Blu Ray Backup for P2 at DVinfo.net

Justin Connor · March 23rd, 2009, 11:19 PM

Hello,

Quick one. Using an HVX 200 - and MacBook Pro to offload LOTS of P2 footage, backing up footage to 1 primary and 2 back-up TB drives, BUT 2 of my G-Raid 1 TB drives went down! Yikes...Getting them refurbished and backing them up...again. *Sigh*

Needless to say, I am worried about these potentially fickle drives.

So, I am now looking at Blu-Ray as a Hard back-up to my footage so i will have it in 3 drives AND backed up to Blu Ray just as a precaution...Ideas?

I have just finished filling up my first TB and with 2 back-ups, am now trying to figure out which Blu-Ray Burner to buy (best deal, price, recommendations, etc), any info on discs to purchase or overall advice, as these 2 recent drives going down have understandably got me panicked.

Basically, any and all information about the Blu Ray world, as the online forums have left my head in a tizzy especially after almost losing 2 hard drives recently.

Help.

And thank you!

Cheers,
JC

Daniel Weber · March 24th, 2009, 09:42 AM

We use blu ray to back up our files from a Sony EX1. Right now the cheapest discs are the 25 gig ones. I think we were able to get them for around $5 a disc or so.

The 50 gig dual layer discs are much more expensive and harder to find.

We use Toast 9 on our macs to burn the discs using external burners through USB. Not the fastest way to do it but it was pretty cost effective.

Daniel Weber

Noah Kadner · March 24th, 2009, 12:13 PM

Have you looked into LTO instead? Much more reliable long term and more suitable to long-term backup than Blu-Ray.

Noah

Justin Connor · March 26th, 2009, 02:22 PM

'ppreciate the help guy.

think i am going for a blu-ray just as a precautionary measure.

you guys rock.

TingSern Wong · April 5th, 2009, 05:47 AM

For short term backups, blu-rays, dvds, etc - will do. Long term, data tapes (DLT, SDLT, LTO, etc) - are the best.

Dan Brockett · April 5th, 2009, 04:22 PM

Does anyone have a favorite recommendation for specific DLT, LTO drives? At my old work, we had the Quantum DLT-6000, which was okay, but a bit slow and clunky and it was pretty costly as I recall, somewhere around $6-$7k. Looking for a good longterm backup for a lot less money, if it exists.

Dan

TingSern Wong · April 5th, 2009, 07:33 PM

Yes - CDW sells one Quantum DLT tape drive for less than US$1K. Connects via USB 2.0 and eSATA. Use eSATA and you can get pretty good speed.

CDW Product Overview : Quantum DLT-V4 Tape Drive-USB2.0 and eSATA

Other websites can get slightly lower prices too.

Dan Brockett · April 6th, 2009, 08:50 AM

Hi Ting Sern:

This looks very interesting. In the specs, it only lists compatibility with PC and Unix, I wonder if it will work with Macs?

Dan

TingSern Wong · April 6th, 2009, 09:08 AM

Hardware wise, I don't think it pose an issue. As long as you have an eSATA card plugged into the Mac - and have an appropriate device driver loaded for the eSATA card, the device should not pose a problem for the Mac.

Software wise - that will be a problem. I don't know of any tape backup software running on Mac OS ...

Alternatively, if you have a PC, you can connect the tape drive to your PC. Then toss your Mac files into a USB portable drive - then you can transfer the data to your PC and backup to tape that way.

March 23rd, 2009, 11:19 PM	#1
Justin Connor Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 73	Blu Ray Backup for P2 Hello, Quick one. Using an HVX 200 - and MacBook Pro to offload LOTS of P2 footage, backing up footage to 1 primary and 2 back-up TB drives, BUT 2 of my G-Raid 1 TB drives went down! Yikes...Getting them refurbished and backing them up...again. Sigh Needless to say, I am worried about these potentially fickle drives. So, I am now looking at Blu-Ray as a Hard back-up to my footage so i will have it in 3 drives AND backed up to Blu Ray just as a precaution...Ideas? I have just finished filling up my first TB and with 2 back-ups, am now trying to figure out which Blu-Ray Burner to buy (best deal, price, recommendations, etc), any info on discs to purchase or overall advice, as these 2 recent drives going down have understandably got me panicked. Basically, any and all information about the Blu Ray world, as the online forums have left my head in a tizzy especially after almost losing 2 hard drives recently. Help. And thank you! Cheers, JC

March 26th, 2009, 02:22 PM	#4
Justin Connor Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 73	thanks 'ppreciate the help guy. think i am going for a blu-ray just as a precautionary measure. you guys rock.

March 24th, 2009, 09:42 AM	#2
Daniel Weber Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 696	We use blu ray to back up our files from a Sony EX1. Right now the cheapest discs are the 25 gig ones. I think we were able to get them for around $5 a disc or so. The 50 gig dual layer discs are much more expensive and harder to find. We use Toast 9 on our macs to burn the discs using external burners through USB. Not the fastest way to do it but it was pretty cost effective. Daniel Weber

March 24th, 2009, 12:13 PM	#3
Noah Kadner Better than Halle Berry Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 435	Have you looked into LTO instead? Much more reliable long term and more suitable to long-term backup than Blu-Ray. Noah

April 5th, 2009, 05:47 AM	#5
TingSern Wong Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore, Rep of SINGAPORE Posts: 749	For short term backups, blu-rays, dvds, etc - will do. Long term, data tapes (DLT, SDLT, LTO, etc) - are the best.

April 5th, 2009, 04:22 PM	#6
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	Does anyone have a favorite recommendation for specific DLT, LTO drives? At my old work, we had the Quantum DLT-6000, which was okay, but a bit slow and clunky and it was pretty costly as I recall, somewhere around $6-$7k. Looking for a good longterm backup for a lot less money, if it exists. Dan

April 5th, 2009, 07:33 PM	#7
TingSern Wong Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore, Rep of SINGAPORE Posts: 749	Yes - CDW sells one Quantum DLT tape drive for less than US$1K. Connects via USB 2.0 and eSATA. Use eSATA and you can get pretty good speed. CDW Product Overview : Quantum DLT-V4 Tape Drive-USB2.0 and eSATA Other websites can get slightly lower prices too.

April 6th, 2009, 08:50 AM	#8
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	Hi Ting Sern: This looks very interesting. In the specs, it only lists compatibility with PC and Unix, I wonder if it will work with Macs? Dan

April 6th, 2009, 09:08 AM	#9
TingSern Wong Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore, Rep of SINGAPORE Posts: 749	Hardware wise, I don't think it pose an issue. As long as you have an eSATA card plugged into the Mac - and have an appropriate device driver loaded for the eSATA card, the device should not pose a problem for the Mac. Software wise - that will be a problem. I don't know of any tape backup software running on Mac OS ... Alternatively, if you have a PC, you can connect the tape drive to your PC. Then toss your Mac files into a USB portable drive - then you can transfer the data to your PC and backup to tape that way.