[Gerret Warner]

Since I wrote earlier I’ve found a firewire Blu Ray drive at OWC, and–according to the review they they link to–burning a 25 GB disk takes 45 minutes. Compared to my 1 hr per burn/verify 8 GB that’s hard to imagine.

The real question is whether you, Tim, are right about DVDs being too unstable to serve as an archive of footage. Anyone out there know?

GPW

[Gerret Warner]

Thanks Tim and N. Adam,

I’ve heard some criticism of DVDs for archive, but they’re probably the best compromise for now. While working on our projects–often for many months–I keep two hard drives of the MXF files. The DVDs are a 3rd, and are then given to the client with the warning to back them up. And yes, I do verify all burns.

I’d love to burn to Blue Ray, but I haven’t found one yet. Currently it takes me an hour per DVD on my LaCie to burn/verify an 8 GB group of files.

The Exabyte looked good, but their site says it’s for Windows only, and we’ll all Mac.

Any further thoughts are much appreciated.

GPW

[Gerret Warner]

Barry,

I’ve been offloading P2 cards for the last year using P2 Log (Imagine Products) and my Powerbook G4, without a single problem. What’s the issue?

[Gerret Warner]

Jim,
Yes, I think we now own about 25 500 GB drives. We’ve been buying OWC because they’re both dependable–so far–and light. We send them to freelance editors all over the country, and now will be sending them to clients with all their MXF files.

There is a solution to archiving that sounds pretty good in every way except cost: the Quantum SDLT 600A. Not sure, but I think it runs about $6k, which means we’re not buying it today.

Backing up to DL disk means you won’t be buying 16GB P2 cards, I guess.

Good luck,

Gerret

[Gerret Warner]

I’m with you, Jim. Archiving is one of the most challenging parts of the P2 workflow. I’ve got 200 8 GB files for one project; backing up to DVD would take a lifetime at current speeds. My current strategy is to back up to two Lacie Rugged drives via my Powerbook in the field; then dump files to two OWC 500 GB drives at end of day. It makes for a long day, but allows me to review footage and keep my catalog up to date. Recently I’ve added the cost of a set of drives to budgets so I can give them to the client at the end of the project. I look forward to the next generation of DL burners.

GPW

[Gerret Warner]

I’ve got a single-processor G5 and G4 Powerbook, and no video card. I’m now shooting on an HVX200. If I buy a card for the G5, I want to be able to send component out… and I’m hoping the card will still be usable in a new Mac Pro.

GPW

[Gerret Warner]

Nope. That’s the problem. Motion creates the file, which imports fine into my editor’s system (same Motion/FCP versions), but FCP doesn’t recognize it.

[Gerret Warner]

We too are researching. I was leaning toward SDLT, but have recently found out that Lacie is releasing a Blu-Ray burner in December. I think we’ll wait and see about relative price. We currently keep all MXF files on two drives. The third backup is the Quicktimes created by FCP.

[Gerret Warner]

Thanks, Arnie. Forgive my ignornance, but can you simply backup an 8-gig file to DL DVD, or do you have to divide it? That is, can you make a continuous backup to the DVD or does it require splitting your files in half?

[Gerret Warner]

Barry,

Yes, that’s at least what’s happening today as I test on FCP 5.1.2. All of my clips from the 8-gig cards have imported without a hitch so far. Whew!