7 Simple Disaster Recovery Tips for Video Production Profeionals

If it won't happen to me' is your strategy for avoiding disaster, read on. Maybe you, or at least some you know, have lost important video footage. This might be some unused rushes that were being saved for a future project, or it might be the centrepiece of a whole episode.

Either way, these tips might just help avoid your next disaster.

1. Look after storage devices Don't keep memory cards in back pockets or bags to be knocked around. Don't leave DVDs open to the elements without a case. Don't just think about physical protection either. Video files can become corrupt if you turn a camera off or remove the card before it's finished writing the data.

2. Format cards and drives Some cards and drives require periodical formatting. Many people simply delete the video files and expect the card to like new again. Actually, when you press delete, you're simply saying it's ok to write over this data' rather than actually removing it. Formatting your card actually erases every Bit of data, however it takes a little longer and shouldn't be necessary after each video shoot.

3. Make a backup on location Accidents can happen anywhere and they're most likely to during the actual shoot. The quicker you can replicate your raw footage, the more protected it will be. It makes sense to store the backup away from the original if you can - what use is keeping a backup with the original in your bag if that gets stolen?

4. Ensure the backup works Dont make a backup and just assume it works. Test it on multiple computers or back in the camera to make sure the footage is readable.

5. Get the video files back from location ASAP The quicker you can get your RAW footage back from location and onto a long term storage solution, the safer it'll be. Usually that means shipping drives, tapes and cards around the world (make sure you keep a copy on you in case these don't make it!). With ever-faster online connectivity, you could upload to the Cloud for instant backup, not to mention global availability.

6. Know where your files are Do you actually know where both copies of a specific video file are kept? In our DVD library' or on one of these hard drives' is not good enough! Knowing the exact DVD or hard drive the backup is stored on will be invaluable on your next time-sensitive project.

7. Plan for disaster The worst thing you can do is assume your storage solution is invincible. All storage types have expiry dates and will eventually make your data unreadable. What's your plan to cope with a storage device failure?

LINK:	http://aframe.com/blog/2013/08/08/7-simple-disaster-recovery-tips-for-...
	See more stories from aframe

Most recent headlines