Files to keep

[LMP40]

I'm doing some video recording using a Canon Vixia HF R52 camcorder. When I pull the recordings off the camcorder, they are in 4 GB (maximum size) mp4 files, which I assume is because the SD card on which the camcorder records the video is formatted using FAT32.

For example, for a session that was about an hour long, the camera produced three 3.95 GB files of about 16 minutes of video plus one 2.7 GB file for the last 11 minutes.

I've combined the files into one larger mp4 file using MP4Joiner (http://www.mp4joiner.org). This gave me one 14.5 GB mp4 file with 59 minutes of video.

I uploaded that 14.5GB to Google Drive. Google chewed on it for a while and now that file can be viewed as a streaming video from Google Drive.

Because it took a long time to upload a 14.5 GB file, I did some looking and discovered that I could compress that file by running it through HandBrake. I use the "Fast1080p30" HandBrake preset. This results in a considerably smaller mp4 file to upload. I presume this has lost a little quality, but not that much, and these are, after all, home-made videos that don't need to be commercial quality.

I want to keep a backup on my computer in addition to the files saved to Google Drive. Should I keep:

1. The original mp4 files downloaded from the camera
2. The original large mp4 file created with MP4Joiner
3. The compressed mp4 file created by HandBrake

Or is there something different I should be doing?

[sneaker]

1
The earlier in the chain you backup, the less likely it is you backup some already degraded or broken file. (Of course keeping backups in one point is not the best idea because you will lose them when the HDD is stolen, burned in a fire/flood or simply breaks.)

[Cornucopia]

Keep the originals, and if you do any extensive editing/processing/composting or original/adaptive creative work, keep backups of your results (your “masters “), and if possible your workflow/session metadata (so you can quickly recreate and/or pick up where you left off).

All the rest is either temp/byproduct or lcd distribution copies all of which should be easy to reproduce.

Scott

[johnmeyer]

Always keep the originals.

And, if you want to combine into one file, look at the software that came with the camera. Most cameras include software designed to losslessly stitch together those 4 GB files.

[Cornucopia]

Agree. Better to let the tools do the job properly & quickly than having to do it manually and possibly experience glitches.

Scott