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Audio-Video Ready-o
If you have 3 million and a half CDs and tapes, or worse, that many videotapes,
it can get hard to know what's what and what's where. And with the new formats coming
out, it won't get any better, unless you:
Listen to everything, or watch it. Make sure there really is a Beatles tape
inside that Beatles cover - it's a mess when it's actually Beethoven in Beatles and
vice versa. If you have half a tape of music videos and the other half a movie, consolidate.
Record another movie or transfer so that you now have two tapes of defined "character" - or
get rid of one or the other and stay with just one tape.
Label stuff and place it so you can see the label. Make it clear - this
is John Doe singing opera (vs. John Doe singing rock or telling you about your
self-esteem). Save extra labels if you need them to paste over old ones and use
on unlabeled stuff.
Throw out things you never see or hear. No don't actually throw them out especially
if someone else will want it. Give it away. You can trade in old cassettes and cds for new ones,
or get money back for them. Videotapes can be recorded over. Even cassettes can be
recorded over (you just place cellophane tape over the emptied tabs).
There are two ways to organize: by style category (Chinese, jazz, classical) or by alphabet. It's also possible
to do both. Then, you can organize by artist or album. The style is up to you, and you
may have to try it out to see what you like best. Then separate these categories
simply by shelves or dividers. It helps to know how many you have and to try to
keep things in their boxes.
You don't have to number everything if you don't lend out stuff much or if you
don't have many aud-vid items. But if you do, it's a good idea to keep track and know
that tape # 4355 is missing and you gave it to Bob to watch over 3 weeks ago (it especially
helps if Bob happens to be leaving for the other hemisphere anytime soon).
Get a good place near your stereo or computer or vcr/dvd player to store these things and
get ready to party!
promise@geocities.com
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