For more than four decades, The Standby Program has been committed to protecting the history of media art. We work closely with artists, non-profits, and cultural organizations to preserve the unique works, voices, and experimental practices that define the field. Our preservation services are designed to democratize access to media technology and safeguard work for future generations, making it discoverable, legible, and technically stable in evolving digital environments.
Whether you are caring for a single tape or an entire archive, Standby offers responsive, artist-centered support and a deep understanding of the creative, social, and cultural significance of independent media.
Our Services
Video Preservation
For more than four decades, Standby has helped safeguard video artwork by pairing technical expertise with an understanding of experimental and documentary practices. We digitize and stabilize fragile and obsolete media, working with care toward creative intent, historical context, and archival longevity. All transfers include cleaning, full monitoring, and condition reporting, and we offer metadata support that can integrate with existing cataloging systems. Our goal is not only to migrate video to new formats, but to protect the creative decisions embedded within the original work.
Audio Preservation
Standby offers digitization and restoration for audio recordings that document artistic practice, experimental sound work, performance, and cultural memory. We work closely with artists and mission-driven organizations to support archives ranging from a single recording to expansive collections. Our services address both technical stability and the integrity of the source recording, preserving the tone, texture, and voice that define audio-based work.
Digital Preservation
As media art has evolved, Standby has expanded to support born-digital artwork, hybrid projects, and works created using outdated software and hardware. We provide file stabilization, disk imaging, metadata capture, and preparation for long-term digital storage. Our approach recognizes that preserving digital art often requires more than retaining the files—it requires attention to workflows, authorship, and systems that may no longer function without intervention.
Data Recovery & Migration
Many artworks rely on storage media and authoring systems that are no longer supported. Standby specializes in retrieving and migrating material from discontinued drives, optical formats, and early computing systems used in media production. Our goal is to recover not only files but also the context in which they were created and intended to operate, making legacy digital work accessible again for artists, researchers, and archivists.
Restoration
Restoration at Standby respects the aesthetic and technical complexity of media art. We collaborate with artists, estates, and institutions to restore video and audio while maintaining the integrity of original creative decisions—including intentional glitches, distortions, or characteristics tied to historical tools. Restoration may involve image and sound improvement, error repair, stabilization, or clarity enhancement, always guided by artistic intent rather than uniform “correction.”
Consultation & Collection Evaluation
Standby provides individualized consultation for artists and organizations seeking guidance in caring for their media collections. We can assess condition, recommend preservation priorities, create action plans, and assist with budgets and funding proposals. Our consultation services are grounded in transparency and accessibility, helping caretakers make informed decisions regardless of technical expertise.
Complex Media: Installations & Exhibition-Based Work
Many media artworks depend on more than a file—they rely on specific playback systems, synchronized video channels, sculptural elements, or interactive components. Standby supports the preservation of installation-based works by documenting and stabilizing the technical and artistic systems that make them function. We work to maintain not just the content of a work, but its experience, behavior, and exhibition requirements.
On-Site Services
For collections that cannot travel or require in-place assessment, Standby can provide on-site evaluation, packing guidance, stabilization planning, and collaborative work sessions within studios or institutions. These services are particularly useful for large collections, fragile media, or installation-based works requiring custom handling.
LEGACY GRANTS
The Standby Program offers grants for video & audio preservation services to help subsidize services to artists. A One-to-One match in funding is required. Email us at info@standby.org with a list of works you would like to preserve, including formats and running times. Include your plan to make these works available to the public via an exhibition, web streaming, or as archival materials to be incorporated into new work.
Formats We Digitize
Standby specializes in hard-to-support and obsolete formats used by media artists, nonprofits, and independent makers. We offer consultation and identification support to help you understand what you have and how to preserve it.
Video Formats
- 1/2” open reel (EIAJ)
- 1/2” open reel (non-EIAJ)
- 1” SMPTE C
- 1” IVC
- D2
- 3/4” U-matic
- VHS (1/2”)
- S-VHS (1/2”)
- Hi8
- 8mm
- Betamax
- Beta SP
- Digital Betacam
Audio Formats
- Cassette
- Mini-cassette
- 1/4” audiotape (2-track)
- 1/4” audiotape (4-track)
Digital + Data Formats
- Floppy disks (3.5”)
- Floppy disks (5.25”)
- LaserDisc
- Zip drive
- Jaz drive
- Legacy hard drives
- CD-ROM artworks
- DVD data discs
- Legacy digital file formats (project files, authoring systems, etc.)