Physical description codes for musical sound recordings Voyager (007)

Music Cataloging at Yale

Sound recording cataloging

Physical description codes for musical sound recordings

Voyager (007)

Multiple 007 fields are appropriate whenever more than one code would apply to the recording in any of the various subfields. Stereo/mono (SND) and capture/storage (C/ST) would be the most frequent candidates.

Voyager	Definition	Codes for 78s	Codes for LPs	Codes for CDs	Codes for Cassettes
Specific material designation	type of disc	d = sound disc	d = sound disc	d = sound disc	s = sound cassette
Speed	speed	d = 78 rpm	b = 33 1/3 rpm	f = 1.4 m. per sec	l = 1 15/16 ips
Playback channel	kind of sound	m = mono	m = mono q = quad s = stereo u = unknown	m = mono q = quad s = stereo ^{note 1} u = unknown	m = mono q = quad s = stereo u = unknown
Groove width ^{note 2}	groove width	s = coarse/standard	m = microgroove	n = not applicable	n = not applicable
Dimensions	dimensions	d = 10 in. e = 12 in.	e = 12 in.	g = 4 3/4 in.	i = 3 5/8 x 2 1/2 in.
Tape width	tape width	n = not applicable	n = not applicable	n = not applicable	l = 1/8 in.
Tape configuration	tape configuration	n = not applicable	n = not applicable	n = not applicable	c = quarter track
Kind of disc	kind of disc	m = mass produced	m = mass produced	m = mass produced	m = mass produced
Kind of material	kind of material	a = lacquered s = shellac	p = plastic	m = metal and plastic	n = not applicable
Kind of cutting	kind of cutting	l = lateral	l = lateral	n = not applicable	n = not applicable
Playback characteristics	playback ^{note 3}	u = unknown	u = unknown	e = digital	c = Dolby encoded
Capture & storage techinques	capture	a = acoustical capture, direct storage b = direct storage, not acoustical e = electric storage u = unknown	e = electric storage	e = electric storage d = digital	e = electric

Note 1: LC practice is to "assume a CD is stereo unless there is a clear indication (wording on container, printed insert, or the disc itself) that the recording in hand intended to be mono." (MLA-L correspondence on 3/11/2005 from Joe Bartl, Music & Sound Recording Team 1, Special Materials Cataloging Division, Library of Congress)

Note 2: Enter the code in subfield f, even if the information does not appear on the item.
source: OCLC website

Note 3: When a recording does not clearly indicate playback configuration, users may either use code u in subfield Æe or infer a configuration from the recording itself.
source: OCLC website

Comments to Mickey Koth Yale University Music Library
Last revised May 26, 2006.