Storing 1000+ 8mm reels digitaly

[johnnhud]

Oops! I think I was misunderstood, I didn't mean that I would be transfering TO Hi8 or VHS, but FROM. Since I'm doing a "History" so to speak, it would be silly to just stop in the 80's when everyone stopped filming super8 and switched to VHS & Hi8. So what I meant is that when I am done with all the 8mm stuff, I will start to transfer the more modern media types to edit as well.

Here's how I plan on backing up. I will capture all my footage from the Workprinter XP right to MiniDV. These tapes will then be archived. Once all the footage it recorded to MiniDV, I will then use FCP to scrubb through each tape and set all my ins & outs per scene & by date. I will have to assigne each MiniDV tape a reel number, 001, 002, 003 and so forth. Once I have set all my ins & outs, I can simply start the "Batch Capture" feature of FCP. It will take controll of my video deck and start transfering all the DV footage I have shot of the 8mm tape. Also, it will prompt me to insert the needed reel (001, 002, 003, ect.) when it's ready to capture from that tape.

I have purchased 2x 400GB external High Speed USB drives to capture the video onto. Once the video is captured from the tapes I will simply archive the tapes somewhere safe. (Water proof, fire proof, bullet proof box which I will currier to Ft Knox for safekeeping) As long as I am saving and backing up my FCP project file I will not need to back up my video. The project file is rarely over 5 megs and if I suffer a hard drive crash, all I have to do is re-enable the Batch capture and it will go back and re-capture all the lost video automaticly.

The editing doesn't consern me that much because 40% of it will be done in the captureing of the video to the HD. The rest will be on the timeline.