DIGITAL BACKUPS & FAMILY VIDEO PRESERVATION
Should I Have Two Digital Copies Made at the Same Time?
If you are spending hundreds or thousands of dollars digitizing irreplaceable VHS, Hi8, Digital8, MiniDV, or other family videotapes, having more than one digital copy is a very good idea. But that does not normally mean transferring every tape twice. A better approach is usually to create one high-quality transfer and then make multiple identical copies of the resulting digital files.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Yes—Two Copies Is a Smart Minimum for Important Family Video
Once the tapes have been successfully digitized, creating another copy is easy compared with repeating the original transfer.
For an important collection, having two independent digital copies as soon as possible is sensible. One can be your working copy and the other your backup. Adding a third copy in the cloud or another physical location makes the archive even safer.
THE IMPORTANT DISTINCTION
Two Copies Does Not Mean Two Separate Transfers
Transfer Every Tape Twice
Running the same collection through the entire digitization process twice usually adds expense and machine time without giving you much additional protection.
Make One Good Master
Capture the tape carefully once and verify that the resulting digital file is complete and usable.
Duplicate the Files
Copy those completed files to another drive, computer, cloud account, or other independent storage location.
DIGITAL COPYING IS DIFFERENT FROM TAPE TRANSFER
Once the Video Is Digital, Copies Can Be Identical
A VHS transfer requires:
playback equipment
+
real-time capture
+
signal processing
+
quality control
Once the finished file exists, however, copying:
Tape001.mp4
from Drive A to Drive B does not require playing the original tape again.
THIS IS ONE OF DIGITAL VIDEO'S BIG ADVANTAGES
You Can Make More Copies Without Losing Quality
With ordinary file copying, a properly copied digital file can be identical to the source file.
Copying an MP4 from one drive to another does not make the video progressively blurrier the way repeated analog dubbing once could.
This makes redundancy relatively easy once the original tape transfer has been completed correctly.
WHY ONE COPY IS RISKY
Every Storage Device Can Fail
Hard drives fail.
flash drives fail.
SSDs fail.
computers fail.
cloud accounts can become inaccessible.
If only one copy exists, one failure can become the loss of the entire digital archive.
TWO DRIVES IS A SIMPLE START
Primary Copy + Backup Copy
One straightforward approach is:
DRIVE 1 — Everyday Family Archive
DRIVE 2 — Backup
Use Drive 1 for:
- watching;
- renaming files;
- organizing folders;
- making clips;
- sharing.
Leave Drive 2 mostly alone as your safety copy.
BUT DON'T KEEP BOTH DRIVES TOGETHER FOREVER
Two Copies in the Same Drawer Solve Only Some Problems
Two drives protect against:
- one drive failing;
- accidental corruption of one device;
- one drive being misplaced.
They do not provide much protection against:
- fire;
- flood;
- theft;
- major electrical damage;
- both drives being accidentally discarded together.
Eventually, put one copy somewhere physically separate from the other.
ANOTHER HOUSE IS A GREAT BACKUP LOCATION
Give a Full Copy to a Trusted Relative
A second drive could live with:
- an adult child;
- a sibling;
- another family historian;
- a trusted relative in another city.
Now you have both a backup and another family member who can access the archive independently.
ADD CLOUD AND YOU HAVE THREE COPIES
This Can Be an Excellent Setup
For example:
COPY 1 — External drive at home
COPY 2 — Backup drive somewhere else
COPY 3 — Cloud storage
The cloud copy can also make the videos much easier to share with family members.
THIS RESEMBLES THE 3-2-1 BACKUP IDEA
A Useful Rule of Thumb for Important Digital Material
A widely used backup concept is:
3 copies of your data
on at least 2 storage locations or media
with 1 copy kept offsite
You do not need to follow the formula obsessively, but the underlying principle is excellent: do not let one failure destroy every copy at once.
SHOULD THE TRANSFER COMPANY MAKE BOTH?
It Can Be Convenient
If the provider will deliver your completed archive on:
two separate drives
that can save you the trouble of creating the initial backup yourself.
This can be particularly attractive for a large collection where copying hundreds of gigabytes or several terabytes may take many hours.
