Restoring From Backup

[ShadowVision]

Well, I just got a call from a client who'd like me run him some new DVDs of an old project with some new edits (of course).

Problem is that I've got a big project on the hard drive that I do not want to touch.

The present project is taking up 61 percent of the drive. This old one is pretty small, but what happens if it can't completely restore? Will it crash the system or anything?

I've backed up using DV Backup the big project and I'm running a number of DVDs before attempting this. I'm even running the storyboard into my MAC, too.

Will I get a message that says it can't restore because I've not got the space?

As always, thanks guys!

[JPaul]

Jonathan, I don't think you should have any problem doing what you suggest. You've taken the precaution of backing up your big project so worst case scenario you can recover from the backup. I don't see how restoring the old project will crash the system, but if it did you could still recover since everything is backed up.

If you are restoring from the Lacie hard drive, don't forget to switch audio modes from the audio screen, i.e. from stereo to mono back to stereo. Do this just prior to restoring. This is a workaround for a glitch in our OS that has not yet been addressed. If you don't do this, your restored project will be in mono.

It would be helpful if we knew what equipment you are using. You can add this info clicking on User Control Panel/Profile/Edit profile. Good luck!

[ShadowVision]

I did have lots of problems restoring the project from backup. It may have been my fault, but when the project was restored, there was no sound (as mixed on the final project before I deleted it for another one), and none of the effects or the titling was created. When I tried to create the title and effects, they had to be completely redone (from scratch). So, I abandoned the Cassie and used a series of Quicktimes from my Internet version of the project to recreate it in Imovie HD. I was a little tedious, but the client was satisfied (even though I was very frustrated).

The main question I had was: What the heck happened? Why didn't it save like the original?

Any suggestions?

[HansJoachimKoenig]

Jonathan,
always before saving a storyboard make a scene of your finished project.
Remove your original project from storyboard.
Add the created scene of your project to storyboard. Add 5 seconds of black to the end of storyboard.
Now save your storyboard on CD/DVD or FW-HD.
When you restore all of your effects/transitions and mixed sound will be restored.
But don't forget before restoring to go to audio record menu and switch to MONO and back again to STEREO,
only then you will restore your original mixed stereo sound.
Why 5 seconds of black added to the end? Because when you retore 1 second & 2 frames of the end will get lost of your project.
Hans

[CKNewman]

But don't forget before restoring to go to audio record menu and switch to MONO and back again to STEREO, only then you will restore your original mixed stereo sound.

Do you mean that you switch to mono and then immediately back to stereo before restoring?

Or do you mean that you switch to mono, restore the project, then switch back to stereo after completing the restore?

[HansJoachimKoenig]

Craig ,
before doing a restore immediately switching Stereo--->Mono--->Stereo, that's all.
Hans

[TimKennelly]

Jonathan,

There are a couple of things that are totally ignored with the external backup process and unfortunately they are a couple of huge ones.

Inserts and additional audio tracks, so it requires some preplanning and inconvenience if your purpose is to store an edit in midstride to come back to later and seemlessly pick up again.

Also, all transitions come back unrendered and require re-rendering.

I use Create to create a Scene of the entire Storyboard and add it onto the end of the Storyboard with a one frame Color Bar separation and add a ten second Color Bar at the beginning and end of the Storyboard as well and then do the archiving.

That takes care of the frame(s) drop issue and gives you access to your Inserts (via Splitting from the restored Created Scene if desired as well as a "template" for the same and gives you the added audio tracks (via Scene->Sample from the Created Scene), although they are permanently "cemented" together at that point.

You could add them with Sample->Scene to the Storyboard individually as well if it is crucial to keep them separated.

Regarding the Color Bar at the beginning of the Storyboard I suggest getting in the habit of that so it does not screw with additional audio tracks trying to add it later.

Obviously you can use Black or any other throw away Scene for this cushion as well.

For straight export when finished you can set the exact starting point of the export through Range in the Finish menu.

[CKNewman]

Thank you, Hans and Tim.