Backup and Organize Your Tons of Footage in Minutes

Backing up your data is deemed significantly necessary among video editing communities. Files get corrupted easily. Having a backup drive can save your day and countless hours. You can back up your data any way you deem fit. However, it will do you right if you follow the advice of professionals.

The article is written explicitly after due consideration and suggestions from the professional video editor. You can follow the steps in it to make backup files. Let us start with very straightforward steps to help you understand the professional way of backing up and organizing your footage.

Part 1. Back Up Your Files

Backing up your files gives you peace of mind. If one file is lost, the whole project becomes vulnerable to failure. Therefore, every effort must be made to ensure the protection of files. The best way to protect the files from any misfortune is to back them up.

Remember, there is no specific way to back up your files. Depending on the project's requirements, you can do that differently. The following steps will light up how you can back up your files.

Step1Back up your files in two different places

It is crucial to do that. If one backup drive corrupts, you have the second option. It gives you an opportunity to back up files.

• You can make two different external backup hard drives.

• You can also use your internal and external devices as two backup options.

Step2Make specific folders for each purpose of the video

The next step is how you back up your files properly and safely. Make separate folders for the different formats you are importing in your drive. Always use the primary source to make a copy of your files.

Follow the steps below to understand how to back up your files in two drives.

• Create a folder in your drive.
• Name it. You can name it according to the given format. The choice is yours.

• Your backup folder is created.
• Make new folders based on the files that are imported into the file. We are making two folders for the project, 01 Footage, and 02 Audio.
  • 01 Footage is for the original footage.
  • 02 Audio is for audio files provided by the music artist.

Step3Repeat the same process in your second backup drive

• Make the same folders and sub-folders in your secondary backup drive.

Step4Transfer files to your primary and secondary folders

• Transfer files to folders and sub-folders in your first backup drive.
• Transfer files to folders and sub-folders in your secondary backup drive.

Note: Most people make the mistake of making a backup drive and then using the same drive to make the second backup. The approach needs to be corrected.

We are done with backing up our files. It is time to organize the files in your drive.

Part 2. Organize Your Files in Filmora

Organizing your files is vital for any operation in video and editing. It makes everything streamlined. The risk of losing your data become negligible. Let us enlighten you on how you can organize your files.

Step1Create new folders to lay the foundation for your video editing project

You can imitate the format we have chosen. However, you can choose any way you deem fit.

• Create 02 Project Files and 03 Exports.
• 02 Project contains the files that we will edit in Filmora.
• 03 Exports will have files that will be exported out of Filmora.

• In the 01 Media folder, create a new folder, 03 Graphics. It will contain graphics the artist will provide, such as a logo. You can also add your graphics to the folder if you want.

The format will help you if you move files from one device to the next case. In that case, you will only have to move one folder with the artist's name.

Step2Create a new project

In this step, we will organize our files in Filmora. It will help us to keep discipline and order in file organization. It makes work easy and fun.

• Create a new project when you open Filmora on your PC or Mac.

• Save the project in any name you want. We have saved the project in the format explained above.
• Save the file in 02 Project Files.

Step3Edit your workspace if you want

Users can edit the workspace in Filmora. You can customize it to your liking. Also, it is entirely optional.

• Go to layout mode. Change the layout if you want.

• You can manually change the panels by simply dragging them across the screen.

The workspace settings will be saved automatically. The next time you start Filmora, you will not need to readjust the panels.

• Save the file

Step4Recreate the file structure in your 02 project files

Now, you create folders in your project. For that, you can follow our structure, or you can follow your instincts.

• Create the folders in Filmora, as you have created them in your drive. The folders will be created in your 02 Project Files.

These new folders are the exact copies of your media files that you have got from the producer and music artist.

• Import the files into respective folders. Footage should include all the original videos given to your producers.

Step5Save the project

You can save the file using the button on Filmora, as shown below.

• You can save the files using short keys.

Conclusion

Making a backup file for your project is crucial. For a video editor, it is quite painful to learn that the final product has a missing file. Therefore, one must ensure that all the files are backed up before beginning the editing phase.

Apart from that, one must also keep updating the files in Filmora. You performed some editing. Make sure to save the file then and there. Any minor mistake can cause great worry for the professional editor. Thus, it is better to take proactive actions.