Preservation of music is more than simply maintaining digital archives of recordings, documents, and photos. Older analog media like wax cylinders and phonograph discs are invaluable pieces of human history, and their contents cannot be experienced the same way by listening to digital recordings.
Some of these media, however, are in danger of destruction. In addition to damages from disasters like the 2008 Universal Studios fire, simply playing them can irreparably damage these artifacts. Wax cylinders, for example, were only meant to be played up to 100 times at their peak state of design, with sound quality and clarity dropping significantly with more plays.
Physical media exist in three dimensions, unlike sheet music and digital recordings. Every groove and speck of dust on a record contributes to what is heard from it. With high-precision digital 3D imaging, these types of media can be digitally cataloged and preserved. With 3D models, there is opportunity to replicate them for listening, analysis, or any other purpose without risk of damaging the precious originals.
