Media Storage
For your first shoot, it’s important to learn how to backup your footage. Make it a priority to backup your footage after every shoot, to at least two external hard drives, as outlined below. Many professionals recommend maintaining three backups for added security. You’ll need to research the process of copying media from your camera to your external storage drives.
Video Transcript:
In my computer’s file browser, I can see that the memory card from the camera is mounted here.
- Double-clicking on the icon opens a folder, and further clicks reveal a hierarchy of subfolders.
The folder structure and files will vary depending on the camera and format you’re using. These folders contain pathways and metadata that editing software relies on to access your footage, and in most cases, they should not be altered.
- I open another browser window and arrange them side by side.
- Then I navigate to my external Editing Drive, open it, and create a folder named “LLL Media.”
- Inside this main folder, I create a subfolder named “Skill-Builder Media.”
- Within this subfolder, I create a folder for my Skill-Builder footage, following a naming convention that includes the date and content. For instance, I label the folder “year-month-day” followed by “Reading Media” or a name appropriate to the activity you filmed.
- I return to the browser window that displays my media card. From there, I drag the media folder to the “YR-MO-DY – Reading Media” folder in my external Editing Drive.
- Once the copying process is complete, I always double-check that all material transferred correctly. To do this, I compare the folder information of both the source and destination folders, confirming that the media files are the same size and that the number of files in each folder matches.
- Next, I eject the card reader.
- Then I connect another external drive that I call “Backup Drive.” This drive doesn’t meet the specifications for editing and is therefore less expensive.
- Finally, I copy the LLL Media folder from my Editing Drive to my Backup Drive to ensure that all media is stored on at least two drives at all times.
To keep track of where I store my media, I maintain a Media Files Backup Log. The log lists each shoot with date, content, camera format, audio setup used, and where I’ve stored the media. You should do the same.
Download and create a copy of this Blank Media Files Backup Log to log the footage that you just backed up.
Back up your footage after every shoot. Never leave footage solely on a media card. Once you’ve confirmed that your footage is backed up in at least two locations, you should erase it from the card. Doing so prevents the accumulation of multiple shoots on the card and ensures that you’re not backing up the same media multiple times.
To erase media from your card, familiarize yourself with your camera’s functions.
Video Transcript:
On this camera, to erase media,
- I press the Menu button and the menu appears on the screen.
- I use the toggle knob on the back to navigate through the menu. I locate the ‘Others’ section, press the toggle to enter this submenu, and then select ‘Media Format’.
- I press the toggle again to access this menu, where I’m prompted to choose the card I want to format.
- After selecting ‘Card A’ by pressing the toggle, the camera warns me that formatting will erase all media.
- If I’m certain that I’ve fully backed up the media, I select ‘OK’. The media is then erased and the card reformatted.
Your card is now ready for your next shoot and your media is securely backed up.