File sizes for video transfer

[arunc]

I realize that video transfer involves large file sizes (13 GB/60 minutes). How do other users handles these issues?

1. Do you use an external hard disk?
2. Do you save your original .AVI files?
3. Do you burn onto dual layer DVD?

Please pass on any suggestions how to handle these file sizes.

[Bjs]

Full d1 to xvid using 2300 as minimum bitrate for video .
Or
Full d1 to mpeg2 at 3500 video bitrate , no lower ... depending on source , more fast motion , then video bitrate gose upward .

[guns1inger]

I have a 160GB HDD just for transfering and processing video. I have another 80 GB drive for authoring and intermediate files. I keep the masters on tape, and delete the computer files once the DVDs have been created and burned. I don't use optical or magnetic discs for archiving masters.

[arunc]

Do you also use dual layer DVD's or do you break the file into multiple DVD'S? I am quite new at this.

[guns1inger]

I author the video to fit. Most of the DVDs I create from DV footage are only 1 hour or less in length, so the authored DVD fits easily on a single layer disc. I do not store DV footage on optical discs - not cost effective enough.

[PMorton]

arunc,
Something I think you are missing is that a DVD does not use DV-AVI. You will be transcoding from DV-AVI to mpeg2 before you burn to DVD. Mpeg2 is much more compressed than DV-AVI, so your 13GB/hour can very reliably be compressed to 4.38GB/hour, or even less, depending on your compression settings on the transcode.