Best Software for burning audio and video as Data to DVD for Archiving

[wenospeak]

Even though I've got six local and four external hard drives, I'm running out of room. Most of my stuff is live Concert audio files and video files. The audio files are in various formats (.wav, .shn, .flac, and .ape) and the video files are VIDEO_TS folder files (ifo, vob, bup).

I'm currently using the Toyo Yuden discs (thanks to the good folks here), but I have Nero and I'm wondering if that's the best software for burning DVD's without altering the original files in any way.

My plan is pretty simple. Open Nero Rom using the DVD ISO tab and just drag files into the burn list, burn the disc and then verify after completion. I've done this before (burn video and audio files as data files and they seem to work fine when copied from the DVD back to the hard drive - in fact, the audio files can be played directly from the burned DVD's).

Yes, it's going to take a lot of DVD's, but I need the room.

This is a major project and I'm wondering if Nero 7 will be sufficient to protect the integrity of the original files.

Or, without altering the original files, is there a better way to archive them to DVD?

Thanks,

Rick

[BJ_M]

yes - just fine ... or ONES

[wenospeak]

Thanks,

I just checked out the ONES website and it looks interesting. The language barrier is a bit confusing, but it looks like they've got a nice concept.

I was mainly curious if there was a significant enough difference between Nero and PRO software that would be important to consider. I'm guessing that because I won't be altering files, the actual burning applications are a non-factor.

Thanks very much for your feedback.

Rick

[BJ_M]

not a significant enough difference

[wenospeak]

Thanks so much.

Let the burning begin!!!!


Rick

[jmkeuning]

When you are making extensive back-ups, I suggest getting quickpar and making PAR files for you archives. This will help you because if your DVD gets corrupt sectors of something (it has happened to me) you can recover the disc using a forensic tool (like WinISO) and then use the PAR files to repair your damaged video files.

[wenospeak]

Yikes, that looks like a good program, but I'm planning to archive nearly 800 gigabites to DVD. That's why I bought the Toyo Yuden premium.

Converting everything to PAR files looks interesting, but it looks like it would take a two day job and turn it into a two week job.

Thanks for your suggestion, though. It's always appreciated.

Rick

[Cornucopia]

I don't like it for authoring, but as a burning app, Nero is certainly up to the job (barring any recent anomalies).

Remember though, that you have a filesize limitation when using the ISO9660 filesystem, so I would strongly recommend that you create a UDF-only filesystem for this (no practical filesize limitations). Since these are most likely going to be burned Disc-At-Once, UDF v1.02 would give you the most compatibility (and therefore greater likelihood of recovery).

Another recommendation (if this is important stuff to archive): Make 2 copies, store one at a different site.

Scott

[wenospeak]

Thanks Scott,

It looks like v1.02 is already installed in Nero 7. Is there anything different about the burning procedure using UDF?

My usual ISO procedure (updated to UDF for this post) is:

Open Nero Burning Rom, select DVD, then DVD-ROM (UDF), then drag folders into the the (UDF1_DVD) "NEW" browser window and burn?

Thanks again.

Rick


P.S. Again, the main thing I'm trying to accomplish is burning an exact copy of ANY file type for storage and retrieval. (However, most of the files will be .flac, .shn, .ape, .wav, and ripped video IFO, VOB, and BUP files).

[Cornucopia]

No, that's just about it.

I would also suggest that you check the other panes of the disc properties to make sure that the disc is NOT multisession, is to be burned Disc-at-Once and Finalized, etc. Then you should be good to go.

HTH,
Scott

[wenospeak]

Awesome, thanks.

Perfect timing too, my 200 DVD's just arrived.

Thanks again,

Rick

[Cornucopia]

Just to be on the safe side, do a few tests with RW discs and confirm their readability...

Good luck!

Scott

[wenospeak]

I've already burt a half dozen in UDF and they are fine.

I'm still not 100% clear on the advantage and differences between UDF and ISO 1 or ISO 2, for storage of audio and video files in a data format, besides the file size thing.

I've already run into a "renaming" issue because some of my bookmarks (Names websites provide for storing their webpage in your Favorites folder) were never edited and they are a mile long - have you ever seen the file name for the Supermedia Store bookmark "DVD-R, DVD R Media, Buy DVD Media,DVDR Blank Media, DVD+R,DVD R,Double Layer,Dual Layer,Printable DVD,DVD Cases, Duplicator, USB Flash Memory, Inkjet Cartridges"?).

I didn't even go back to look at what the changes were, I'm assuming it just cut off letters after a certain number of digits.

anyway, all looks well and if I have enough discs left and feel paranoid about UDF, I'll do an ISO run as well, that way I'll have two copies and one in each file system.

Thanks again,

Rick

[Cornucopia]

For naming problems, I suggest a program called "1-4-All rename". The interface is a little bit clunky, but it does a great job and has lots of options (although I have seen 1 recursive loop bug).

UDF allows for lots of things, depending upon it's version number (v1.02 being the most restrictive--for legacy compatibility-sake). Other versions include unlimited sizes, hardware support for fragmented extents, packet writing, multiple partitions, spanning, etc.

v1.02 (actually "micro"-UDF, the version expected for DVD-Video titles) mainly has higher filesize and volumesize limits, somewhat longer filename/pathname lengths. But it does have better support multiple filesystems ("Bridge" discs), including ISO9660, Joliet, HFS & HFS+ (MacOS). Strangely enough, these really aren't needed as the added stated benefits of those filesystems is encompassed by the features of UDF.

Scott

[wenospeak]

Hey Scott,

Thanks!

I guess for the "File System, Media Format, and Archive Software" challenged (like me), everything we've talked about means that archiving any type of file to DVD media (without alteration - except for possilbe file names) is best achieved using the UDF file system (for the best "future-proof", "compatibility", and file "structure" results), high quality media (for obvious reasons), and Nero is decent enough to burn with.


Your posts have been quite beneficial for me and I really appreciate it.

Thanks again,

Rick

[Cornucopia]

Yes, that's pretty much the conclusion I was hoping you'd draw...

Scott

[RabidDog]

You could also look at the dreaded new hi-def formats but they're not really bedded down enough/ What about tape drives ?proven longterm storage and more per tape (80gb I think) so making the storage and retrieval of your backups more manageable. The Par idea is also a good suggestion but adds another layer of complexity.

A new external hard drive (2x500gb) easy quick simple.

[wenospeak]

Hi RD,

Those external hard drives are what I'm trying to clean out, I've got 3 X 300 and 1 X 250 in addition to the 6 local drives 4 X 250 and 2 X 120. ...and I swear there's no porn, just music, viedo, software, updates, and tons of pictures from my Fuji S7000 and the tons of .PSD artwork images that I make every single day and send to my wife as a good morning email.

It's pathetic, I've got stuff that's been copied a few times in a few places and never permanently archived. It's five years of laziness catching up to me...

So, this is it. I bought 200 DVD's (Toyo Yuden Premium's) and using a great screen capture program to label each disc "pouch" with the folder names and dates they were modified to compare when they were saved to avoid duplicating the same data again. (I'm not writing anything on the actual discs. Besides, if they get misfiled, the correct info will appear when it's inserted in an optical drive)


Thanks,

Rick

[jmkeuning]

You should look at a program called whereisit as a way to catalog these discs you are burning!

[hech54]

Prassi Ones BABY!!!!

[wenospeak]

You should look at a program called whereisit as a way to catalog these discs you are burning!

Wow, that Whereisit program looks pretty interesting. I might look closer at it after I clean up all my hard drives.

Thanks,

Rick