Need instructions on backing up projects to DVD

[Michael Hancock]

If you’re using OMF media only:

Step 1: Download MediaSift here. http://www.senkou.com It’s a free media manager program.

Step 2: Read the help file and learn how this great, free media moving program works, including the difference between Copying, Sifting, and Moving Projects.

Overview of what you’ll need to do after reading the manual:

This program can take all the media from each of your projects and put it into a folder named after each project.

For example, you have a project called BigProduction01. It will take every piece of media associated with BigProduction01 and put it in a folder called BigProduction01. Now you can copy the BigProduction01 Avid Project folder to the BigProduction01 folder and make a data DVD. If there’s too much media for the DVD, make a few DVDs. I have some projects that span 8 DVDs. Fun times.

When you need your project again, pop the DVD in, copy all the media from the BigProduction01 folder of the DVD to the OMFI MediaFiles folder of your hard drive. IMPORTANT: After you copy the media off the DVD you must select all of the copied media, right click, uncheck the Read Only box, hit Apply, OK. I’ve had problems with Avid trying to access the media when the media was still Read Only. It will give you an error. This is an important step, don’t forget to do it.

After you’ve copied the media delete the database files of your OMFI MediaFiles folder. Copy the BigProduction01 project folder to your Avid Projects folder on your hard drive, right click and uncheck the Read Only box, Apply, OK. Again, important step. Don’t forget to do it.

Start Avid. It will recognize your project, scan and index your media drive, relink your media and you’re back in business.

Have fun! If you’re working with MXF footage use MDV, found here: https://fiool.nm.ru/progz/ The site is Russian, the program is English. It’s another free media mover program that can do basically the same thing as MediaSift but on steroids. I use MDV for media deletion, MediaSift for backup. Your choice.

Another option, when you’re finished, is to duplicate then consolidate your final master sequence. This will make new clips of only the media you used in that sequence, plus handles. You can now back up just the consolidated media and your project files–it will take up a lot less space, but if you have to make changes you won’t have all the original media you captured–just the media you used in your sequence. I use consolidate when doing half hour shows because they span several DVDs. For promotions/commercials, I just copy the entire project.

Mike.

PS. If you really want to get involved and start managing your media before you even start, you can use virtual drives so that all of your media from a project is copied directly into a folder named for that project. Then, when you’re done, you can skip the MediaSift/MDV step and just back up that folder. Let me know if you want more info on virtual drives. They take some getting used to and discipline so you don’t capture to the wrong drive, but they’re pretty cool.

[Eric Christians]

MHancock;
Thanks for the in-depth reply. So we need the original media files (mov, wav, tga, jpg etc) and the corresponding omf media files in order to resurrect an archived project? am I understanding this correctly?

I know in Premiere all I have to save is the original media files (avi, wav, tga etc) and the project file (ppj) to a DVD and then copy/paste them back to hard drive and open the project file (ppj) and Premiere will pop open a window asking where file shot#01.avi is located. After directing it to the new location, premiere usually finds the rest of the files and loads up the orginal project timelime flawlessly (unless I am missing/forgot to save media elements).
I am going to install the software you suggested and see if we can make it easier for my co-worker to archive and resurrect past projects.

One other question, you said
“After you’ve copied the media delete the database files of your OMFI MediaFiles folder….etc”
I am assuming you mean to delete the orginal media files (mov, wav, tga jpg, etc) and leave the omf files in the OMFI MediaFiles folder and then copy/paste the orginal media files to the earmarked folder in the Avid Projects folder. Open Avid Newscutter XP program and then open the bin in the earmarked folder that you just pasted everything into.

Again thanks for the input. It is all very much appreciated and very helpful. Now I just got to wrap my head around how the avid works and saves things.

Thanks
KTTC-Red

[Vito Defilippo]

KTTC-Red,

“So we need the original media files (mov, wav, tga, jpg etc) and the corresponding omf media files in order to resurrect an archived project? am I understanding this correctly?”

No you are not. AVID will create its own omf versions of anything you import. While it’s always good to keep your original files in case of a problem, your project footage should all be online without those originals. You need to keep the omf files.

“After you’ve copied the media delete the database files of your OMFI MediaFiles folder….etc”
I am assuming you mean to delete the orginal media files…

No, he means to delete the two database files in the “OMFI MediaFiles” folder (msmFMID.pmr and msmMMOB.mdb). When you reopen AVID after copying your files back into the folder from your DVDs, AVID will scan the folder and rebuild the database.

[Eric Christians]

Gaspar;

Thanks for the reply and clarification. I have another question(s) for you though…

After Copy/pasting the OMF files from an archive project back to the OMFI Media Files Folder and deleting the msmFMID.pmr and msmMMOB.mdb files in the OMFI Media Files Folder. Will deleting the msmFMID.pmr and msmMMOB.mdb files cause problems for the Avid Newscutter XP in loading/opening current projects that are still on the harddrive and have not been archived?

I guess what I want to know is if I delete the msmFMID.pmr and msmMMOB.mdb files will this affect the other projects on my computer? Or will Avid just scan & rebuild the database will no ill-effects to the other projects that we are working on?

Sorry for being such a pain in the backside with all the technical questions. But this is quite new for us and once I get the archiving technique all worked out our promotions department wants me to teach them how to back their stuff up too. Also the Avid machines I am tinkering with is not the NLE I work with, so I really don’t want to screw up my co-worker’s projects. -“Measure Twice and Cut Once Philosophy”

Thanks again for all the help, much appreciated!
KTTC-Red

[Joe Womble]

No, it will not affect other projects. I allow the databases to update themselves when I add media all the time, even with Avid running. I usually minimize Avid, add media, and then when I maximize Avid, the databases update themselves. Maybe a safer way would be to close Avid, add media, delete the databases, and relaunch Avid.

Let me qualify that by saying that this method is with local drives. If you are on networked drives, there should be a better workflow.

Regards,

Joe Womble

[Eric Christians]

Joe Womble;

Thanks for the reassurance. Personally I have been working with Adobe Products (Premiere, AfterEffects, Photoshop)for the last 10 years (yikes has it been that long) so wrapping my head around how the avid works is a bit new to me.

MHancock, gaspar, and Joe Womble;
Thanks you guys for answering all my questions, turning me onto free applications and putting up with my inexperience…I will post again if I have anymore questions.

Big Thanks
KTTC-Red