One minute of playing time requires 30-35 min. of production time. Expect better, less costly technology in years to come. Putting audio on a server in three steps. Using standard input cable from tape player to computer, digitize the tape using Sound Edit . An indicator gives sound levels during play.
Analogue can be high quality.
DAT is not necessarily better, and care must be taken with incompatible international standards. FireWire can dump hi-8 and DVD right into a computer. IALL is starting a comprehensive survey of lab directors to obtain information about lab hardware, professional status and the many hats lab directors wear. Kathleen Ford of UCLA is undertaking the revision of one of IALL's great reference tools, the IALL Lab Management Manual. These are excellent resources for any laboratory.