Audio File Labels

In the field, each audio recording should begin with the date, site, Tribe, and ethnographer, but often this step is missed and requires a triangulation of the schedule, photos, and audio file to determine this information.

Files are labeled as [date:year-date-month][tribe][site#][recording#][ethnographers’ initials]. Some may be labeled slightly differently. Please follow the example below for naming files.

Example: 2401812zuni0103jgw

1.     The original file name is from the recorder. When files are downloaded, the date of the recording is displayed as the first number. The second number is the file number on the recorder. These recordings download in order of the date and file number (2401812_0043, 240812_0044, 240812_45). The lapel mic automatically downloads files with a DJI label.

2.     For each recording, cross-check the date from the audio recorder with the schedule and photos. Some recorders display the date one day off.

3.     The tribe is easily identified by the parent folder for the audio recording. The schedule also identifies the days each Tribe was in the field.

4.     Use the schedule and photos to determine sites visited and sequence of site visitation.

 The photos are displayed in sequential order of fieldwork. These are organized as a visual guide for each place visited on each day in sequential order. Use the audio files, photos, and schedule to create a general sequence of site numbers. If there are multiple sites visited in the same audio file, label the file with the number of the first site visited.

 For example, if Person A recorded an audio file that is two hours long and contains the first four sites visited, label the site number as 01. If Person B started a new audio file for each site visited, label each site with the corresponding site number, (01, 02, 03, 04).

If the sites do not align with the schedule, a change in the field occurred. Use the audio files and photos to update the schedule of when each site was visited (morning/afternoon). If multiple audio files contain multiple sites, (for example if all recordings contain a two-hour recording for the afternoon and three sites were visited, lump the sites as a single site and update the schedule (Example 03 – Riparian area, Rock Art, and Trade-Fair Area).

5.     The recording number refers to the number of recordings from each site. If three people recorded a site, there will be three recordings.

6.     Include ethnographer’s initials if the information is given at the beginning of the recording. All DJI labels are from the lapel mic. Use the initials for whom attached the lapel if known.