Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
intermediate files between the raw footage and the final product, and
deciding whether or how to back up that data can be challenging.
All this is equally true for those working with audio production,
especially when your Mac functions as a multitrack recorder; it also
holds for photographers working with gigantic, ultra-high-resolution
images and several other categories of user.
So, if you frequently generate more than a few gigabytes of new or
modified files in a single day, read on for my recommendations.
Video Backup Strategy
If you regularly edit video on your Mac, you may need to adjust your
backup strategy to account for these jumbo-sized files.
Video Data Types
Think about the different forms video data may take:
•
The original footage you shot with your camcorder—stored on
whatever medium your camera uses: analog or digital tape, a DVD,
a built-in hard drive, or a flash memory device.
•
The raw files you copied from the camcorder onto your hard disk.
•
A project (in, say, Final Cut Pro or iMovie) containing a selection
of video files plus the information about how they fit together—not
to mention music, narration, special effects, and so on. In the case
of Final Cut Pro, this also includes video and audio cache files,
which could be on a separate, connected disk.
•
A final, rendered movie, in one or more sizes and formats (DVD-
ready, Web-ready, etc.). Needless to say, a given project may be
“final” and still undergo changes later!
Which of these should you include in your backup plan—and how?
•
Original footage:
Let's begin with the original media from your
camcorder. The work you put into editing video clips is valuable,
but in most cases, the original footage is irreplaceable. However
time-consuming or painful it may be, you could recreate a project