BUT ASK WHAT “TWO COPIES” MEANS
Two Drives Are Better Than Two Folders on One Drive
If a company offers:
“two digital copies,”
find out whether that means:
- two separate USB drives;
- two separate hard drives;
- one drive plus cloud;
- two folders on the same physical device.
Two copies stored on the same physical drive do not protect you if that drive fails.
SEPARATE DEVICES MATTER
Independence Is the Point of a Backup
You want the second copy to survive when the first does not.
If both copies depend on the same hard drive, the same computer, or the same account, they may share the same point of failure.
WHAT ABOUT USB FLASH DRIVES?
Fine for Delivery—But Think About the Size of the Archive
USB flash drives can be convenient for:
- smaller projects;
- portable viewing;
- giving a copy to relatives.
But for very large collections, an external hard drive or SSD may be more practical.
The best storage device depends partly on how much data the project produces.
WHAT ABOUT EXTERNAL HARD DRIVES?
Very Practical for Large Video Collections
A multi-terabyte drive can hold a substantial archive.
That makes hard drives useful for:
- 100+ tape projects;
- large MP4 collections;
- high-quality master files;
- native MiniDV or Digital8 files.
See How Much Storage Space Will I Need for 100, 200, or 500 Digitized Videotapes? for storage planning.
WHAT ABOUT AN SSD?
Fast and Convenient, but Still Not Immortal
SSDs offer:
- fast copying;
- no moving mechanical parts;
- small physical size;
- good portability.
An SSD is still a storage device that can fail. It should not become an excuse to keep only one copy.
WHAT ABOUT CLOUD?
Excellent as Another Copy and Excellent for Access
Cloud storage can protect against physical disasters at home.
It can also make your archive easy to access from:
- phones;
- tablets;
- laptops;
- other family members' homes.
But cloud storage should not automatically become your only copy either. Accounts, subscriptions, passwords, and providers can change.
WHAT IF THE TRANSFER COMPANY PROVIDES CLOUD TOO?
That Can Give You Immediate Redundancy
Suppose your order includes:
external drive
+
cloud delivery
That means two accessible copies may already exist when the order is completed.
Just determine how long the company's cloud copy remains available before counting it as a long-term backup.
See What Happens to My Digital Files After the Transfer Company Finishes My Order? for more on file retention.
VERIFY BEFORE YOU DUPLICATE
Make Sure the First Copy Is Good
Before treating a file as the master:
- confirm the expected folders are present;
- open several files;
- check video and audio;
- look for obviously missing files;
- confirm the storage device can be read normally.
A backup faithfully duplicates whatever you give it—including mistakes. Verify the archive before assuming duplication solves every problem.
COPYING IS NOT THE SAME AS BACKING UP FOREVER
Storage Devices Should Be Checked Over Time
A backup strategy is not:
“Put a hard drive in a closet in 2026 and assume it will work perfectly in 2056.”
Periodically:
- connect the drives;
- verify files can be read;
- replace aging storage;
- copy the archive to newer technology as needed.
DIGITAL PRESERVATION IS MIGRATION
You Don't Need One Storage Device to Last Forever
The important thing is that the files survive.
Maybe today they live on:
two external drives.
Ten years from now they may live on:
new drives, new cloud storage, or technology that does not exist yet.
Digital files can be moved forward without retransferring the original videotapes.
SHOULD I ALSO KEEP THE ORIGINAL TAPES?
For Important Footage, Usually Yes
Multiple digital copies provide excellent protection.
But the original cassette is still:
the original physical source.
Keeping it can be useful if:
- a transfer problem is discovered later;
- better restoration technology becomes available;
- a higher-quality master is desired;
- all digital copies are somehow lost.
See Should You Keep Your Original VHS and Camcorder Tapes After Digitizing Them? for more.
WHAT IF I HAVE 200 TAPES?
The Case for Immediate Duplication Gets Stronger
A 200-tape project may cost thousands of dollars and represent hundreds of hours of family history.
It makes little sense to spend that much money recovering the archive and then leave the result on one single drive.
The cost of an additional storage device is usually small compared with the cost and effort of recreating the entire project.
A LARGE PROJECT EXAMPLE
200 Tapes Become a Real Digital Archive
Imagine the finished project occupies:
800 GB.
You might choose:
- 2 TB Drive A — primary archive;
- 2 TB Drive B — backup archive;
- cloud copy — selected or complete files.
