Video backup/archiving

[jncr]

I have a collection of around 800 gigabytes of video. I am running out of space and can't afford a new hard drive right now.
Most of the video are subbed mkvs with x264 video format.
I tried archiving some using various compression methods (7z, rar, zip, tar) and most of the time the output file was larger than the input file :/.

What is the best way to store video? I want to be able to uncompress the video in the future when I want to watch it.

[Baldrick]

If you want to shrink it you must reconvert it with a lower video and audio bitrate(=losing quality). It will take very long time and you wont be able to "uncompress" it later. I would start delete or buy a bigger HDD.

[creakndale]

Ask Santa for one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Elements-External-WDBAAU0020HBK-NESN/dp/B002QEBM...0896169&sr=8-1

I use them for backups and they are 100% reliable.

creakndale

[edDV]

I have a collection of around 800 gigabytes of video. I am running out of space and can't afford a new hard drive right now.
Most of the video are subbed mkvs with x264 video format.
I tried archiving some using various compression methods (7z, rar, zip, tar) and most of the time the output file was larger than the input file :/.

What is the best way to store video? I want to be able to uncompress the video in the future when I want to watch it.

Your x264 files are already highly compressed. Further compression will reduce quality and waste time. It is common for recompressed files to grow in size especially when using CQ modes.

Hard drives are cheap. I landed a 2TB for $68 yesterday at Fry's Black Friday sale. Is your time worth nothing?

[jncr]

Okay thanks. I wasn't aware that x264 files were already highly compressed.

Looks like I'm going to have to get another hard drive.

Thanks,
JNCR