Best scanner for slides of music scores

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Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
Hi, I'm looking for some suggestions for a scanner that would provide the best possible reproductions of about 1,200 slides of music scores. These black and white scores/parts were photographed about 25 years ago and would need to be printed to approximately 11x17 paper. I would prefer to spend around $1,000 but could go higher. It sounds like sometimes it's better to go with software other than what is bundled with the scanner and I would be open to that option as well. Even though these slides would be printed black and white I would still prefer to get a color scanner so that it can be used for other things when I'm done with this project. I'm not interested in outsourcing this project as I don't want to chance the slides getting lost or accidentally ruined. Also, is scanning to pdf the best file type for this project? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 6
    I would not try to reinvent the wheel, moose. Especially since I would be doing this only once, for this score project. So I would find a shop or other company nearest me that specializes in that stuff: converting the contents of analog media (printed pictures, slides, vinyl records, VHS and Betamax videos) on an industrial scale to digital files and media, for paying customers. And give them a call.
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  • Reply 2 of 6
    Sounds like you need a SLIDE SCANNER. They exist. I would recommend one that requires no jig. You can sell it when you are done.





    Amazon is your friend
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  • Reply 3 of 6
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Splinemodel View Post


    Sounds like you need a SLIDE SCANNER.



    With 1.200 slides that had better be an automated, 'jukebox' scanner with a feeding mechanism. I'm guessing that will soon exceed a $ 1,000 budget.



    And after they've been scanned in they'll need to be edited, cropped, optimized, and resized. Maybe that can be batch work. But don't count on it. Then test prints and re-edits. Then organised, categorized and sorted in an accessible database in order to be available for print out upon call.

    Possibly they, or part of them, need to be distributed. Or posted on a website for perusal and/or (paid) downloading...



    Scanning is only the beginning of that project!

    You don't want the whole project screwed up by risking the first stage, do you?

    Why would you want to go through that learning curve and financial investment without a guaranteed result, when you can delegate that to people who already have the experience, and the gear, to do it?



    Of course if you plan on converting many more slide collections after this score project it's another matter entirely. Then, by all means, get one of 'm scanners, invest in the learning curve, and set up your own operation.

    You may need a brandnew 16GB RAM Mac Pro octo-core with glossy 24" LED Cinema Display, 1TB HD, and a 3x 1TB HDs Drobo backup system, to comfortably handle the processing and rendering end of it. Yummie!



    Of course we're fast approaching the $ 10,000 mark now!
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  • Reply 4 of 6
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Rokcet Scientist View Post


    With 1.200 slides that had better be an automated, 'jukebox' scanner with a feeding mechanism. I'm guessing that will soon exceed a $ 1,000 budget.



    And after they've been scanned in they'll need to be edited, cropped, optimized, and resized. Maybe that can be batch work.



    Dude, if the guy wants to scan this stuff, it's no pain, no gain. About 10 years ago I was paid to scan about 1000 pages. This was before OCRs and sheet fed scanners worked very well. It took about a week altogether. I would think that with today's Photoshop, faster computers, and the simplicity of a slide scanner over a flatbed, this wouldn't really be THAT BAD.
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  • Reply 5 of 6
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Splinemodel View Post


    It took about a week altogether.



    A whole week?

    People who already have the experience, and the gear, do it in a few hours. Un-attended: without breaking a sweat.
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  • Reply 6 of 6
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Rokcet Scientist View Post


    A whole week?

    People who already have the experience, and the gear, do it in a few hours. Un-attended: without breaking a sweat.



    I couldn't care less what this dude chooses to do with his time and money. The fact is there are options. A slide scanner costs about $300 and can be sold for probably $200. If you assume 1 minute per scan that's nine saturdays of doing it for two hours. That's really not that bad, especially if this is a hobby. Just put some music on (or some american football, which is so slow you won't miss a thing) and it's a total weekend multitask. It's not easy to find places that will scan things other than loose paper or photos.
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