Open Source Quality Checking Workshop in Luxembourg

Digital audiovisual files are large, complex, and difficult to manage. Performing quality control and validation tasks on these files, generally composed of multiple file types, is inherently more difficult than print- or image-based files. This workshop will cover resources and open source software for born-digital and digitized audiovisual, and provide an understanding of their role in processing workflows.

What

A FREE one-day workshop focused on open media, open standards, and digital audiovisual preservation organized by Centre national de l'audiovisuel Luxembourg and MediaArea.net, hosted by Technoport Luxembourg.
Provided (in English) by Ashley Blewer with support (in English, or French when needed) from Jérôme Martinez.

This course enables the attendee to gain skills in the digital audiovisual preservation problem domain, including:

  • Identifying file composition: how are video files made?
  • Identifying and manipulating file format and codec complexities: how are audiovisual files structured?
  • Distinguishing file validation nuances: how to tell what part of a file is the problem?
  • Solutions: What are some potential tools that help provide solutions? How can these tools be used for large-scale projects?

When

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Start: 09:00
End: 17:00

Where

Technoport, 9, avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, 4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg (Access map)

Accommodation

First two options are both close to the venue in Esch/Belval

If you want to stay in the city of Luxembourg, please get in touch with Alessandra Luciano directly either via e-mail or phone (provided in confirmation email).

Transportation

Google is not very reliable in Luxembourg, therefore we recommend you use the following app or go on the website
mobiliteit.lu
But again if you have any questions or problems just contact Alessandra directly

Intended audience

This course was initially designed for the Centre national de l'audiovisuel Luxembourg and now supports a wide range of professionals who work on or are planning to work with audiovisual materials in the context of large-scale digitization and preservation efforts. These include preservation professionals; digital specialists; database administrators; program managers and directors; archivists, curators, librarians, and researchers.

Technical requirements

This workshop requires each participant to bring their own laptop so everyone can get the most out of their time. Loaner laptops will not be available. This course will cover the following tools: MediaConch, QCTools, RAWcooked. Please do your best to install your laptop with the MediaConch and QCTools tools beforehand. We will do our best to help demonstrate tools for those who will not have configured laptops. We will also focus primarily on GUI (graphical user interface) versions of software, when possible. The CLI would require an intermediate level of understanding and experience with basic unix as a prerequisite. A CLI background is not a prerequisite to the workshop.

Program

Thursday, November 29, morning: Introduction to domain

  • Overview of open source software, benefits and disadvantages
  • Overview of unique characteristics and primary challenges in digital audiovisual preservation
  • Overview of file formats and types, standards, validation, and technical specifications
  • What is a file format, how are they similar/different?
  • How are file formats made?
  • What is a standards process and technical specification and why does it matter?
  • Identifying file composition: how are video files made?
  • Identifying and manipulating file format and codec complexities: how are audiovisual files structured? How can you discriminate among the many possible options? What are downstream workflow implications?
  • Distinguishing file validation nuances: how to tell what part of a file is the problem? What are some potential solutions?

Thursday, November 29, afternoon: Introduction to tools

Code of Conduct

This workshop is governed by the MediaArea Code of Conduct. All instructors and participants agree to abide by its terms. To report violations, send an email to conduct@mediaarea.net.

Thanks

Thanks to the Technoport Luxembourg for hosting and Alessandra Luciano for organization.

Registration

Please register as a participant: