One interesting area that Revolve has moved into is the business of digital archiving. That's the term that I think best describes it. So what do I mean when I say digital archiving? I'd say it could best be defined as the transfer and organization of a large number of audio and video tapes, photos and documents to digital file formats or DVD.
For us, it started as a large VHS to DVD project for a customer in Northern, VA. Basically, they had about 35 years of television interviews and segments of interest that needed to be transferred and preserved from the rapidly decaying tape format. They had hundreds of tapes in different formats including Beta, VHS and 3/4 inch Umatic. We transferred the tapes to DVD and editable MPG files, edited the segments and delivered them on printed DVDs organized by year.
That evolved into a photo project where we digitized, enhanced and organized over 1,000 photos. Now we are currently working on an indexing project of 35 years of newspaper and magazine articles. These are digitized into high resolution PDF files, placed into folders by publication, and indexed in an Excel spreadsheet. This process is as much about the indexing of the articles as it is the transfer from paper to digital.
We have a similar project working for audio tapes. A church here in town had 30 plus years of services and sermons that were on audio cassette. We sat down and met with them to discuss the best way to transfer their cassettes. It was determined that audio MP3 files would be the ideal solution for them. That way they could use them for various things as well as edit portions and compile certain services and sermons.
This is a service that could be beneficial to a wide array of churches, schools, political organizations, law firms and more. Basically, any organization that has a load of film, video tape, paper and photos that are taking up valuable space.
As a business owner, its very interesting to see your product offerings and services follow a natural evolution into new and interesting things.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
What's going to happen to album art?
With music straying away from the disc format, it makes me wonder what's going to happen to all the great artwork of records and CDs (to a lesser extent). When I was a kid, my dad must have had hundreds of records. I used to spend hours just looking at the art and letting my imagination run free. Like his copy of "Tommy" which had a book that was filled with pictures of pinball machines in all these crazy places. Or the cover of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here," where two dudes are shaking hands in what looks like a movie studio and one of them is on fire. When I finally heard those albums years later, it made them that much more interesting.
I deal with CD art everyday at Revolve. I had to teach myself graphic design and learn the specifications of print and what needs to happen. I gladly do that to help people get it right. Things like low resolution art, wrong specifications, no bleed and bad formats are commonplace. Templates help but do not solve the problem. So I'm glad that I can help.
It seems like downloading music takes two things away. The first is the album concept. I can't name how many albums are best experienced as whole works. How can you get the message of albums like Frank Zappa's "We're Only in it For the Money," or Radiohead's "OK Computer" when you download pieces of it or listen to it as an incomplete piece or not in its intended running order. The second is the whole aesthetic piece of the album art. How many times have you rummaged through discs at the record store taking in the album art and wondering whats inside?
On the other hand, the digital age enables album art to no longer be limited to the constraints of paper. It can be anything. Putting it together with the music will be a task, but I can see that being a cool thing. I tell the artists that work with me that a way to save money is to minimize their printed art and have the full art in digital format on their web site or MySpace. Also, we can make them a CD-Extra master with the art as a file on the disc that they can download.
Its tough to replace the touch and feel of the album. You can't have EVERYTHING behind a screen. I hope my one month old will go through my albums and CDs one day with that same sense of wonder. It might be like going through antiques at a thrift store, but the joy should still be there.
Until next time.
-Zack
I deal with CD art everyday at Revolve. I had to teach myself graphic design and learn the specifications of print and what needs to happen. I gladly do that to help people get it right. Things like low resolution art, wrong specifications, no bleed and bad formats are commonplace. Templates help but do not solve the problem. So I'm glad that I can help.
It seems like downloading music takes two things away. The first is the album concept. I can't name how many albums are best experienced as whole works. How can you get the message of albums like Frank Zappa's "We're Only in it For the Money," or Radiohead's "OK Computer" when you download pieces of it or listen to it as an incomplete piece or not in its intended running order. The second is the whole aesthetic piece of the album art. How many times have you rummaged through discs at the record store taking in the album art and wondering whats inside?
On the other hand, the digital age enables album art to no longer be limited to the constraints of paper. It can be anything. Putting it together with the music will be a task, but I can see that being a cool thing. I tell the artists that work with me that a way to save money is to minimize their printed art and have the full art in digital format on their web site or MySpace. Also, we can make them a CD-Extra master with the art as a file on the disc that they can download.
Its tough to replace the touch and feel of the album. You can't have EVERYTHING behind a screen. I hope my one month old will go through my albums and CDs one day with that same sense of wonder. It might be like going through antiques at a thrift store, but the joy should still be there.
Until next time.
-Zack
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The state of the audio CD
I have often wondered about the "ghost towns" of the web. Abandoned web sites and blogs that were written and then deserted. This one almost became one of those. Back in November, I wrote a true story about Comcast and their cancellation fees. They were sending me to collections because I moved a total of 2 miles away and they could not provide service in that one small stretch of road. Anyway, they called a few days after I wrote that blog and said they were waiving the fee. I was supposed to get a letter confirming that. I still have not. As far as I know, they let me out of it.
