"From Vinyl to CD" project seeks to conserve recordings (06/15/03)

"From Vinyl to CD" project seeks to conserve recordings

CLEVELAND - The Ukrainian Museum and Archives (UMA) has initiated a project to conserve its entire collection of 20th century Ukrainian recordings. Dubbed "From Vinyl to the CD," the project will transfer the entire UMA collection of vinyl records - which have been produced both in Ukraine and in the diaspora - to compact discs by using old analog technologies connected to new digital technologies.

The project is being overseen and funded by the Stecyk Family, with Dr. Orest Stecyk as the project recording manager; his wife, Nancy Stecyk, and daughter, Katrusia Stecyk, responsible for computerized database entry; and son, Michael Stecyk, in charge of digital camera recording of record labels.

With over 10,000 minutes of Ukrainian sound material digitized, and over 120 CDs generated so far, and with the digitized collection growing every day, the initiators believe that the UMA collection represents one of the largest and most comprehensive institutional collections of digitized 78-, 45- and 33-rpm Ukrainian recordings in existence.

Collectors contacted

The UMA is in contact with various collectors in hope of adding to the institution's collection of records and tapes. With this end in view, the next phase of the project will involve the transfer of records and tape recordings that have been pledged to the UMA by a collector from New Jersey. Assisting on a volunteer basis with this work will be George Polansky.

There are also plans to put the UMA collection of recordings on MP3 files and subsequently on the UMA website for listening purposes.

Eventually the UMA hopes to make the collection available to scholars and others interested in doing research on Ukrainian sound recordings worldwide. At this stage, UMA is affiliated with the Ohio State University in Columbus, and the Institute of Diaspora Studies at the National University of Ostroh Academy in Rivne, Ukraine. As the project grows, the UMA hopes to get progressively more involved with these as well as other institutions.

A chronology of Ukrainian recordings

A large number of recordings have been produced by Ukrainians both on their native soil and in the diaspora throughout the 20th century. They recorded their music and spoken word, their religious ceremonies, and civic events for themselves as well as for posterity. This large body of work also provides a history of the recording technology of the 20th century.

The vinyl phonograph record, recorded at 78 revolutions per minute dates back to the early part of the 20th century. The records contained one song per side, and were played on phonograph record players. Ukrainian recordings from this period incorporate songs about the Bolshevik Revolution, the immigration experience, as well as songs about everyday life.

The mid-century took vinyl technology a step further, making it possible to record five or six songs per side on the 33 rpm records. There were also 45s that were available, with one song per side. Phonograph record players now had three speed settings you could select, depending on whether you wanted to play a 78-, 33- or 45-rpm recording. Ukrainian recordings of this period feature classical and traditional music, as well as music reflecting the Ukrainian nation's political struggle with Fascism and Communism.

The latter part of the 20th century saw the advent of reel-to-reel, eight-track, and cassette tapes. The reel-to-reel tapes made it possible to listen to hours of music without interruption, and cassette and eight-track tapes now made it possible to listen to recordings away from home, on small portable players and also on units installed in cars.

New technology arrives

The end of the 20th century brought compact discs, computers and information technology.

New technology, however, can be a mixed blessing. Most new turntables do not play 78s. Many new receivers do not have input jacks for turntables. New reel-to-reel and eight-track players are no longer widely available. Cassette tape players are slowly being phased out. Existing tape recordings are deteriorating. Parts for old vintage equipment are expensive and hard to come by.

A real threat exists to the many wonderful and historic Ukrainian recordings of the 20th century. Even though these sounds still exist, the technology by which to listen to them is becoming obsolete.

The Ukrainian Museum and Archives in Cleveland (UMA) has come up with a partial solution to this problem: using old analog technologies connected to new digital technologies, it is in the process of transferring the entire UMA collection of vinyl records to CDs. This is a family project undertaken and funded by the Stecyk family. Dr. Stecyk is responsible for the transfer process.

The process, step by step

First the records are properly cleaned, then the music is transferred to CDs. Each individual record is documented on the museum's computerized database. The CDs are properly labeled, and stored in jewel cases. The record labels are then photographed with a digital camera and the images are stored on computer. The original records are subsequently stored in archival dust jackets and storage boxes identical to the ones used by libraries across the United States.

Individuals interested in donating records or tapes to the UMA should contact Dr. Stecyk via e-mail, [email protected]; by writing to Orest Stecyk, M.D., Vinyl to CD Project Manager, Ukrainian Museum-Archives, 1202 Kenilworth Ave., Cleveland, OH 44113; or by calling the UMA, (216) 781-4329.

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