DIGITIZATION OF ANALOG AUDIO RECORDINGS AND DIGITALIZATION OF ETHNOMUSIC COLLECTIONS: A BASIC TRAINING COURSE

The article addresses current issues regarding the digitization of field recordings and the digitalization of folklore archives. The basic training course «Digitization of Analog Audio Recordings of Ethnomusicological Collections» was developed based on the knowledge and practices accumulated at the Problem Research Scientific Laboratory of Music Ethnology of the Ukrainian National Academy of Music, recommendations of international organizations (The International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives) regarding the preservation of audio heritage, and draws upon the experience of Ukrainian and European institutions (Poland, Lithuania, Slovenia). Hosting the course on a Google Site, with appendices stored on a cloud resource with controlled user access, allows for the constant updating of information and expertise on the subject. The course was created for the first time to fill gaps in the knowledge of technicians, managers, and auditors involved in projects for the digitization and digitalization of folklore archives; it serves as a practical tool for personnel training in the fields of digital humanities and cultural heritage preservation. The article serves as an introduction to the author’s course, «Digitization of Analog Audio Recordings of Ethnomusicological Collections». The article examines the current state of knowledge and achievements (as of late 2025), as well as problems and proposed solutions regarding the digitization of field recordings on magnetic tapes. This material serves as a foundation for further practical work with the course and familiarization with its appendices. The course is a resource that is constantly updated and supplemented with current knowledge. Creating open access for the course via a Google Site https://sites.google.com/view/digitizationrecords (with additional practical materials located in the Ethnomusicology Laboratory’s cloud storage) facilitates its implementation in educational practice. The course topics are accompanied by thematic appendices: articles, software manuals, videos demonstrating digitization processes, examples of operational workflows and equipment setup, and thematic videos on organizing laboratory spaces, archives for magnetic tape media, and digital data storage archives. Thus, the material will remain relevant throughout the digitization era for participants in projects dedicated to preserving folklore recordings on magnetic tapes through digitization. The course was compiled with grant support from the EU program in Ukraine «House of Europe» and with the assistance of the Problem Research Scientific Laboratory of Music Ethnology of the Ukrainian National Academy and the NGO Lullaby Museum.