Best backup method for data files?

[mjslakeridge]

Historically, I have backed up my ProTools session folders by copying and pasting them to an external hard drive whenever I have made any significant changes to a session. I do use Acronis True Image Home to back up my system drive before installing any new plugins or updates, and that has worked well for me, but I always just do a full backup, and keep the latest 3 or 4. Does anyone use Acronis to back up their session files? If so, any advice on using incremental backup and consolidating backups? I did a test full backup this morning and successfully restored an audio file that I had deleted from a session, but that is a little more cumbersome than the copy and paste method.

[cwsand]

Originally Posted by mjslakeridge

Historically, I have backed up my ProTools session folders by copying and pasting them to an external hard drive whenever I have made any significant changes to a session. I do use Acronis True Image Home to back up my system drive before installing any new plugins or updates, and that has worked well for me, but I always just do a full backup, and keep the latest 3 or 4. Does anyone use Acronis to back up their session files? If so, any advice on using incremental backup and consolidating backups? I did a test full backup this morning and successfully restored an audio file that I had deleted from a session, but that is a little more cumbersome than the copy and paste method.

I use Acronis to backup my session files and it works fine. I have it set to do a full backup every three days, deleting the previous full backup, with incremental backups in between.

I also make backups via copy/paste method when working on songs, And I make backups to DVD-R. You can't be too careful!

Chris

[JoelG]

Microsoft Sync Toy is a pretty cool tool as well. I use it to keep my laptop, Desktop and external backup drive all synced with the most current session data.

Joel

[DC-Choppah]

I have a hard disk (N) that is a copy of my main music drive (M). They are identical drives.

I just figure that I won't crash two drives at the same time.

Windows XP has a backup command that is set to backup M to N at 3:00 am.

So if I just leave the computer on, it gets back-up.

[mjslakeridge]

DC:
Your method of having 2 identical drives would protect against HD failure, but my concern is being able to go back in time if an audio file gets corrupted or erased by mistake (I have done that when cleaning up sessions). If your main audio drive gets cloned every day, and you didn't yet know there was a problem with an audio file, then the backup would have the same problem.

I will have to read up on Acronis to see if the incremental backups preserve files that are no longer on the main audio drive. Does anyone know?

[zedhed]

I use the copy/paste method for session folders straight after closing the session I'm working on, to DVD as well if required. Along with the auto backup of the session while working on it, Can't get much easier than that IMHO

[EGS]

Originally Posted by zedhed

I use the copy/paste method for session folders straight after closing the session I'm working on, to DVD as well if required. Along with the auto backup of the session while working on it, Can't get much easier than that IMHO

+1. I use this "manual approach" too. I prefer to see the backup happen right in front of me.

[EGS]

Originally Posted by mjslakeridge

... my concern is being able to go back in time if an audio file gets corrupted or erased by mistake ...

One method is to backup the session folder using different names. Keep 'em all until confident everything is fine.

[jasonthurley]

If your looking at a professional program Storage DNA is the best...

http://storagedna.com/

If you want a free program that uses checksum (it compares each bit of data to ensure everything is identical) than use Sync Toy (Windows) or RSync (MAC)

They both do a very good job at ensuring all data is identical... when you copy and paste data there is a chance you will have some bits not match exactly, especially when copying and pasting a lot of data at once.

[zedhed]

Originally Posted by jasonthurley

when you copy and paste data there is a chance you will have some bits not match exactly, especially when copying and pasting a lot of data at once.

Whilst this is true, in twenty years of using Copy/Paste, It's never happened to me. Of course that's not to say it can't or won't.

If I were in a professional environment I'd probably be using checksum but since i'm not, I don't.