OPALrecorded

OPALrecorded is a digital archival framework and data standard designed to document, preserve, and share information about recorded audio and related media assets. It aims to capture provenance, rights information, technical metadata, and lineage across multiple generations of copies and formats. The acronym OPAL stands for Open Protocol for Archival Logging.

Data model and formats: the specification defines core entities such as Recording, Track, Event, Agent, and RightsStatement, with relationships among them. Each entity carries identifiers (e.g., UUIDs, ISRCs), timestamps, and cryptographic hashes. The standard supports multiple serializations, including JSON-LD and RDF, to enable integration with existing archival systems and the broader linked-data ecosystem.

Implementation and scope: OPALrecorded is community-driven and open; it is adopted by national libraries, museums, universities, and some broadcasters to document digitization workflows, transfers, and access rights. It supports multi-language metadata and auditable provenance over time.

History and governance: Initiated in 2018 by a consortium of archival institutions; version 1.0 published in 2020; governance through a steering committee and working groups under an open-licensing model; ongoing maintenance and future revisions.

Reception and alternatives: It complements existing archival metadata standards such as PREMIS, the Dublin Core, and the PROV data model; critics cite learning curve and interoperability challenges; some projects use bespoke schemas. See also: archival metadata standards, provenance models, and digital preservation frameworks.