Basic concepts and features
“Madek” is the software behind the “Media Archive of the Arts”. Madek is free software that is being developed at ZHdK by the ITZ and MIZ departments. It is currently available as Version 3 and is continuously being improved. Any interested institutions (or private individuals) can use the free software to run their own media archive, adapting and developing the system to meet their own purposes. The latest source code for Madek is available on Github.
The Madek software can be used to operate a media platform for sharing media. On account of its features, the software sits at the interface between institutional repository and digital asset management. The main tasks performed by the software are:
Media sharing
Madek offers a system of users, groups and access authorisations so that media can be shared. This has otherwise mostly only been available on mono-medial platforms (Flickr for photographs, Vimeo for videos etc.).
Multi-mediality and transcoding
Madek makes different media types - images, audio, video and documents - available in the same place and on the same terms. The original documents can be imported in any standard format for integration and transcoding. The original file is saved and a playback version is made available. This means that authors can always access the original at a later date or for archiving purposes.
Front-end and usability
A great deal of attention is being paid to the interface and usability as the software is being developed. Striking a balance between numerous functions and ease of use is a major challenge.
Institution
The fact that the software is connected to the central login system at ZHdK ensures that it reflects the institutional structure. Access rights can be administered according to the user's departmental membership.
Metadata
Madek enables users to configure their own metadata chemata and determine how they are mapped on to standards in different fields (Internet and archiving). Project-specific specialist lexicons can also be defined. At ZHdK this metadata refers mainly to the arts.
Database
Madek uses a relational database (PostgreSQL). This ensures that the metadata is always securely and consistently persisted.
Open interfaces
Using the Madek software is not a one-way street. Imported media and knowledge that has been compiled in the Media Archive can be reused via various export functions and a programming interface (API) and applied in different contexts. The API ensures interoperability with other systems.