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Dave Major
Dave Major
Inspiring
October 14, 2019
Answered

FAQ: Archiving footage - Best Practices

  • October 14, 2019
  • 4 replies
  • 1235 views

Hi everyone,

I'm just wrapping up a big project where I've been filming and editing 50+ video lessons. 

Now that takes up a lot of space and id rather not buy more and more hard drives 🤣 

I've filmed in h264, transcoded to prores and using smart rendering exported a master prores file for upload and re transcoding. 

 

Seeing as I am the client I know when the project is finished and complete.

I'm going to start archiving and removing unused files through the project manager in PP but I was curious about everyone else's backup and archiving process. 

 

How much footage do you keep? Especially if once editing the only time you'll re-edit is after reshooting. ( for example big upgrade on equipment)

 

Do you keep a master prores file and individual media? 

 

Or do you delete everything or keep everything? 

 

Just curious more than anything else

 

D

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Michael Grenadier

worst case scenario, I just keep the camera original but make sure I've got a clear idea how to regenerate the prores transcodes and maintain the same file names.  But drives are cheap compared to the past so usually I keep everything for at least a year.  Gotta say I've had projects from 10 years ago come back to life...  

 

Also remember:  Every hard drive will FAIL.  It's just a question of when.  Multiple backups are a good idea if you have to have access to the material down the road.  If I'm shooting on sdhc cards which are relatively cheap, I include the price of the cards in my billing.  If the camera original is on more expensive media, I make sure to have multiple backups...

 

One thing to think about is outputting a version of the finished piece without any titles.    And the audio without any narration or music.  

 

Also, I often just work with the camera original but generate prores (proxy) files to work with.  The proxy workflow in Premiere is very powerful... but always a good idea to test your workflow on a couple clips of your camera original...  I've found in certain instances that the proxy workflow didn't work.  I think there was an odd set of audio tracks that were part of the camera original files that could not be duplicated in a prores (proxy) file.  In that case I did generate full resolution prores files to work with.

 

 

4 replies

Kevin J. Monahan Jr.
Community Manager
Kevin J. Monahan Jr.Community Manager
Community Manager
October 14, 2019

Hey Salvo, 

If you do have originals where you hold the copyright, consider uploading those clips to Adobe Stock. You never know if someone might need one of your shots, and that way, you make an extra buck. Just a thought.

Regards,
Kevin Monahan

Kevin Monahan - Sr. Community and Engagement Strategist – Adobe Pro Video and Audio
    S
    salvo34
    Inspiring
    October 15, 2019
    I have been into putting stock stuff up to some organization in the past, and Getty is probably the go to place for most ... but there are others too ... but usually I save that end product and dump the source stuff... I keep a clean machine, hehe....
    S
    salvo34
    Inspiring
    October 15, 2019
    reminds me of beatles 'penny lane' , where the fire engine is clean, it's a clean machine.... "
    Kevin J. Monahan Jr.
    Community Manager
    Kevin J. Monahan Jr.Community Manager
    Community Manager
    October 14, 2019

    I endorse and also use the same method as mgrenadier. 

    Keep the camera originals, dump transcodes and proxies after the job is done.

    Have a pathway to transcode these files once again, if need by.

    Nice FAQ.

    Kevin Monahan - Sr. Community and Engagement Strategist – Adobe Pro Video and Audio
      S
      salvo34
      Inspiring
      October 14, 2019

      I basically save the export ( for me is usually h264 ) for viewing. Put that on flash drives and laptop HD and editing computer HD. I delete everything after each project is done. I go into O.S. after doing project deletions, so I know for certain all the cache files are gone and all the source materials and project files, etc.

      I don't keep any 'original' source stuff at all, whether I shot it or someone else did. To me, when it's done, it's done.

       

       

      M
      Michael GrenadierCorrect answer
      Legend
      October 14, 2019

      worst case scenario, I just keep the camera original but make sure I've got a clear idea how to regenerate the prores transcodes and maintain the same file names.  But drives are cheap compared to the past so usually I keep everything for at least a year.  Gotta say I've had projects from 10 years ago come back to life...  

       

      Also remember:  Every hard drive will FAIL.  It's just a question of when.  Multiple backups are a good idea if you have to have access to the material down the road.  If I'm shooting on sdhc cards which are relatively cheap, I include the price of the cards in my billing.  If the camera original is on more expensive media, I make sure to have multiple backups...

       

      One thing to think about is outputting a version of the finished piece without any titles.    And the audio without any narration or music.  

       

      Also, I often just work with the camera original but generate prores (proxy) files to work with.  The proxy workflow in Premiere is very powerful... but always a good idea to test your workflow on a couple clips of your camera original...  I've found in certain instances that the proxy workflow didn't work.  I think there was an odd set of audio tracks that were part of the camera original files that could not be duplicated in a prores (proxy) file.  In that case I did generate full resolution prores files to work with.

       

       

        Dave Major
        Dave MajorAuthor
        Inspiring
        October 16, 2019
        Thank for this. I take it you keep the project files and audio aswell?
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