Is avi best for storage?

[hurleyvcr]

I have about 50 Video 8 home movie tapes captured with my Sony camcorder.I have started transfer to my hard drive in avi format.Each tape is averaging about 20gb.
Can I convert them to a different format that will maintain the quality and use a little bit less space?

[lordsmurf]

Length of each tape in hours:minutes ?

The only thing that could retain quality is a very high bitrate low-GOP MPEG-2.
That may save 50% space, maybe.

[aedipuss]

DVavi converts nicely to dvd spec mpeg-2 at about 1/4 of the size. but once encoded to mpg it is not as easily edited or converted to other formats.

[yoda313]

It's easier to leave it as the full dv avi - assuming thats what you're capping to (13gb/hr fyi). These days hard drive space is much more affordable. Terrabyte drives are at an all time low. I'd go that route rather than compressing to save space. That way you have your maximum quality always on hand and convert later.

[hurleyvcr]

Thanks guys for the quick response.I think I will leave them as avi,yes harddrives are cheap.
Thanks.

[lordsmurf]

Canada, eh?
Drop one of these in an enclosure: http://ca.buy.com/PR/Product.aspx?sku=213410517
Or use it as an internal SATA drive.
Then you'll be good to go.

2TB for a pretty decent price.

Then leave DV as DV.