Video backup options

[pantichd]

Hello,

I'm looking for some guidance on options for backing up captured home video.

I've already been able to copy my video from the tape to a dvd with menus, chapter points, fades, etc using Pinnacle Studio. I'm happy with that but I'd still like to retain the complete, unedited video in case I want to make other videos in the future.

What I'm trying to figure out now is what my options are for backing up that video. I obviously can't keep the videos on my hard drive because they're just too big.

So far the only thing I can think of is to actually just make straight copies of the videos onto DVDs. Is that really my only option?

Also, I have already run into an issue where I captured some video with a trial copy of some software and then tried to pull that video into Pinnacle Studio. It keeps telling me that it's not recognized even though it's AVI format.

Hopefully my ramblings make sense. Thanks in advance for ANY help.

David

[setarip]

"It keeps telling me that it's not recognized even though it's AVI format."

1) Load the original video file into VirtualDub (or one of its many variants) or NanDub

2) From the "File" dropdown menu, select "File Information"

3) Post (here) EVERYTHING you see (BOTH video and audio information), or post a screen capture .jpg of the information box

[pantichd]

setarip,

Sorry to be dense but ...

how do I include the screenprint in my reply?

[pantichd]

Well, since I can't figure out how to attach a screen print...

Here is the information from the File Information dialog for one of those AVI files

Video stream =================
Frame size, fps (us per frame) 720x480, 29.970fps (33367 us)
Length: 27514 frames (15:18:05)
Decompressor: Internal DV decoder
Number of key frames: 27481
Min/avg/max/total key frame size: 120000/120000/120000 (3220430K)
Min/avg/max/total delta frame size: 0/0/0 (0K)
Data rate: 28737 kbps (0.02% overhead)

Audio stream =============
Sampling rate: 32000Hz
Channels: 2 (Stereo)
Sample precision: 16-bit
Compression: PCM (Uncompressed)
Layout: 2752 chunks (0.00s preload)
Length: 29376697 samples (15:18:02)
Min/avg/max/total frame size: 42708/42708/42708 (114778K)
Data rate: 1024 kbps (0.06% overhead)

[setarip]

"Decompressor: Internal DV decoder"

Obtain and install the Canopus or MainConcept codec...

[pantichd]

Duh, I guess I just didn't look hard enough because now I see the "Attach file:" section plain as day. Sorry about that.

[pantichd]

setarip,

You said ...

"Decompressor: Internal DV decoder"

Obtain and install the Canopus or MainConcept codec..."


Can you at least give me a hint about how installing that will help? With my limited knowledge I think that you need to have the codecs the video was created with installed on your machine in order to play it.

However, I don't think that's the problem in this case because I'm able to double-click on the AVI clip and play it in another player. It's just that when I try to open it in Pinnacle Studio I get the error message mentioned in my original post.

Do I have somehow to add something to Pinnacle first? Or do I need to convert the AVI?

[setarip]

"I don't think that's the problem in this case because I'm able to double-click on the AVI clip and play it in another player."

PLAYING a video is not the same as ENCODING it.

E.G. If you install the FFDShow filter on your system, you'll be able to play virtually ANY .AVI, regardless of what codec was used to create it. However, the FFDShow filter will NOT give you the ability to convert/encode the .AVI - for that, you MUST have the appropriate codec installed on your system...