Ok, lets say we have a 20 or 30 minute show in 720p, 8 bit, and you want to save it in the highest quality format, verses size of file.

right now it is 150 gigs.

what codec could one use that will let me compress it a little and then when needed in a couple years, decompress it back to all it's glory!

(I am going to end up with a lot of firewire drives aren't I!)

The CineForm codec is quite small. As well Digital Anarchy has a Microcosm codec just for this purpose.
Ken

If it's going to sit for more than a couple of years, you have to think carefully about how common the codec is. Bigger companies *usually* have stuff that lasts longer, but I wonder if Microsoft will still have a downloadable codec for media 9 in , say 5 years. And will it work on the computer and OS you are using in the future?
It's funny but TV shows are still being archived as 35mm film, even if it was shot on video. The nice thing about film is that it actually stores pretty well under controlled conditions, and you can always come up with a way to 'read' it in 100 years.
For HDV right now, I'd probably use Mpeg4 and Media9 at high bit rates ( 10 megabit/s ) , and maybe by storing two formats, one will be easier to read in a decade.
In 10-15 years my HD10 will be on a shelf in a Goodwill, most likely!
-Les

I completely agree with Les with one addition:

Your OS would determine the codec I would use.

Windows: Windows Media 9 MAC: MPEG4 (3ivx)

Here's the link for the 3ivx codec:
http://www.3ivx.com/

We were able to encode a 20 GB (DC30 4:2:2) file into a high quality 1 GB (3ivx) encoded in dual pass.

Our producer in Texas downloaded the 1 GB file, encoded it in WM9 and projected it to an audience in HD.

Why did he have to convert to WM9?
Ken

I will give it a try.

Have you heard of "Sheer"

Question: for the projected WM9 presentation, what speed of processor did he use?

I find I can't play very well with less than a 2.5 gig PC.
{not to mention a good video card)

thanks for the input

"Sheer"?

Ken,

We converted to WM9 because the projection house only had a PC.