Backup Avi for later use

[wolfer]

I've written a few posts about this topic and I'm still in a bind.

I have about 128 GB of Video that has been captured from VHSc to Digital (HD) via a Canopus ADVC-100
These files have been sitting on my HD for 2 years, and I haven't had the time to edit them or put to DVD.

I need to get them off my HD to save space and switch HD and stuff.
What I need to know is what code I can use to reduce the files size WITHOUT too much hassle down the road for simple editing in adobe Premiere. If I have to lose quality a bit of quality...fine....at this point I don't care.

Can I convert these AVI to Mpeg and Burn to DVD and then when I have time, throw in the DVD and use them in adobe?
To be outputted to DVD without to much loss. I don't plan on doing huge edits, mostly cutting out the crap and adding simple transitions...then output to DVD.
Most of my Capture comes from a 10yr old Camcorder.
1 example is from a VHSc captured as 720x480, duration 20 mins, audio bit rate 1536kbps, Audio 16bit, Video Data rate 336kbps, file size is about 4.6gb

Can I convert this file smaller to store on a DVD-r for later editing. I really don’t care about quality at this point…I just want to make sure that I can edit it at a later date.

Pls help

[rsgars]

First, I don't think Premiere will edit mpeg files. I know the older versions won't, not sure about Premiere Pro, especially the new version. Check the Adobe site.

If that is the case I would suggest either of two courses of action:

1) buy an external hard drive and move the files there for long-term storage.

2) finish the project, encode to DVD compliant format and author the DVD.

Also, be careful when you say you don't care about quality "for now." Once you compress a file, taking away information, there is nothing you can do to put that information back into the file.

[KBeee]

I've written a few posts about this topic and I'm still in a bind.
(SNIP)
1 example is from a VHSc captured as 720x480, duration 20 mins, audio bit rate 1536kbps, Audio 16bit, Video Data rate 336kbps, file size is about 4.6gb

Can I convert this file smaller to store on a DVD-r for later editing. I really don’t care about quality at this point…I just want to make sure that I can edit it at a later date.

Pls help

Are you sure about the video data rate? 336kbps is very low for a 20 minute 4.6GB file.
It should be nearer 8500kbps.
Demuxing the audio and converting to AC3 @ 256kbps will save some space, but if you are correct about your video data rate being 336kbps, then you haven't got much leeway for compressing the video down even more without it becoming virtually unwatchable.
If your video data rate is higher than reported, then you could re-encode to something like Xvid @ 1000-2000kbps, but only you can determine if the quality loss is acceptable.
A little test run might be in order.

[Keitho]

You could also use a program like WinRar to slit the files into chunks small enough to burn onto DVDs. Then, when you have the time, re-assemble them into their original size.

[wolfer]

After reading peoples posts

what is the best software to check out exactly what my ADVC-100 has captured from analog.

[zoobie]

they're practically giving away HD's these days...for as little as $9
i'd suggest just leaving it and buying another HD

[ZippyP.]

what is the best software to check out exactly what my ADVC-100 has captured from analog.

Gspot. It will be DV.