Backup spanning multiple DVDs

Time Machine works great for making regular back ups to a local drive.  However, I want to periodically make offsite back ups to DVD in case something catastrophic happens to my home.  But since my files are in the 100 GB range, the backup would need to span multiple disks.  Does anyone know an easy way to span multiple disks?  Is there a way to do it in Leopard, or are there free or inexpensive tools on the web for doing this?
Note, I have already considered a couple of alternatives, but none of them are workable for me:
1)  I don't want to back up to somewhere on the web because it seems more secure to have a physical copy in hand.  Besides, I don't want to pay for the amount of space I'd need.
2)  I could make a disk image of the backup and use a file splitting application to burn it to the disks.  But that would require as much free HD space for the disk image as the size of the files I want to back up.

Hi, Dorian, and welcome to Apple Discussions. It would be far easier, faster, and less expensive if your time is worth anything to you, to buy a portable external hard drive on which to make your backups instead of making them on a stack of DVDs. I shudder to think of the time and attention it would take to burn ten or twenty or more DVDs on a regular basis. After going through that once, you'd never want to do it again. With a hard drive, by contrast, you just set the backup process in motion and go to bed for the night. In the morning, take the drive to wherever you were going to store those DVDs.
With external hard drives of 500GB all the way up to 2TB now selling for as little as $125 (see the link below for one example), it makes no sense at all to use DVDs for backup.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148360

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Backup across multiple DVD's (Deja Vu and Roxio Toast)

Can anyone suggest software in order to do this? I need to get some information off my internal and external drives to free up some room.
I'm running Deja Vu and they suggest "backing up to Roxio Toast" to do this but I'm not very familiar with this kind of thing and am hoping for a little hand holding.
I guess the deal is that I buy Roxio Toast, install it, select Roxio Toast as my backup volume and it will let me do "manual backups" of this source volume to a set of DVD's whenever I feel like it?
Thanks.

{quote}It is $50 and I am hoping to get advice as to whether this is a good investment or not. {quote}
I think it is a pretty good buy. I used the spanning feature several times and can't say I had any problems with it. It can even split a large file across multiple discs. The software has many other features and works so much better than burning discs in the Finder. Toast has been around for a long time and in my opinion it is still the king. My only gripe is that Roxio seems to be doing yearly upgrades and charging an arm and a leg for minimal new features.

Wondering if iDVD can burn multiple DVDs

Hello,
I am trying to burn an iDVD project to a single layer DVD but the size of the iDVD project won't fit on a single layer DVD. I've already adjusted the Encoding information (deselected Best Performance and chose either High Quality or Professional Quality, forgot which one right now). But after doing this, it still won't fit nicely on a single layer DVD. Can iDVD span multiple discs for a large project?
I know if I buy some dual-layer DVDs, it would fit. But right now, I am wondering if spanning multiple DVD discs is do-able within iDVD.
Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Let's say your movie runs 140 minutes. You need to take in into iMovie and split it into two 70 minute movie segments and then create an iDVD project for each of the two new movies.

Will PE7 burn a long video to multiple DVDs?

I've been working on a project that uses footage from 15 scientific conference presentations, each one lasting about an hour. The conference spanned two days, and I have two sets of footage plus literally thousands of PowerPoint slides to incorporate. I need to have scene markers set up, so the viewer will have a menu from which to select whether to "view all" or skip to a particular scene (speaker). All that is manageable.
While I know that PE7 has the "adjust quality to fit media" option when burning the video to disk, what I'd really like to do is have PE render the files with the highest quality, even if it means that the resulting video will span a number of disks. Otherwise, my DVDs will each contain at least three hours of lower quality video. I know my client will be unhappy with this.
I am separating the entire project into two sections - day one and day two.
My question is, with day one being about six hours of video, is there a way to set up the burn so that it will maintain a higher quality video? While PE can fit several hours of video on one DVD (?), it sacrifices quality to do so. I want the highest quality video possible. Incidentally, what is a reasonable length to fit on one DVD?
Do I need to break the project up into many sub-projects, or can I make the entire first day's video one project and have PE automatically break the burn into several DVDs, including scene markers?
A second question has to do with scene markers. Once I have the entire first days video set up, including scene makers, should I decide to break the project up into two or three sub-projects, is there a way to delete footage including the scene markers? Obviously I can take all the footage AFTER a certain point and delete it and then render that part to disk, but is there a way to delete the footage BEFORE a certain point, including deleting the scene markers? When I tried to do this, the scene markers remained exactly where they were - they were not tied to the actual video.
Thanks!
Jim

