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VISUAL FIELD GUIDE / PRINT SUMMARY

Workflow · Court reporting
Updated Sep 4, 2026 Andrew Mayes / AM

Workflow · Andrew Mayes

Court-Audio Preservation Chain

  1. Document intake

    Record the source, receiver, date and time with time zone, transfer method, original paths and sizes, and any exception.

  2. Preserve source

    Protect the complete package in approved, access-controlled storage and record the first trustworthy SHA-256 baseline without overstating what it proves.

  3. Work from copy

    Verify a separate working copy before review or conversion, then log tools, settings, inputs, outputs, and errors.

  4. Verify

    Check the expected sessions, duration, boundaries, channels, playback, and known problem areas; keep mismatches visible.

  5. Handoff and retain

    Record each sender, recipient, time, method, included files, and manifest, then follow the controlling hold, retention, and disposal authority.

The preserved package and handling record stay together.A matching hash supports byte integrity, not origin, completeness, identity, authentication, or admissibility.Technical practice does not replace the controlling rule, order, contract, policy, or qualified professional judgment.

The working rule: Preserve the complete source. Do every review, conversion, cleanup, and export from a documented copy.

andrewmayes.com/guides/court-audio-preservation-chain/ Updated Sep 4, 2026