DV to computer (best practices)

[spcchap]

I am converting about 30 mini DV tapes to my computer for archival purposes. Through forums such as these, I have learned that it is best to transfer these videos and keep them in the same DV format (not to convert them to MPEG, for instance). This way I can always convert directly to whatever future format is out there (DVD, Blu-Ray, etc.) without having to constantly transfer from one medium to another (VHS to DVD to Blu-Ray, etc.).

I used WinDV to copy a tape. It is a 62 minute tape which was broken into 6 separate .AVI files. If I understand correctly, .AVI is just the container for the DV file. It is still a native DV formatted file.

Here is my plan for keeping my home videos safe. I will always keep the original tapes. I am making 2 DVD copies of each DV tape using the program FAVC. I am also storing the .AVI files copied via WinDV on 2 external hard drives. One DVD and one hard drive will be kept at my house (along with the original DV tapes). The other DVD and external hard drive will be kept at my parent’s house. I will do occasional checks to verify the drives and discs are in working order. Is this a sound disaster recovery plan?

Here are some of my unanswered questions:

Since WinDV breaks the tapes into multiple (six) separate .AVI files, in order to make one movie for a DVD I had to use another program to append each file to the next in order. I used VirtualDub for this. Now I have 7 files: 1 full-length home movie in .AVI format, and 6 ~2GB .AVI files. Which should I be saving to my external hard drive? The full-length .AVI or the 6 files created by WinDV? Or both?

Is there an easier way to make a DVD without using VirtualDub to link the .AVI files together? It just seems rather intensive to use three separate programs to make a DVD. Not to mention, I would like to design a nice DVD menu for my DVDs. I haven’t really done my research on this, but does FAVC have a menu builder? Or is there another program entirely that you can recommend?

I appreciate the help!!

[jagabo]

File splitting is an option in WinDV. Turn it off an it will save as one big file. Unless your hard drive is formatted FAT32 -- which has a 4GB file size limit.

For files you've already captured VirtualDub should be fine for joining them. Be sure to select Video -> Direct Stream Copy before saving. Of course, if your drive is FAT32 this won't work.

[spcchap]

Thanks for the quick response! Is there any benefit to splitting the DV files? I am assuming it is just a compatibility thing (FAT32 as you mentioned). Seems like for what I am doing, I should have it make one large file for making a DVD and storing on my external hard drive.

[2Bdecided]

WinDV splits the files at scene changes on the tape, and/or after a pre-defined number of frames (handy for making sure the result will fit onto a data DVD), or not at all if you disable both on NTFS.

For future editing, I find it very useful to have separate scenes in separate files. Beware that you could send up hundred or more files from a tape (depending on how many times you stopped+re-started recording when you originally filmed it).


Your plan for multiple backups sounds good.

Cheers,
David.