Jim,
PrE has no way to "span" multiple DVD-Videos. It also balks at really long Timelines. My advice would be to assemble your footage into Projects, each one for one disc, so you can keep the quality high.
If you already have everything in one Timeline, I'd then trim each to equal one disc, do a Save_As (Conference_Disk_01, _02, etc.) for each trimmed Project. Do the navigation for each disc, and then burn. Personally, I'd include Titles at the beginning and the end, to alert the user that they have, say Disc 1 of 6, and also "Insert Disc 2 now." That sort of thing.
PrPro has a few more capabilities, such as separate Sequences (think mini-Projects inside of a master Project), but I do the multiple disc sets the same way. Each Sequence (or groups of Sequences) is a separate disc, and is Exported for Import into Encore (my authoring program) and each disc is burned at the highest quality that will fit. Just finished a 17 disc Project, and it was handled the same way. Each Sequence was titled with the disc # and the placement on that disc, so I knew what went where. Had about 80 separate Sequences, but it was easy to know which ones went into which DVD/Encore Project. I also had the Disc X of Y on both the front of each disc, plus on the case for it. That way, the user knew where they were in the order, and could get the disc back in that order. You can do the same thing in PrE, but will be using Projects for each disc. A bit of planning will go a very long way in the production.
Good luck, and let us know if you have any more questions. BTW - for acceptable quality, I'd set a limit of 2 hours for any duration, with maybe 150 mins. as the absolute max. I've "stuffed" 3 hours on a DVD-5, but it is NOT a pretty sight. Can you go with DVD-9's?
Hunt

Copying across multiple DVDs

I wish to save my iMovie file (work in progress) to a location off my hard drive, preferably to a 4.7GB DVD. The 11GB file is too large to simply burn. How can this be spread across several DVDs, or otherwise archived? (I do have Toast 6, but not Toast 9 fyi).
many thx, Jeff

Probably better to purchase a cheap external hard drive than to try and "span" multiple DVD's for your back ups.

Backup itunes onto multiple DVDs

I am wanting to backup my itunes to multiple DVDs and not sure how to do it. I have copied all of the files to a 'burn file', and have tried to start burning...but am told that all of the files need to fit on 1 DVD. Surely there is a way to burn onto multiple DVDs? I will need about 4.
If this isn't an option, what are some other suggestions about backing up my music. I don't want to regret not backing up later!!
thanks!
ibookG4 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

This isn't really the forum to post this in, as 'Feedback about DIscussions' means posts related to the Apple Discussions Forums, eg 'why can't I log in on Mondays?' 'this poster is shouting at me' etc.
Are you a member of .mac? If so you could use the iLife plan (or create a new iTunes plan) to backup your music across multiple DVDs.
Matt

Backing up iPhoto Library to multiple DVDs

I'm pretty sure that iPhoto does not have built-in backup capability like iTunes, but is there an easy way to do this with another application? I do own a copy of Toast 8 Titanium which I believe will allow me to span a large file across multiple DVDs but I haven't tried it yet. Incremental backup capability would be nice too, but just having a safe copy of my entire photo library would be good enough. Any suggestions or recommendations?

Other apps that will do incremental backups of the entire library is LaCie's free SilverKeeper and Synk Standard. Another backup that should be performed frequently is in the tip at the end of my signature.
Do you Twango?
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

Backing up FCP Projects to multiple DVDs?

I'm looking for a workflow to backup FCP projects to multiple DVDs. I want be able to put DVD 1, of 3 or 4, into the computer and click something that will put all the files in the write place as if I never took them off my computer and I can go back to FCP project where I left off. Similar to spanning, like with Disco, but I want everything to go in its write place when I click on some Apple action script. Is this possible? If it isn't some little third party developer could make some money.

Divide your salary by 2,000. Then double the result. This gives you a very rough approximation of the value of your time, including how much the company pays you, payroll taxes, insurance, overhead and so on.
Figure out how many hours you'd have to sit in your chair doing manual archiving before you cost the company more than $120.
I'd be stunned if it's more than about two hours. Three at the absolute most, if you're criminally underpaid.

How do i back up my itunes library to multiple dvd's

I have 7.32GB of music file and from the instructions provided for copying my music folder to a dvd, it tells me the dvd is not large enough...duh.....but it doesn't give me the option to use multiple dvd's. I tried zipping the file but that still doesn't work.
i have loaded all my music on one computer. I want to make a copy of it to place on my work computer.

Doublechecking, tex ... are you using the following instructions to create backup DVDs for migration to the work PC? (The plan being that you then take those to the work PC and then "Restore" the backup to the different PC?)
How to back up your media in iTunes
... or are you using a different sort of technique?

