Abstract / topic summary
The presentation explores the multi-year journey of developing cutting-edge optical sound digitization technology. Built on a foundation of close collaboration with the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute (FINA), the session highlights how historical audio preservation challenges were transformed into innovative technological solutions.
The presentation traces the evolution of optical sound scanning technologies and restoration methodologies, presents key case studies from the archive's extensive collections, and discusses how this partnership has contributed to establishing new standards for safeguarding audiovisual heritage for future generations.
Speaker summary
Jakub Stadnik
Dr. Jakub Stadnik is a sound engineer specializing in film sound restoration. He works as a Senior Specialist for Sound Digitization and Restoration at the National Film Archive Audiovisual Institute (FINA) and as an Assistant Professor at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. He earned his PhD in 2018 with a dissertation on the sound restoration in pre-war films. Drawing on his professional experience he co-developed the Image To Sound Tools technology for extracting optical sound from film scans. Dr. Stadnik has contributed to numerous international film restoration projects, including the restoration of Janko Muzykant (1930), the oldest surviving Polish sound film, and Melodie des Herzens (1929), the earliest German sound film. He has also served as an instructor at sound restoration workshops organized by FIAF.
