annexes provide capture and inspection guidance).
- Noise treatment and processing
- Guidance on whether and how to apply signal processing or noise treatment (see informative Annex C); preserving original signals vs. applying corrections is a policy decision.
Applications and who should use it
- Intended for audio archivists, cultural heritage institutions, libraries, museums, broadcasters, audio restoration engineers and digital preservation specialists.
- Practical uses:
- Defining institutional digitization policies and QA workflows.
- Selecting capture settings (PCM, 24‑bit, 48/96 kHz) and file formats (BWF) for archival masters.
- Creating AIPs and migration/dissemination strategies that balance preservation integrity and user access.
- Evaluating legacy collections for prioritization of digitization.
Related standards
- IEC 62227 - digital rights permission code (referenced for copyright/rights management)
- Other parts of IEC 62702 series - physical media requirements (Part 1 and subparts for optical discs)
Keywords: audio archive system, audio data preservation, digitization, BWF, PCM, 24‑bit, 48 kHz, 96 kHz, archival information package, media inspection, audio preservation.