Backup Files to DV Camera

[Chris Gohlke]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.jakeludington.com/project_studio/20050828_backup_files_to_dv_camera.html' target='_blank'>http://www.jakeludington.com/project_studio/20050828_backup_files_to_dv_camera.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Tape backup was once the norm for archiving files from home PCs. Consumer grade tape drives tended to be flaky and slow, but were the only alternative to using dozens of floppy disks. With DVD burners priced as low as $50 for dual-layer burning, it almost seems unnecessary to think about tape backup solutions. Tape storage still has advantages, particularly if you want to make a more permanent archive to store in a lockbox in case of fire. Instead of investing in a tape drive and expensive tape media, your Digital Video camera and affordable MiniDV tapes provide a resource for 10-15GB backups compatible with millions of drive units available in homes all over the country."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/fire.jpg" /><br /><br />Great idea! If you already have a DV camera, this would allow for larger back-ups than optical back-up formats and have a low cost per MB. Jake goes on to look at some of the software you can use to get this to work. Options are available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

[Philip Colmer]

On the face of it, this seems like a really great idea. I guess I'm a bit concerned, though, about what the impact might be to the heads. If the tape is wound &amp; rewound a lot, that may wear the camcorder out faster.

Hmmm ... need to give this one some thought. Might be worth trying out Firestreamer just on one tape to see what it is like.

--Philip

[Philip Colmer]

Well, the good news is that it seems to be quite straightforward to use ... after I remembered to put the camcorder into "tape" mode, rather than video camera mode :!:

It isn't brilliantly fast - 336 files, 5,954,333,838 bytes in 40 min, 58 sec, but it does allow you to use NTBackup without any further hassle.

The price isn't too bad ($46 USD) - however it is licensed based on a serial number obtained from the camcorder. That means if you replace the camcorder for whatever reason, you have to buy a new license! Now I appreciate that cristalink need to protect the work they've created, but is this really the best way to do it? It smacks of ebook DRM restrictions :evil:

--Philip