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archiving lossless video to hard disk
I archive to hard disk by using export to file command then clicking on settings and choosing cinepak. That’s what I do always. Then this morning I used Adobe Media Encoder and used MPEG 2 format with NTSC DV Generic preset and set audio to PCM. Looking at the two archives of the same video, I noticed that the the MPEG2 has exhibited lesser grains and banding. What surprises me is that the MPEG2 archived video is only 500++ MB while the AVI (using the first method) is 1.8 gigabytes. Does this mean MPEG2 is a better way to archive file either for master or as an intermediate file for future processing?
Also, when you burn to tape, there is no window where I can adjust bit rate and other compression stuff. Does that mean burning to tape is lossless or uncompressed? When watching archived videos to tape, I notice artifacts, banding, etc. Is there a way to burn to tape without processing so that there will be zero compression? I really need to know the answers to these because we’re about the free our internal drives for upcoming projects and need to know the best and most efficient way of archiving. God bless.
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6 Replies
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The best archiving method is to export with the same settings as the project, avoiding conversions. For instance, in a DV project, export movie with MS DV AVI codec. Do not use outdated codecs like Cinepak or heavily compressed codecs like MPEG.
If your internal disks are filled up, get an external disk and copy those files with Explorer to an external disk.
Harm Millaard
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Thanks Harm!
I use a Canon XL1 miniDV camcorder and Premiere Pro 2.0 to capture and edit.
Should I use Media Encoder or the Export to Movie command?
This morning, I clicked on File > Export > Movie. Then in the Export Movie Settings, I chose Microsoft DV AVI as the file type and DV NTSC as the compressor. In the rendering options (bit depth), I chose “use project settings” then put a check on “Optimize Stills.” Did I do it correctly? Is there anything more that I should do?
Should I do the same if my objective is to use the exported movie for further editing/ processing in After Effects? God bless.
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You did it right using Export Movie. This file can be easily edited further with AE, but only as a single clip.
Harm Millaard
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Thanks Harm!!!
It was great! I watched the (edited) exported file and it looked the same as the original captured file.
I just noticed one thing. I used the frame rate 29.97 (in the export settings) so it would be the same as the unedited source footages. To check on the properties of the source footages, I clicked on File > Get Properties. In the Properties window, some footages have the frame rate of 29.95, 29.7, 29.93, etc. Is it still correct to use 29.97 frame rate in my export settings when the source footages are of different frame rates? Is my Canon XL1 broken? Or is that normal? God bless.
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That is weird. I’ve never seen something like that (but I’m in PAL land and everything I use is 25). In addition I prefer to use Scenalyzer instead of PP for capturing DV material and for HDV I use HDVSplit instead of PP. In the future you may try one of these to see if that problem persists, but for now I would not worry about it, if you don’t see any differences in video quality and speed.
Harm Millaard
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I can’t see anything wrong in terms of video quality EXCEPT for two things: when downloading the tape on a small consumer camcorder, files are cut (when scene detect is on) in places where I didn’t press the record button (on the camera). Scene detect should only split the footage in places where the record button is pressed. I have videos (which should be downloaded as single footages) that were split into many many footages. Some are about a few seconds’ length, others are exactly 1 frame. Weird. The other problem is the popping/ crackling audio. I am not sure if the wrong frame rates are doing that. I minimize these problems by downloading with the XL1. Probably the problematic frame rate of the XL1 does not match the consumer camera’s correct frame rate. I posted this (partially) in the Canon Camcorder forum as “erratic frame rate” but never got an answer. I hope someone provides an answer before I get into real trouble.
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