I usually get rid of my master footage a few weeks after a project is complete and approved, IF i think there is no use for stock footage in the future.
I always print to tape the FINAL edited project and keep these somewhat organized.
I also print my personal copy on DVD for display/demo purposes and put them on a bookshelf.
I also keep ALL of my projects (AUDIO_TS & VIDEO_TS folders) on a hard drive. Just this weekend, I transferred all of them to a 300GB external drive so they are now all in one place. This drive will hold about 70 projects. When it is full, i will just put that hard drive away for safe keeping and pop another 300GB drive in the enclosure.
This might sound like overkill, but it works for me. Gives me easy access if I need to burn additional copies, and I am sure to have the project available in one format or another.
I like the hard drive backup, but i don’t trust them. They fail. I like the DVD copies for easy accessibility, but I don’t trust them either. They get scratched or mysteriously stop working. The tapes seem the most reliable, but chapters have to be re-created, unless I save my veg project and dvda files.
On another note, I always save my titles, photos, and other files related to the project on another hard drive. They dont take up much space, and have come in handy for stock usage, and re-creating more projects for the same customer.
Hope this helps.
Eric
Eric Blissmer, Owner/Producer
DV Memories Video, Inc.
Your Local Videographer
http://www.dvmemories.us
Business Promotional Video, Weddings, Events, Editing, Transfers, Duplication and more!