Preparation of the Interviews
After the conversations with the contemporary witnesses are recorded, the second step follows: The videos are prepared. They are divided into individual sections, given subtitles, tagged with keywords, and supplemented with background materials. This makes them useful for researchers, for educational purposes, and for interested members of the public. Those who are interested can get access to the videos after registering for the portal. This restricted access is important for guarding the personal privacy of the contemporary witnesse.
Editing and Transcoding
In order to prepare the material with precision, those responsible for editing receive detailed instruction on how they should proceed. First, the recorded video is converted into a high-quality format, technically optimized, and archived. A copy of the film is optimized for use on the internet and made available on a streaming server. Since video formats are constantly being developed and optimized, the films are later regularly updated to the latest technical standards.
Creation of Transcripts and Translations
A transcription is always an interpretation of what is heard. To ensure that the interpretations are as uniform as possible, transcription guidelines are given. Adherence to these guidelines is tested for quality assurance. During the transcription process, the interviews are divided into sections so that the films can be synchronized, subtitled, and searched for content later on.
Academic Indexing of the Interviews
In order for the interviews to be understood by users later on, they are supplemented with bibliographical and biographical information. This content is put into writing and edited with academic notes and references.
Online Accessibility for Research and Teaching
Finally, the edited interviews are published on an online portal. In addition to comprehensive research possibilities, users have the opportunity to create their own notes on individual interviews.
Preservation of Cultural Heritage
In order to ensure the interviews as part of the European cultural heritage, they are included in the Europeana and/or the German Digital Library.