How do you backup your projects / Raw DV files - DVD or HD

[nerd1701d]

I'm accumulating quite a lot of raw files from my DV camera and projects that I'm working on. I've been backing up the raw DV files to DVD (20 minutes / DVD), but I'm concerned over loss over time and ease of use.

Also, some files are over 4.7 GB and I don't like spliting them.

One thing I'm considering is just backing them up to hard drives and storing them. At around 50 cents / GB, it's not a bad deal.

Anyone do this or have any other suggestions?

I know people who budget a hard drive for every project, but I can't do that for my personal stuff.

Thanks,
Doug

[Almost Human]

The safest way to save important SP DV footage is on DV tape stored in a lead-lined safe, good for 10-25 years. DV tapes are relatively inexpensive and not prone to hardware failures. Of course an operating DV camera would be required eventually for reuse. For LP DV footage the same camcorder used to captue should be used at all times.

DVD should be good for the same length of time, but there are still questions concerning longivity.

Harddrives offer the best value for storage, but they are hardware devices prone to permanent failure.

[redwudz]

I'm afraid I would have to agree with Amost Human. The best storage would be the original tapes. Next data DVD, but you would have to use a lot of them for DV format archive. My last choice would be a HD, very unstable and undependable for long term storage.

[nerd1701d]

I agree, but the problem is that if you would have to go back and recapture the footage and then re-edit again.

If you can restore the directories, you are free to re-edit without any re-capturing.

As far as longevity, I would think that HD placed on a shelf should have at least the logevity of a DVD or DV tape.

Doug

[Almost Human]

DV camcorder to HD is a straight transfer, the two files are identical. Once you do any editing, variables are introduced to the file and they become different.

Save the original RAW DV footage as suggested previously. Any edited footage encode and burn to a DVD.

[PIntag]

Just use DV tapes for now or keep them on the hard drives. Revisit this subject in 2-3 years and there will be many more choices.

[Richard_G]

Why not transfer your edited projects back to DV tape once you have finished with them. Then you'll have both the original unedited footage and the edited version.