Project Management

Part of the problem these days is how diffuse the media for any given project have become. 2" multitrack tapes were clumsy, but at least they were fairly easy to keep track of. Nowadays, you are talking about an array of DATs, data DATs, floppy disks, Syquest disks, 8 mm cartridges, cassettes, written notes, etc., in a miniaturized jumble, not to mention 1/4" and 2" audio tape. And it's going to get worse: recordable CDs, MO removables, Cyberchips®, Virtual Post-Its®, and Neurodumps®. Why, we are gonna have such a grab bag of data trash by 2010 that you will need a catalog just for the types of media you're storing, not to mention the money you'll spend keeping one of each type of playback device working!

Three things are necessary to keep you out of serious trouble.

First, it is advisable to keep as many of the elements of a project together as you possibly can. Putting cassettes on the cassette shelf, floppies in the floppy drawer, etc., is begging for trouble. Keep everything connected to a project together, to the extent you can. Where you have to store something separately (a 2" tape, f'rinstance), keep a note in the file about where it is.

Second, you want an inventory log that shows everything you've created in regard to the project, including what it is, when you created it, and how it fits with the others. When you have multiple ADAT tapes, some of which are supposed to run in parallel and others in sequence, you need to be very careful with your logging. This inventory is a Macro Take Sheet with a vengeance. Be extremely careful with it!

The third item you need is a place to keep all this stuff together. The best thing I've found to date is something called a "File-N-Tote Travel Folio," by Lion Office Products (no, this is not a commercial). This is a filing envelope with a Velcro-sealed flap that is just about an inch wide, and quite rigid and rugged. You can fill it with floppies, DATs, and everything up to 7" reels of audio tape. It will fit (barely) in a normal file drawer, and none of the stuff will come spilling out in the file drawer or in your attaché case if you have to carry it around.

Drawbacks? They are pretty expensive (ca. $5), and a little clumsy in use (the damn flap won't stay open and it can be hard to dig through the contents without taking everything out). I currently own ten of 'em and recycle them, putting old projects into manila envelopes for archiving. You might consider some of the closed legal file folders, with elastic bands and accordion pleats. They might do as well for a bit less money.