Burning Large File to Multiple DVDs

I am trying to burn a large group of files to multiple DVDs. I have Roxio Toast at work and all I do is drag all the items into the CD and it tells me how many DVDs it will require and asks me for the next one when the first is done. Pretty easy. I dont have toast at home and am wondering how to do that with the default built in burn software.
I did a search, but my search skills are lacking and after pages of non-related seaching I figured I would just post the question.

I'm also interested in this question and am confused.
Are you talking about * Explanation 1) making duplicates of a CD without having to manually drag every single folder onto a dvd - or * Explanation 2) copying one set of data, too large for one DVD, across multiple DVDs (like span/concatenation).
Itchandscratch - in the subject line you say 'large file' then 'group of files' in your explanation. If the files are in a group (comprised of smaller individual files) could you not say, halve them and burn onto two disks - or is the folder system of the group complex? But then you say
"I have Roxio Toast at work and all I do is drag all the items into the CD and it tells me how many DVDs it will require and asks me for the next one when the first is done" Suggests not Explanation 1
KJK555 You say "Drag and drop files and folders until image reaches DVD size.
Close image." Which made me think we are talking about explnation 1
Sorry if i'm being stupid. I'm interested but confused! : )

How to Export Catalog to Multiple DVD

Question.
My main catalog has a shoot of about 1500 photos from a swim meet we covered. I would like to move these photos off the harddrive and onto DVDs and free up some space. I would really like to export these photos as a catalog because we did some edits on them and sorted them into different groups.
My problem is that everytime I try to do this it results in a catalog of over 12-15GB of information and do to its size it will not fit on a single DVD and I do not know how to make the catalog span over multiple DVDs. If anyone has a suggestion please let me know
Thanks
Bil M

When you Export a number of images to CD/DVD Lightroom will automatically let you now how many discs are needed.
Your particular case seems to be, how to get the catalog on the discs aswell.
Try this.
Export all files to DVD via the usual export dialog. Now that you have a number of discs create a new catalog.
Catalog the discs and then burn that catlog to cd.
The result is a master cd with catalog and previews (very quick for one to flip through) and a selection of DVDs to which the catalog refers.

Is It Possible To Copy Files To Multiple DVDs/CD-Rs In One Shot?

Hi...
I want to copy a complete set of files I have to make a backup of them onto DVD. However, the total amount of disk space is larger than a standard dvd... Is it possible for someone to copy them so they span several DVDs by splitting up the data within OSX?

Thanks for the suggestion... I did think of Toast but I was hoping maybe there was a way I could do the same task within OSX itself without buying additional software. Maybe a good added feature though for future versions of OSX.
Thanks,
-J

Software to backup to CD & DVD

Can anyone tell me what program would be best for regularly backing up files, media, apps, library files etc. to CD's & DVD's? I can't afford the $50 and up programs, but I'm willing to pay up to $20 and maybe $30. All the programs I've seen are designed for backing up to external hard drive which I don't have and can't afford. Of course I can keep manually selecting and backing up what will fit on a disc, but that gets old real fast! I tend not to back up as often as I should because it's such a headache. So I'm looking for a program that has automatic and syncing capabilities that (ideally) will automatically split the backup between multiple discs. Is there such a program for less than $30?

Try Impression (VersionTracker or MacUpdate.) It costs $20.00.
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Backing up large library to multiple DVDs

I'm attempting to backup 40GB or so to multiple DVDs. I created a playlist with everything in it, ensured they were all checked, put the DVD in, clicked burn disc, it apparently burnt the first 4.7GB and then i changed the disc, etc etc for six discs (about half way through the 40GB, i ran out of discs!). But when i feed the DVDs back in, it just thinks about it for a bit and then spits them out (they don't appear on desktop or in finder). In other words, it all seemed to burn ok but now my computer won't read from the discs. Any ideas?
Cheers
Jon

Other apps that will do incremental backups of the entire library is LaCie's free SilverKeeper and Synk Standard. Another backup that should be performed frequently is in the tip at the end of my signature.
Do you Twango?
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

Disk image on multiple DVDs - possible

Does the Disk utility app allow a disk image of say 10 gig to be put on multiple DVDs?
Thanks
Lewis

Lewis wrote:
Thanks for the quick responses.
There is no man for segment. Perhaps the command is given in another way.
What baltwo wrote was "hdiutil has a segment option"
You want to man hdiutil and look at the hdiutil option, "segment"
I have Toast 6. Will that "span"?
I have no idea. Check the Toast help. I didn't think Toast 6 ran under Leopard.
I just noticed that you are running Tiger. This is the Leopard forum, so all bets are off.
Message was edited by: nerowolfe

Backup spanning multiple DVDs

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