Storage of my collection

[Pottel]

again thanks to the TTD folks for this info:

So how do I store all this stuff?
If you're experiencing lossless trading for the first time, you're probably perplexed as to how to store your archives. Since converting to mp3 and lossy formats is against the rules and burning to audio CD devalues your recording with most traders, what's the best way to back everything up? There are many opinions on this, but the only rule is to make sure you keep original lossless files that are not compressed to lossy formats or burnt to audio CD for future trading. Many people use data CDRs and increasingly data DVDR discs for backing up shows. Others are using portable hard drives for this purpose, while still others employ combinations of these methods to ensure backups are always kept. Poke around on the boards and ask other how the categorize, backup, and organize their collections. Just remember that it is important to keep them in lossless audio formats only.

[dustyvalentino]

Why does burning to audio CD devalue the recording?

I just record all the shows I want to keep to disc, you know, so I can actually listen to them somewhere that my computer isn't hooked up to?

Stick that in your pipe and smoke it , audio geeks! 

[Pottel]

lol
i just copied and pasted from the TTD faq section, to get started. this is not in its final form, but as said, gotta start somewhere,...
i burn to dvd-dl for archiving purposes and convert to mp3 for ipod listening pleasure.

[dustyvalentino]

Yeah, it's just hassle converting to MP3 though, especially as you have to manually type in all the filenames and stuff.

I just burn all my shows to CD so I can listen to them in the car, with some of my all time favourites converted to MP3 for the ipod. But usually only soundboard ones.

[Pottel]

i can't be bothered to type filenames.
as long as they are numbered correctly (i.e. 01 and not 1, otherwise you get the following:
1
10
11
12
...
19
2
20
...)
all i do is make a copy on double layer dvd, convert a copy to variable bitrate mp3 for my ipod and keep the original file on my HD.
archive it, with number and burn status.
also, i doublecheck for a checksum file (for which i use either Traders little helper or HSKV)
and create one if necesarry.
et voila, storage is ready :-P

[dustyvalentino]

OK, maybe filenames aren't necessary (although I am quite anal about stuff like that), but you would still need to tag all the files with the name of the show.

[Pottel]

in itunes i simply multi tag the whole show, so i only need to enter once: mark knopfler/2008/2008.05.05 something/Rock/gapless.
and again, i am anal about the filenames in the original files too, not in my personal ipod files.

[dustyvalentino]

OK! I didn't know you could "muti tag" in iTunes, so this has been a useful thread!

Now how do you actually do it? 

[Pottel]

select all songs of a show, right click and choose "Get Info"
there you fill in whatever you like to fill in, and then it is valid for all songs selected. always remember to set "gapless: Yes" otherwise you got these stupid 2sec silence inbetween songs.
i believe you can also set that as a default.

[Ian Lewis]

External hard drives are really cheap these days, great way to back up your stuff

[Pottel]

still i backup on dvd-dl additionally, and i already got about 7,5TB in harddrives (of which 2TB are to be rpelaced and at the supplier right now)

[Ian Lewis]

WOW that's a lot of storage!!!  I don't think all mine combined even reaches 1Tb!!

[Pottel]

gotta start somewhere ian 

[IrisRose]

I keep all my files on hard drive, backed up to yet another hard drive.  I also keep the cds and dvds in an extensive system organized by tour, cd, dvd, promo, guest sessions--you get the idea.   I can grab any disc I want to listen to outside or in the car.  And the flac files and video_ts files are there for trading.   
I don't trust any single system, so I keep three.     I don't convert to mp3, since I can take my player outside and blast it.  I live in the country, so all I bother are the cows.   

[superval99]

I do much the same as you, Marie, mine are all stored on an external HD and backed up on another external HD, which is stored in a VERY safe place, in case of fire, theft, etc! They are also on CD/DVD and kept in order of tour/year, close at hand!