• DaVinci Resolve

  Backups and Archives

  Posted by Bob Cole on August 26, 2018 at 3:47 am

  I’ve only had a computer die on the cusp of a deadline once. But the scars are still there.

  So I would like to know how best to backup a Resolve project, preferably from someone who has had a catastrophic computer failure – and restored the project smoothly.

  Resolve 14 offers three different types of backup:

  1. BACKUP: Local Database.resolve.diskdb,
  2. EXPORT PROJECT FILE: [ProjectName].drp, and
  3. ARCHIVE: inside a [ProjectName].dra, a project.drp.

  Which offers the best chance of smooth reinstallation? Keeping in mind that the best form of backup is one that is so quick and mindless, that you actually go ahead and do it.

  Thanks.

  Bob C

  Marc Wielage replied 7 years, 11 months ago 3 Members · 6 Replies
• 6 Replies

• 

  Tero Ahlfors

  August 26, 2018 at 8:07 am

  The database and the project file do not include the media used in the project. If you want the media you’ll want to use archive or copy/trim the used project media and export a separate project file.
• 

  Bob Cole

  August 26, 2018 at 10:02 am

  Thank you. Do you know the differences between “Backup” and “Export Project File”?

  I’m guessing that “Backup” includes lots of projects, while “Export Project File” copies only the selected project.

  Here are current file sizes for my three backups:

  1. BACKUP: Local Database.resolve.diskdb – 29 MB,
  2. EXPORT PROJECT FILE: [ProjectName].drp – 564 KB
  3. ARCHIVE – 5.62 GB; inside that folder is the project.drp – 567 KB

  Bob C
• 

  Tero Ahlfors

  August 26, 2018 at 3:04 pm

  The database has all projects that are in the exported database. A project file is that one project only. Archive is a project file plus the media used in the project.

  Also instead of guessing you could check out the manual.
• 

  Bob Cole

  August 27, 2018 at 3:15 pm

  [Tero Ahlfors] “Also instead of guessing you could check out the manual.”

  I get that, but I was looking for a real-world example, from someone who’d actually done it. I will now diligently
  look at the manual.

  As a test, I tried a restore on a different computer, and immediately found myself in a world of confusion regarding the location of the (now-disconnected) RAID. There’s no doubt that Resolve, while wonderful, is structured very differently from my old stand-by, FCP 7, which took such operations in its stride.

  Thanks!

  Bob C
• 

  Tero Ahlfors

  August 27, 2018 at 5:28 pm

  If you restore a project it will try to link the media where it was before. If that has changed then you’ll need to relink them. This was the case with FCP 7 as well.
• 

  Marc Wielage

  August 29, 2018 at 5:58 am

  Here’s the most catastrophic-avoidant backup strategy I can think of:

  1) export a DRP

  2) export a second DRP with embedded stills and LUTs

  3) export XMLs (or AAFs) of every timeline

  4) grab stills of every shot in the entire project, and export them as DPX/DRX files to individual folders per timeline

  5) backup all your source files to LTO and/or separate drives

  6) export a DaVinci Resolve Archive (.DRA), to a separate drive.

  One or several of these is bound to survive in everything except the possibility of a nuclear attack.

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