Which format for archiving HD Projects

[Philip]

I have done a few projects with an HD edit and SD delivery. Part of the project was a HD archive of the project for eventual delivery on some sort of HD disc.

So far I have been archiving the HD timeline to a m2t file and exporting to tape. I have also been copying the m2t file to an external drive as a second copy. When the drive fills up I will get a new one if needed.

Anyway, my question is should I be saving the projects to a m2t file or an HD Mpeg file? I know a m2t is essentially a mpeg file so I am wondering if I am going to lose more resolution and quality when I eventually have to encode that m2t file to some other type of HD delivery format. I know blu ray uses mpeg files.

Just curious what format I should be creating for archiving of projects.

Thanks,

[STORMDAVE]

I think you're doing the best that you can right now...in the future, we will be able to archive on BluRay discs, 25GB or 50GB (Dual Layer).

Since the m2t files on the tape have a high data rate, going to a lower datarate (let's say to an H264 file for BluRay) the quality will not drop as much if you use correct settings.

[Rusty]

Because we shoot HDV we currently go back to tape.

[Philip]

Because we shoot HDV we currently go back to tape.

I go back to tape as well but like to have another copy archived on disc somewhere in case the tape version has a random frame drop/freeze. Redundancy is a good thing. I was just wondering if archiving to m2t file on disc is the best way or should I be converting to HD mpegs.

[SRsupport]

Maybe putting that HD file on a revpro could be an option?