If I had to give advice to fellow bootstrappers and those running startups, I'd say avoid contracts where you can. Especially in this economy.
So anyway, did I ever talk about what Revolve does? We duplicate and print CDs and DVDs and transfer video. revolve-cd.com We've done OK so far but the economy has not helped as of late.
As a business owner, I obviously need to be on top of changing technology. So, for the last year or so, I've been preparing for the fall of the audio CD. You keep hearing reports about CD sales going in the tank. I thought that it would be inevitable that I would have to change focus which is sort of a drag considering the whole reason I started doing this was to get to work with musicians and hear great music. So you can imagine my surprise as we recorded steady audio CD sales for Jan. and Feb. Then I saw this: Online Retailer Sees Growth in CD Sales.
Once I read this, it seemed to make sense. Of course CD sales are falling for the major labels who have all that overhead and charge $15-20 a CD. But its a winner for the independent artist who depends upon gigs to get heard. Having a CD to sell at shows or handout as a promo helps the independent artist get the music out there.
I think artists can keep their CD duplication costs down by keeping the runs at less than 500, printing minimal art and having their songs available also for download. They can still sell the CDs for as much as $10 with duplication costs often no more than $2-3 per disc with full color art. They can also have more extensive art in digital format that can be printed if the recipient desires. The artist does not have to assume this cost. Basically, use the old medium of the CD tied in with digital downloads to maximize old and new to be on the cutting edge.
My line of work is bridging old and new technology. The CD is getting old fast, but I don't think its dead yet. In 2012, we'll talk about this again. But with the CD still accounting for 80% of music sales, I think its safe to start thinking about funeral plans, but not necessarily filling the grave and leaving flowers.
Thanks for reading. Until next time (which I certainly hope is sooner)...
Zack
If I had to give advice to fellow bootstrappers and those running startups, I'd say avoid contracts where you can. Especially in this economy.
So anyway, did I ever talk about what Revolve does? We duplicate and print CDs and DVDs and transfer video. revolve-cd.com We've done OK so far but the economy has not helped as of late.
As a business owner, I obviously need to be on top of changing technology. So, for the last year or so, I've been preparing for the fall of the audio CD. You keep hearing reports about CD sales going in the tank. I thought that it would be inevitable that I would have to change focus which is sort of a drag considering the whole reason I started doing this was to get to work with musicians and hear great music. So you can imagine my surprise as we recorded steady audio CD sales for Jan. and Feb. Then I saw this: Online Retailer Sees Growth in CD Sales.
Once I read this, it seemed to make sense. Of course CD sales are falling for the major labels who have all that overhead and charge $15-20 a CD. But its a winner for the independent artist who depends upon gigs to get heard. Having a CD to sell at shows or handout as a promo helps the independent artist get the music out there.
I think artists can keep their CD duplication costs down by keeping the runs at less than 500, printing minimal art and having their songs available also for download. They can still sell the CDs for as much as $10 with duplication costs often no more than $2-3 per disc with full color art. They can also have more extensive art in digital format that can be printed if the recipient desires. The artist does not have to assume this cost. Basically, use the old medium of the CD tied in with digital downloads to maximize old and new to be on the cutting edge.
My line of work is bridging old and new technology. The CD is getting old fast, but I don't think its dead yet. In 2012, we'll talk about this again. But with the CD still accounting for 80% of music sales, I think its safe to start thinking about funeral plans, but not necessarily filling the grave and leaving flowers.
Thanks for reading. Until next time (which I certainly hope is sooner)...
Zack
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Comcast is hurting small businesses
My name is Zack Lowe. I am classic bootstrapper in the sense that I funded, started and organized my company with no outside help or investors.I own a small business here in Richmond. I started it in my home with the dream of working for myself someday. In February 2007, I was able to do that and got some small office space. I needed Internet and Comcast seemed to be the best option for that area, but they insisted that I pay $99 for installation on a three year contract or $250 for one year. Month to month was out of the question. Reluctant, but strapped for start up cash, I agreed to the three year deal.
Fast forward to June 2008. I was able to stay in business, take on a full time employee and move to a better location on which WAS ONLY TWO MILES AWAY off a major roadway in Richmond. This was a win-win for me and my customers. I was happy with my Comcast Internet and tried to take it with me. As it turned out, Comcast was not in that one small stretch of road in the area where my new location is. This is regardless of the fact that when you type in my zip code on the Comcast Business site to seach for service it comes right up as available. As a result, I had to break a three year agreement and was charged $1500 for it.
After repeated calls to their "Customer Service", I finally got someone on the phone and they reduced it by a small amount. I tried to escalate further to no avail and have filed a complaint with the FCC. Its very ironic when I see billboards and commercials about Comcast helping small business when I am being penalized financially and stuck with lesser service just because they are not in one small stretch of road. They are everywhere else in Richmond and beyond and they ADVERTISE IT.
I faxed over my new address which disappeared in their records. Whenever I called to discuss, it was a major ordeal just for them to even locate my information. It seems that when you disconnect, they erase your info. Except when they think you owe them money. So yesterday, after seeing no bills, a collection agency gets me on my cell phone. He was very polite and even seemed a little outraged after hearing my story.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
