Great thing about digital media is it is so darn easier to work with than film or tape but the bad thing is it is so easy to lose.

As amateurs here is how we archive our stuff.

Most of recent stuff is miniDV so as you know about 13gig file size per hour of tape.

I write those BIG avi files to a new pc hard drive and when it is 3/4 full I pull it and store it carefully.

Then I open those "raw avi files in my editing timeline and cut them into rendered avi pieces that will fit on dvd data discs - avg 3 single layer discs per hour.

Then I make backup copies of those discs.

Then I render the BIG avi files as mpeg2 and burn that to dvd data disc.

So I have all that raw along with multiple copies of my finished and edited program saved as .vob folders and on dvd discs.

Finally, I carefully store/archive the original miniDV tapes as a final but constantly deteriorating layer of protection.

YIKES - I have 8mm and 16mm film home movies from 50 years ago and my still negatives from almost that long ago that are all still in great shape so I like the digital but fret about its' fragility.