yup! cds aren't a good way to archive important stuff!
i have some audio cds that i made 5 years ago that just don't work!

that's why i don't backup stuff to cds or dvds! prefer to invest money on hard drives! I have a 300 maxtor firewire and usb that i use on my network!

Thanks for the feedback inLoco

SI

There's a popular saying that unless your DATA exists in three separate places, it does not truly "exist". Same goes for backup, I guess. I dont' know the REAL shelf-life of untouched CDr's, but I do what I can to help them survive.

I do the following:

1. Copy to client (Master, Clone, finished product, etc. If they use a third party replication plant, there will be a copy there, as well.)

2. Copy stays on our shelves here, while the project is still "hot" and viable, esp for additional copies, etc.

3. Copy & all materials (tapes, HD's, CD'rs, DVD'rs, etc.) goes to our off-site warehouse for indefinite storage. (And, as each client's backlog grows, so does their dependence on us for help in retreiving items for updates, re-releases, remixes, re-edits, grant proposals, additional copies, etc.)

At the warehouse, we do the following: each item goes into its own 6x9" locking, clear, plastic bag, which has a title strip and info area. (Of course, it's clear and you can easily read the inside contents, as well. Duh.) We also put a small silica gel bag in each, to keep moisture at bay. Each bag for each project goes into a main box for each client (or one large box for 'one-offs" that pile up along the way). It's all on shelving that doesn't involve squeezing, or stacking, or abuse in any way. We're on the top floor (Climate controlled) at a local storage facility, so it's air-conditioned & humidity controlled as well. When we leave, the lights go out; there's no sunlight there, either.

This may sound expensive and extravagant, but it's one more service we offer the client (at no extra charge, either.) I figure it this way: I absorb the storage fee into my monthly expenses, and have lots of space for other things I don't need RIGHT NOW, but don't want to throw out, either. (Certain analog gear, as well as furniture, vinyl records, paper receipts, etc.)

If you can justify the cost of an off-site storage space in your biz expenses, you'll sleep better knowing you've done the best you can to preserve your work for the long haul.

Beyond that, the only other way is burying it underground at Iron Mountain or something.....and that's probably even MORE expensive....

Rab a =ccross the Xlent link

archiving for long term andlibririans,

a nice pdf explaining storing and media types, inks used e tc,

http://

SI

holly typo hell

not sure what happened on last post, but the only important part was the link anyway lol

MAM-A (Mitsui) Gold Archive discs if you need to. Expensive, but worth every penny.