Tips for File Management (for the D.I.Y. Rock Star)

(This post accompanies Gab & Jam 99 Tips for File Management (for the D.I.Y. Rock Star)

video: http://bit.ly/Ep99BV2019vid25 and podcast: http://bit.ly/Ep99BV2019pod25 )

This episode is a part of our Blog-vember 2019 trifecta of three posts a day—a video, a podcast, and a blog post. This year the focus is tips for the D.I.Y. Rock Star. We developed these methods through our own decades worth of experiences.

The BIG Take-Aways:

Here are some tips when it relates to computer file management. If you are doing videos, blog posts, photos, podcasts, and songs—like us—you need a reliable way to store and to easily locate files to use. There are all these different pieces of a post that need to be kept together, so that when it is time to distribute them, you can find the piece(s) that you need. It is for that reason that we have come up with some systems to help do this. –Keep in mind, though, that these systems were developed due to the trial and error of not being concerned with this early on and losing track of quite a few valuable assets.

So far, this is what we have learned: Now, we keep all video-related files in a folder labeled “video,” so that all videos are stored under that folder. So, this is how I do it now; as soon as we film, I dump the file into a folder that is named for the project for which it belongs. Then, I also give the file a name. There’s also a video description—which is a Word file—that I give the same name. All graphics that are related, go in that folder as well. Because we batch-record a lot, putting the files in folders that are named helps for when it is finally time to edit. You’d be surprised at how all these files look alike and if I didn’t think in advance about how to handle them, I would be COMPLETELY lost when it came time to actually produce the video.

Bruce keeps song files in multiple places, but are grouped together by project name. Everything related to that project goes within that folder. Bruce renames files as the mix evolves by using the date—and time—as part of the file name. He often works on several projects at one time, so naming them and keeping tracks together is super important. When the song is complete, he puts “final” at the end of the song’s name.