Hey guys,
I have a problem right now. I need to compress video Im pulling from my old camcorder. I want to keep digital backups without loss in quality. Or very little loss if possible. What format and program should I be trying to convert this into.
I have 500 gigs so I do have lots of room, but the RAW video for all my videos are too big.
Thanks for any help

The quality of your backup does not to exceed the quality of the source - what is the source materail?

I would suggest that backing up using the dv codec will be fine at 11 gigs / hour , that is assuming a dv or worse source.

If you want to use less space i find that wmv at 2000 kbit .sec does not degrade dv, well only a tiny bit, and that gives only 900 meg of disc space for an hour.

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Lowering the tone of video since 2004.

www.zaskarfilms.com You tube channel 'zaskarfilms'
JVC DV5001e (big cam), Sony PC6E (tiny cam), Vinten pro5, PAG light, SM58, Sony ECM50, Sony C-76, 0.5x convertors for sony, Rode video mic, Vegas 7.

They are those old Hi-8 tapes. What software can encode them at DV?

Have you considored backing up to DVD, I would say that is safer than a hard drive, with hd storage you really need 2 seperate copies on 2 drives for top safety.

DVD-R is a mature technology and I am pretty sure I am right in saying that all the fears of short life have proved groundless, but i didnt check.

Backing up this way is a cinch too, most dvd-r recorders like the sort you put next to your telly can record straight from ant analogue input. Much easier than faffing around with a pc if literally all you want to do is back all tapes up 'as is'.

__________________
Lowering the tone of video since 2004.

www.zaskarfilms.com You tube channel 'zaskarfilms'
JVC DV5001e (big cam), Sony PC6E (tiny cam), Vinten pro5, PAG light, SM58, Sony ECM50, Sony C-76, 0.5x convertors for sony, Rode video mic, Vegas 7.