Format

Living in Harmony

The care and feeding of digital data requires regular assessment in concurrence with each generation of hardware storage advancement and software version updates. Hardware or software failure is costly and almost always irreversible. Preserving long-term access is the goal of personal archiving, and an adaptable strategy that incorporates planned obsolescence is critical to maintaining access to digital materials.

Regardless of the current format or storage solution you select, remember to keep software installation files. Digital files are made with specific software, and you will need that software to access the files. When you purchase new computers, ensure that you keep legacy software for access to legacy files.

Work with What You Have

• Perform regular maintenance and quality control.

• Select equipment and editing software that generates high-quality, uncompressed digital formats.

• Evaluate the native camera format prior to purchase.

• If possible, program the camera to capture video using an uncompressed format.

• Prioritize: preserve the original footage and the final production files. Then move to lower-priority files.

• Work with the equipment/funding available - don't wait for standards to be codified.

One strategy is to limit, when possible, the types of preservation formats. Trouble arises when filmmakers rent equipment, which can create a melee of different formats for each production. When using multiple cameras:

• Retain the all footage in original format.

• Transform that footage to an open-source, uncompressed format for preservation.