Estimating Archive Size
 
 
 

You can display an estimate of the media space needed to archive selected material. The size estimation display for archiving or restoring procedures shows the file size in bytes, megabytes, gigabytes, or terabytes, depending on the file size. The space required is displayed in units appropriate for the archiving device. For example, when archiving to a VTR, the archive size is estimated both in VTR time (hh:mm:ss:ff) and in the most appropriate file measurement units (megabytes, gigabytes, or terabytes). When archiving to file or a tape device, file size in VTR time is not displayed. The size estimate takes header information into account.

The space required to archive material varies by archiving device. The following factors also influence the amount of space required for an archive:

There are two types of size estimation, differing in the level of detail. When you wish to get a rough estimate of the size of your material and space required for its archiving, you can perform the following procedure.

To estimate archive size:

  1. In the Library menu, click Archive.
  2. In the Archive menu, select the device type from the Archive Device box.
  3. If your selected device is a tape device or VTR, from the Device Name box, select the corresponding device.
  4. Click Size Estimate.

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    The clip library appears.

  5. Select one or more clips in the clip library.
  6. Click Size Estimate near the bottom of the screen, to the right of the search controls.

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    The estimate appears in the field next to the button in VTR time or in the most appropriate file measurement units.

    NoteThe VTR size estimate includes a reservation of one minute for both the header data and slates. It reserves 5400 frames (3 NTSC minutes) for the header data and slates, as well as the gap between the header data and the archive, which results in at least five additional minutes.

Once you open an archive or create a new one, you can use another archive size estimation method, which provides a variety of controls to perform a more accurate file size estimation procedure.

To estimate archive size from the Desktop:

  1. Open an existing archive or create an archive.

    The Archive menu appears.

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    (a) Size Estimate button  (b) Clip Element box  

  2. From the Clip Element box, select the required option.
    Select: To estimate the size of:
    All Metadata, audio, and video
    Metadata Metadata only (including history and settings)
    Audio Audio only
    Video Video only
  3. Click Size Estimate.

    The cursor turns into a red arrow and the Entry Type box appears.

  4. From the Entry Type box, select the required option.

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    Select: To estimate the size of:
    Project + Shared Project Desktop, setup directory, clip libraries, shared clip libraries, and metadata
    Project Project Desktop, setup directory, clip libraries, and metadata
    Project Libraries Current project clip libraries
    Project Libraries + Shared Current project clip libraries and imported (shared) clip libraries
    Clip Library Current project clip library
    Desktop Current Desktop
    Reel Selected reel
    Clip Selected clip

    The resulting size estimation value appears in the field next to the Size Estimate button.

  5. If you selected reel or clip, the cursor turns into an arrow.
  6. Click on the desired reel or clip and read the resulting size estimation value.