Best back-up utility for use w/FCP 4.5/5 files…

[David Jones]

https://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/dvbackup.html

[Gunner Jones]

I don’t understand, why not just backup your project using your master tapes and the original project file? That’s the way I’ve always worked. Just keep your project files and master tapes in a safe place. I prefer a waterproof/fireproof safe.

O&O-Gunner Productions
FCP-Avid-After Effects

[Bryce Whiteside]

Free software:
https://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/
https://www.lacie.com/silverkeeper/

I use the following to backup up my system drive to another bootable physical drive including firewire drives. You can schedule it to make an image during off hours:
https://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html

Commercial backup software
https://www.dantz.com/ – I use Retrospect
https://www.cmsproducts.com/product_bounceback_software.htm

Just pick your firewire drive of choice.

HTH,
Bryce

Don’t worry Mr. B. I have a cunning plan…

PowerBook 1.67 Ghz ATI 9700 128 MB 2 GB
Final Cut Pro HD
DVD Studio Pro 3
Motion

[Gunner Jones]

I’m still not getting it. Seems like a waste of time and money….

Can you enlighten me as to why you would need anything but the project file and master tapes?

O&O-Gunner Productions
FCP-Avid-After Effects

[Bryce Whiteside]

With one of the below you could make a client change without having to put the project back on you main storage. This of course only applies to DV, SD (standard definition video) and not HD.

The current sweetspot in my research for harddrives is for 250GB. A good low street price for these are $150, so 4 x 250 = 1 TB storage for 4 x $150 = $600 excluding case or RAID case (1 time charge $240 to $500).

Also the 500 GB RAIDed external firewire drives use two 250 GB like G-Technology https://www.g-raid.com/ and LaCie LaCie Big Disk 500 GB https://www.lacie.com/products/range.htm?id=10033. They use 2 x 250 GB and for example you could buy two 500 GB (1 TB) G-RAID Firewire 800 externals for the price of one of their 800 GB units. I prefer the G-Technology because they concentration on the same guaranteed sustained throughput for the entire drives.

For backup I would consider something like these I just stumbled on https://www.cooldrives.com/miulra800dud.html. There are other well respected manufacturer of removal enclosure like Granite Digital https://www.granitedigital.com/catalog/pg22c_firewireidehotswapraid_2.htm or Wiebetech Micro https://www.wiebetech.com/products.php#storagesystems or https://tinyurl.com/3tqpc

I would assume one of Aaron’s concerns might be quicker client response time–swap a couple of drives as oppose to insert tape, insert tape, insert tape, insert tape…
As oppose to online all the time for clients, I would consider this near-online.

The cost of harddrives–be they SATA or Firewire–has reach the point where they are commodities just the way raw tape was considered in the old days of production. I remember working for a broadcast post-production facility where we charged $200 for a D1 master spot reel tape for dubs which we kept and stored for our clients.

Your method is great for long form video that has a limited distribution time window, but broadcast commercial production, infommercials and corporate videos may have a wide on demand distribution time window.

Inquiring minds…
Bryce Whiteside

Don’t worry Mr. B. I have a cunning plan…

PowerBook 1.67 Ghz ATI 9700 128 MB 2 GB
Final Cut Pro HD
DVD Studio Pro 3
Motion

[Gunner Jones]

Hey Bryce. First of all, I need to know. Is that a quote from “Hazel”? 😉 It’s the only Mr. B I can recall.

Next, I can see where you’d want quick access to old media. In a post-house environment where turnaround and changes are more the course of the day. I agree that drives are so cheap, so why not just leave the media on the drive and remove it from your machine or a FireWire enclosure and then slam in a new one?

I used to use DLTs for backups at a post house I used to work at. Now that sure seemed like a waste of time.

O&O-Gunner Productions
FCP-Avid-After Effects

[Bryce Whiteside]

It comes from the third season of “Black Adder the Third” starring Rowan Atkinson
Baldrick: Don’t worry Mr B., I have a cunning plan to solve the problem.
Edmund (Rowan Atkinson): Yes, Baldrick, let us not forget that you tried to solve the problem of your mother’s low ceiling by cutting off her head.

BBC Homepage
https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/blackadder/

3rd party script site
https://tvsothertenpercent.tripod.com/blackad/

As funny as Monty Python…at least the first 3 seasons,
Cheers,
Bryce

Don’t worry Mr. B. I have a cunning plan…

PowerBook 1.67 Ghz ATI 9700 128 MB 2 GB
Final Cut Pro HD
DVD Studio Pro 3
Motion