Archiving Files to Optical Discs
This page has my notes about archiving files to optical media.
As background, I have a small fleet of external hard discs containing media that I'd "like to hold onto" but isn't strictly speaking unique. This is a convenience thing, not the only copy of critical data.
The data in question is video. Often, episodic and thusly grouped, random quality and file sizes.
Years ago, on the Mac I had in ~2006-2009, I would have used Toast to burn the files or groups of them into a compilation of DVD-R discs and label the collections, and put them all into a media binder, and then get them again if I needed to later on. The idea here is similar to that, except Blu-ray is economically viable (if getting more difficult to find in stores)
Twitter Threads And Other Posts
Disc Burning Software
In general, the options are to use your OS's built in disc burning functionality, open source disc burning software, commecial disc burning software, or commercial backup software.
Data Inventory
My intent here is to organize the data into related groups (movies, TV, youtube channels) and then use a tool like windirstat to make a listing of the files. That listing will either go into an internal SharePoint page, a OneNote notebook, or something similar.
The main purpose is to make knowing what I have reasonable, and then locating it. The location of the actual discs will likely be stored in this information. i.e. discs 1-25 are in box a, 26-50 in box b, etc.
File Organization
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Media Types
Writable and rewritable CD and DVD are going to outlast BD-R and BD-RE media. It is arguable we are already at the point where they have. However, in general Blu-ray media is preferable for density and longevity reasons.
Normal blu-ray media, such as this pack available at retail, should be using inorganic material.
Dual layer media should be widely compatible and is available for slightly more. Larger discs are available, but are expensive and often need to be specially ordered. However, it's worth thinking about the biggest possible discs in archival situation
Blu-Ray "HTL" media is preferred, because it does not use any organic components. The LTH media is a newer low-cost variant. More at wikipedia.
Physical Disc Storage
Blu-Ray discs are said to be ill suited to disc binders, so they'll need to go in either paper sleeves or jewel cases. I'm currently using 3-litre "Really Useful Boxes" to store my BD-RE discs, and those fit loosely with eighteen "thick" or normal jewel cases to a box, including some paper bookmarks denoting certain discs. The fit would be tight but workable with 19. Thin jewel cases, different boxes, and paper sleeves, if applicable, will all have different fit.
I still need to research whether paper sleeves will work. If so, we can hypothetically fit many more discs. I ahve had another 3-litre Really Useful Box with 89 CD-RW and DVD-RW discs in paper sleeves and one in a jewel case, and I expect the next ten paper sleeve discs will fit with no trouble.
Ongoing Maintenance
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