Archive Migration

Archive migration is the transfer of stored audio from aging formats and systems to current ones, so that collections remain accessible as technology changes.^[1] Because both physical media and digital formats become obsolete over time, archives must periodically move their holdings to new carriers and standards to keep them readable.

Done properly, migration preserves not only the audio but also the information that describes it, maintaining a reliable record of what each item is. It is a continuing responsibility rather than a one time task, and it is central to the long term survival of recorded sound.^[2]