Post edit storage at DVinfo.net

Simon Wyndham · August 2nd, 2004, 09:42 AM

Just wondering how people here store valuable post edited footage?

I am currently working on a DV feature and after the edit is locked I would like to create a colour corrected, de-artefacted, uncompressed master just in case I need to transfer it to a much higher format than DV or DVD (for example if I ever wanted to have it transferred to hi def or film for some reason or someone required a master with a much higher colour resolution than DV)

Similarly I would also like to store an uncompressed, colour corrected, de-artefacted, filmlooked version.

Lastly I want to keep a DV format version of both.

The problem is where to store them reliably. I don't really trust DVD over time as I have had CDR's go blank on me before after not using them for a long time. Buying a special hard drive seems like a bit of an expensive way to store them.

Anyone here got any suggestions?

Rob Lohman · August 2nd, 2004, 10:03 AM

Most people choose one of the following or a combinations of them:

1) back out to (a new) DV tape

2) DVD

3) harddisk

With the harddisk either being used to store other things or
just this project. The harddisk should be in a computer.

You could also store it on a computer tape system like DLT, but
those are pretty expensive and I'm not sure if those would be
easily readable in 10 years for example.

Glenn Chan · August 2nd, 2004, 10:15 AM

If you have the project file and your DV tapes, you can re-create the edit on most NLEs.

Burn the project file onto 2 CD-Rs and/or DVDs and keep it stored well. (Have 2 copies at least- one can stick around on your hard drive)

If you can, dub the DV tapes with exact timecode. This should be fairly cheap and gives you the best quality with very long archival life.

If you have the money, a hard drive could also be a good idea. Wait for a hot deal on sites like techbargains.com- big chains often have limited quantities as loss leaders.
Very convient, kinda pricey, unknown archival life (may become obsolete in 20-25 years, or may break down).

Simon Wyndham · August 2nd, 2004, 10:20 AM

DV was what I normally store backups on. However in this case I want to use a deartifact filter and store the finished film in an uncompressed version so as not to introduce or reintroduce new DV artifacts. Problem is that uncompressed files take up a lot of space!

Is there a good lossless compressed video codec out there?

It is seeming like DVD is my only option at the moment via splitting the final render up. I still don't trust them to stay readable over time however.

Glenn Chan · August 2nd, 2004, 10:37 AM

Animation, huffyuv, windows media lossless are free codecs.

microcosm is one of the few commercial ones out there.

Simon Wyndham · August 2nd, 2004, 10:47 AM

There's a Windows Media lossless? Interesting, I didn't realise that.

Glenn Chan · August 2nd, 2004, 11:54 AM

Apparently. I haven't tested it, but I think it should be good.

You can do the shotgun approach and export in all 3 formats.

Simon Wyndham · August 2nd, 2004, 02:46 PM

Yep. I'll be giving that codec a go. Thanks!

Yi Fong Yu · August 2nd, 2004, 08:11 PM

this is why i want either blu--ray DVDR or HD-DVDR to be here and now TODAY!!! can you imagine if we had 30gb or 50gb blanks so we can store our precious files on those media? but it's funny because by then our content creation source files would probably be more than 100gb due to nature of HD!

Dwight Flynn · August 4th, 2004, 12:06 PM

Have you tried any of the DVHS decks. I have the JVC and I like the results it gives for storage and retrieval.

August 2nd, 2004, 09:42 AM	#1
Simon Wyndham Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Malvern UK Posts: 1,931	Post edit storage Just wondering how people here store valuable post edited footage? I am currently working on a DV feature and after the edit is locked I would like to create a colour corrected, de-artefacted, uncompressed master just in case I need to transfer it to a much higher format than DV or DVD (for example if I ever wanted to have it transferred to hi def or film for some reason or someone required a master with a much higher colour resolution than DV) Similarly I would also like to store an uncompressed, colour corrected, de-artefacted, filmlooked version. Lastly I want to keep a DV format version of both. The problem is where to store them reliably. I don't really trust DVD over time as I have had CDR's go blank on me before after not using them for a long time. Buying a special hard drive seems like a bit of an expensive way to store them. Anyone here got any suggestions?

August 2nd, 2004, 10:03 AM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Most people choose one of the following or a combinations of them: 1) back out to (a new) DV tape 2) DVD 3) harddisk With the harddisk either being used to store other things or just this project. The harddisk should be in a computer. You could also store it on a computer tape system like DLT, but those are pretty expensive and I'm not sure if those would be easily readable in 10 years for example. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

August 2nd, 2004, 08:11 PM	#9
Yi Fong Yu Trustee Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vulcan Posts: 1,564	this is why i want either blu--ray DVDR or HD-DVDR to be here and now TODAY!!! can you imagine if we had 30gb or 50gb blanks so we can store our precious files on those media? but it's funny because by then our content creation source files would probably be more than 100gb due to nature of HD! __________________ bow wow wow

August 2nd, 2004, 10:15 AM	#3
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	If you have the project file and your DV tapes, you can re-create the edit on most NLEs. Burn the project file onto 2 CD-Rs and/or DVDs and keep it stored well. (Have 2 copies at least- one can stick around on your hard drive) If you can, dub the DV tapes with exact timecode. This should be fairly cheap and gives you the best quality with very long archival life. If you have the money, a hard drive could also be a good idea. Wait for a hot deal on sites like techbargains.com- big chains often have limited quantities as loss leaders. Very convient, kinda pricey, unknown archival life (may become obsolete in 20-25 years, or may break down).

August 2nd, 2004, 10:20 AM	#4
Simon Wyndham Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Malvern UK Posts: 1,931	DV was what I normally store backups on. However in this case I want to use a deartifact filter and store the finished film in an uncompressed version so as not to introduce or reintroduce new DV artifacts. Problem is that uncompressed files take up a lot of space! Is there a good lossless compressed video codec out there? It is seeming like DVD is my only option at the moment via splitting the final render up. I still don't trust them to stay readable over time however.

August 2nd, 2004, 10:37 AM	#5
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	Animation, huffyuv, windows media lossless are free codecs. microcosm is one of the few commercial ones out there.

August 2nd, 2004, 10:47 AM	#6
Simon Wyndham Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Malvern UK Posts: 1,931	There's a Windows Media lossless? Interesting, I didn't realise that.

August 2nd, 2004, 11:54 AM	#7
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	Apparently. I haven't tested it, but I think it should be good. You can do the shotgun approach and export in all 3 formats.

August 2nd, 2004, 02:46 PM	#8
Simon Wyndham Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Malvern UK Posts: 1,931	Yep. I'll be giving that codec a go. Thanks!

August 4th, 2004, 12:06 PM	#10
Dwight Flynn Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 393	Have you tried any of the DVHS decks. I have the JVC and I like the results it gives for storage and retrieval.