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Posted by Steve McDonald on 12/05/06 08:56
bill wrote:
> I currently have around 30 hours of DV format video, I'm wondering what
> the best codec is to use to archive this video with to save space but
> still preserve the video to the extent it can be opened and accessed in
> original NLE projects that used it before the conversion.
>
> I'm not too fussed on quality loss but it shouldn't be too drastic but
> the format must still be an easily editable format. (ie.
> Intra-frames...ect,)
>
> Thanks,
> bill
Those who say that videotape is a dying medium, probably don't have
lengthy experience in using it. Your DV tapes are the most dependable
way of archiving the footage. Make duplicates on other DV tapes for
backup. I have Hi-8 recordings on the same type of evaporated metal
(ME) tape that is used for DV, that are as old as 17 years and I
haven't had one fail yet. Re-record them on new tapes every 5 years or
so, if they contain important material and this should give you a
continuous means to preserve your work.
Make two copies of each, if you want even more security.
I also archive my footage on several other kinds of media, just to be
extra safe. I have full-quality copies of all my productions on
internal harddrives and on external ones. Also, I keep DVD-quality
copies on the harddrive of my DVD recorder and on several DVD-R and
DVD-RAM disks. I also make S-VHS copies of everything on Fuji H-471-S
pro cassettes and Hi-8 copies on Sony or TDK MP tapes. There have been
times when due to unavoidable circumstances, these analog copies have
been all I had remaining of certain productions and I felt fortunate to
have them. I keep several older camcorders and VCRs of each of these
formats for playback. Even if all my analog recorders were to fail,
I'm sure that for many years, there will be some commercial duplication
houses that will maintain some for each format. In addition, I have
tape and DVD copies of everything in the hands of friends, so a
disaster at my house won't erase my video work.
Despite many claims of longevity by makers of DVDs, there are
indications that the recording layers won't last all that long,
especially on the burned types that are used for home recording. I'm
hoping that some very durable type of optical digital recording will be
developed in the future, but commercial factors might not favor giving
us such an option.
Steve McDonald
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