Ep14: Keeping Your Media Safe: Best Storage and Backup Solutions for Video Editors

In this episode of The Video Editing Guru, host Dustin discusses the importance of media storage and backup solutions for video editors. He outlines the merits of using SSDs for fast editing, HDDs for long-term, cost-effective storage, and RAID systems for professionals requiring redundancy. He also discusses cloud storage options, underscoring the benefits of Google Drive for small projects and sharing, Dropbox for file syncing, and Backblaze for unlimited backup storage. Dustin concludes by recommending a combination of SSD drives, HDD drives, and Backblaze for a comprehensive storage system capable of addressing a range of needs.

• Dustin Elkin - Professional Video Editor
• Backblaze
• Google Drive

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hey, what's up, Fellow creators. Welcome back to another episode
of the Video Editing Guru, the podcast where I dive
into all things video editing to help you become a
master in the art of post production. I'm your host, Dustin.
Today we're tackling the critical topic of media storage and
backup solutions. Let's delve into the world of external drives,

(00:24):
cloud services, SSDs, HDDs, and RAID systems. Are you worried
about losing your video files? By the end of this episode,
you'll have a clearer understanding of your best options to
prevent this nightmare from becoming a reality. First off, we
all know how massive video files can be, especially if

(00:45):
you're dealing with four K footage or projects with tons
of raw data. Reliable storage options and effective backup strategies
are not just important, they're essential for every editor. So
let's dive in and talk about our local storage options.
When it comes to local storage, there's a good chance that,
like me, you have multiple external drives lying around for

(01:08):
various projects, but which ones are best for your editing workflow.
One option that has become increasingly popular in the editing
community is SSD or solid state drive External drives These drives,
especially options like the Samsung T seven SSD, offer speed
and durability, helping you move massive files quickly and efficiently,

(01:32):
a truly life saving feature when editing high resolution video.
But SSDs aren't the be all and end all if
you're looking for long term storage. Traditional HDDs like the
Western Digital My Passport or the Seagate Backup Plus offer
tons of space for less cost. They might not be

(01:52):
as fast, but for backup purposes they're more than sufficient.
If you're a professional editor requiring both speed and redundancy,
a fantastic solution is a RAID system. In essence, a
RAID allows you to combine multiple drives for increased performance
and backup. A popular choice among editors is the g
Technology G RAID system, which blends speed with data protection,

(02:14):
giving you peace of mind even if a drive fails.
We've talked local, but let's not forget about cloud backup.
What do you do if your external drive fails or
is lost. That's where cloud backup comes in. Let's look
at some reliable options. Google Drive is a solid starter option,
with fifteen gigabytes of free storage and options to buy

(02:35):
more as needed, though it might not be the best
for huge video files. It's perfect for smaller projects, scripts,
and collaborative workflows that demand quick file sharing. Then there's Dropbox,
an option tailored more towards video editors thanks to its
file sinking and version control features. With Dropbox, you can

(02:56):
sync your project files across devices to ensure you're always
working with the latest version. With options for two terabytes
of storage or more in its paid tiers, Dropbox can
handle larger storage needs. Finally, for those interested purely in backups,
there's back Blaze. It offers unlimited backup storage for a
flat rate of seven dollars a month. So while it's

(03:19):
not meant for file sharing like Google Drive or Dropbox,
it's a fantastic solution to ensure your media files are
safely stored off site. And the beauty of many of
these cloud services they offer automated backup options. Once you've
set them up, you can turn your attention back to
your edits, knowing your files are safe and secure. So,

(03:40):
in this vast sea of storage and backup options, what's
the best mix for me? I find that a combination
of SSD drives for quick editing, HDD drives for backup,
and Backblaze for cloud backup work best for my needs.
This gives me the speed I require when I'm working
on projects and the peace of mind that my files
are secure in multiple locations. For those just starting, I

(04:05):
recommend investing in a good external SSD for your projects
and pairing it with a cloud backup solution like Backblaze
or Google Drive. As your work grows, you can look
into RAID systems or larger cloud storage plans. And that
wraps up another episode of the Video Editing Guru. Remember
protecting your work is just as important as creating it.

(04:27):
Be proactive, don't wait until disaster strikes. Make sure your
media is stored safely and backed up properly. If you
found today's episode helpful, share the love, feel free to subscribe,
maybe leave a review, and if you're hungry for more
tips and tricks to enhance your editing workflow, don't forget
to check the show notes for the link to my

(04:48):
site until the next episode. Keep creating, stay organized and
comfortably backed up. Be proud of your video editing endeavors.
Gurus