Format Question

teresa92 · Post by **teresa92** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:18 pm

I'm new to movie editing!

What format do you save your home videos in for long term storage?

I'd like to capture my movies from DV and then permanently store them on DVD, and tape over my DV tapes. But if I simply make a home movie using Video Studio and burn it to DVD, Video Studio stores the video files in its own format (.VOB) and I can't seem to manipulate the files as I would when they were first captured them in AVI/MPEG format. I want to be able to open and manipulate my movie files as I did when I first captured them. Do I need to burn them to DVD as AVI and MPEG files then?

And do you guys trust using DVD technology for long term storage of your home movies OR do you keep them on DV tape or on your hard drive as backup?

Rich2Putt · Post by **Rich2Putt** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:17 pm

I would personnaly keep the original DV tapes as back-up.

Everything I've read on this subject say tapes will last much longer then anything burned on DVD. DV mini tapes are not that expensive and well worth the expense if the video's are of family & friends.

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:52 pm

VOB files are not proprietary Video Studio files, they are Video OBject files that are containers for MPEG2-encoded video -- the standard for DVDs, and the only way to play them on standalone DVD players.

You can take a VOB file from a DVD burned with Video Studio, rename it to have a .MPG extension, and edit it in just about any video editor, including Video Studio of course.

The other way to edit a previously burned DVD is to use the "Insert from DVD/DVD-VR" option -- this will allow you to select the scene(s) to import from the DVD.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 6:03 pm

I burn 2 copies of my DVD. One for playing, one for backup. I also put a d_skin protector on the one I'll be playing. Also I recently purchased the CD/DVD Repair Pro which has already paid off by fixing 2 previously unplayable DVDs. That can be found here: http://www.shop4tech.com/user.htm?go=vi ... &s_cata=97

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 7:06 pm

The absolute best solution is to save the tapes.

MPEG-2 is quite good, but it's "lossy" compression, so the quality can't be quite as good as the original AVI/DV tape. (The AVI/DV data on your tapes is compressed too... but not as much.)

MPEGs can be difficult to edit too. Some types of edits require the video to be decoded before editing, so the video gets further-degraded during the 2nd lossy MPEG encode. On top of that, the Ulead products seem to have other problems with editing MPEGs.... Like the "lip-sync" problems that inspired my "signature" below.

Maybe in the future, when Blu-Ray or HD-DVD gets popular and cheap, you can transfer the AVI/DV files directly to a disc for permanant archive storage.

And do you guys trust using DVD technology for long term storage

Yes, if you don't damage it. And, Whenever I make a DVD or CD, I make an archive / back-up copy... I have a drawer full of back-up CDs and DVDs in those little CD envelopes. But, that's a back-up of the "output". I don't always keep a backup of the "input"... In that case, I know I can't go back and start-over... I'm stuck with what I've done.

teresa92 · Post by **teresa92** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 9:13 pm

Thanks for the info. Trying to get my head round all of the file types and what not. And it's further complicated by the fact that I'm living in the UK and want to send DVDs home to the US in NTSC. arghh.. so much to learn, but I'm getting there.

Didn't realise what VOB was. It's good to know you can change that back to MPEG and edit it.

I am concerned with what DVDDoug said tho about the quality of MPEG-2 never being as good as the original DV tape. And that the quality could get lowered when bringing the MPEG into ULead for editing. I definitely don't want to do anything to hurt the excellent quality of DV. Looks like I'll keep my DV tapes on my most important home movies. Thanks for the advice, it helps!