Editors' R.O.T. _002 — Create Your Own Auto Save Vault
One of the important R.O.T.s I can pass on to self-trained editors is this: Create Your Own Auto Save Vault.
One can never have too many backups of your project file
In case something should happen to your project file, you should always have a recent backup of your project ready to go.
In the spirit of paranoia (the mark of any established editor), I advise everyone to create your own set of backups on a regular basis using File > Save As > Version_00x, and place these in a folder, for example. Simple tip!
Note that you may have to set an alarm on your watch or phone in order to build up a decent archive, but a few backups a day should do the trick.
You should make copies of the project somewhere to the internet or on another computer system, ideally offsite (like on Creative Cloud). That way, you can guard against a fire, flood, or other natural disaster (like an earthquake—a very real threat to the TV industry here in California).
All that said, doesn't Premiere Pro have an Auto Save feature?
Good point!
Why is this necessary, what about the Auto Save feature?
Just about every NLE has an Auto Save feature for project files. Projects are saved incrementally over time in every NLE. However, the Auto Save feature in just about every NLE I've ever used to edit had a tendency to not work the way you'd expect them to, especially when you needed them most. Each NLE has its own set of rules and quirks you should be aware of (see the above articles). Even if Auto Save did work well in present or past, an editor worth their salt might want their own set of backups so that one could have saves at crucial points of their edit.
Auto Save is getting pretty good with Premiere Pro these days, and it has saved my bacon more than once, which is a good thing. However, if you were curious, here are some articles about Premiere Pro's Auto Save feature:
In that last article, it is important to note that there is an Auto Save preference for you to save a copy of your Auto Save project to Creative Cloud. Please turn that on so that you have added protection against project file failure.
When is a backup useful?
- If you've crashed and then discover your Auto Save preference is switched off for some reason.
- If Auto Save files aren't current enough.
- If a project file becomes corrupt and won't open any more.
- If a drive failure happens.
- If a fire, flood, or natural disaster occurs.
- If your other Auto Save files are also corrupt.
If you do not have a recent back up of that file at the ready, you are putting every editing job you ever get in possible jeopardy. You must be a guardian against any failure of every project file.
Can this situation be improved?
Sure! This is a pretty nasty pain point, I think, so I suggest that that you might want upvote this feature request: Instant Auto Save – Adobe video & audio apps Please add your feedback in User Voice on how you'd like this feature to work or any other improvement along these lines.
It's pretty cool how Rush and Team Projects work with saving as automatic to saving to Creative Cloud is already a reality with those apps.
I'd love to hear about your methods of backing up projects. Or do you rely solely on Auto Save? Let me know in the comments below.
Disclaimer: "I'm speaking more as an editing colleague or instructor in these R.O.T.s, and not necessarily as an Adobe employee. I taught editing in trade schools for several years before coming to Adobe, and was hoping to pass along some things I used to teach."
—Kevin
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