You now have enough room for the project plus some future additions without depending on a single device.
WHAT ABOUT FAMILY SHARING?
The Second Copy Can Serve Two Purposes
Give Backup Drive B to another family member.
Now:
- they can enjoy the archive;
- another complete copy exists;
- the copy is physically offsite.
Sharing the family archive can simultaneously improve its preservation.
DON'T CONFUSE DELIVERY WITH BACKUP
A USB + DVD Is Technically Two Forms—but Not Necessarily the Best Backup Strategy
Some transfer packages provide:
digital files on USB
+
DVD copies
That does create redundancy.
But DVDs may contain a different version of the video and are less convenient for rebuilding a modern digital archive.
If preservation is your goal, two independent copies of the original digital files are generally more useful than relying on DVD as the only secondary copy.
USB, CLOUD, DVD, OR HARD DRIVE?
You Can Combine Them
There is no rule saying you must choose only one delivery method.
A strong setup could include:
Hard Drive — complete master archive
Cloud — remote access and sharing
USB — selected favorites or smaller projects
See USB, Cloud, DVD, or Hard Drive: What’s the Best Way to Receive Digitized Videos? for the full comparison.
WHAT SHOULD YOU ASK THE TRANSFER COMPANY?
Backup Questions Worth Asking
- Can I receive the completed files on two separate drives?
- Is there a charge for the second copy?
- Can I supply my own second drive?
- Does cloud delivery provide another complete copy?
- How long does cloud access remain available?
- How much storage will my project require?
- Are both drives exact copies of the same files?
- Do you verify the copied data before shipping?
A PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATION
For Important Family Video, Start With Two—Then Work Toward Three
At minimum:
one primary copy
+
one independent backup
Better:
primary copy
+
offsite backup
+
cloud or third copy
WHEN IS ONE COPY ACCEPTABLE?
Only Temporarily
You may initially receive:
one completed drive.
That is fine as a delivery method.
Just don't leave that as the only copy for months or years. Duplicate the archive as soon as practical.
DO THIS BEFORE THE TRANSFER COMPANY DELETES ITS COPY
Create Your Backups Early
When the order arrives:
- verify the files;
- make your second copy;
- download any cloud files;
- report problems promptly.
If you discover a problem while the transfer company still has production files, resolving it may be much easier.
See What Happens to My Digital Files After the Transfer Company Finishes My Order? for more.
THE COST-BENEFIT IS PRETTY COMPELLING
A Backup Drive Is Cheap Compared With Recreating the Archive
Consider the relative effort:
TRANSFERRING 200 TAPES:
hundreds of playback hours, equipment, technicians, shipping and
potentially thousands of dollars
versus:
COPYING THE COMPLETED FILES:
another storage device and some copy time
The expensive part is getting the memories off the tapes. Once that has been done, protecting the resulting files is relatively easy.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Yes—Have More Than One Copy, but You Usually Need Only One Transfer
Transfer the tape carefully once.
verify the resulting digital files.
copy those files to another independent device.
and eventually keep one copy somewhere physically separate.
For an important family archive, two digital copies should be considered a sensible starting point rather than an extravagance. A third copy in the cloud or at another location provides even stronger protection. The difficult and expensive part is recovering the original videotapes. Once they are safely digital, making redundant copies is one of the easiest things you can do to protect the investment.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Multiple Digital Copy & Backup FAQs
Should I have my VHS tapes digitized twice?
Usually no. A better approach is to create one good transfer and then duplicate the resulting digital files.
Does copying an MP4 reduce its quality?
No. A normal file copy can be identical to the original digital file without the generational quality loss associated with analog copying.
Should my two copies be on separate drives?
Yes. Two folders on one drive do not protect you if the physical drive itself fails.
Should the two drives be stored in different places?
Ideally, yes. Separate locations provide protection against events such as fire, theft, or flood affecting both copies at once.
Does cloud storage count as another copy?
It can, provided the full files are actually stored there and you understand the account's retention and access policies.
Should I keep the original videotapes too?
For especially important recordings, keeping the originals is still a sensible additional layer of protection.
What is a good backup setup for a large family archive?
One working copy, one independent offsite backup, and an additional cloud or third copy is a strong and practical arrangement.
YOU ONLY HAVE TO RESCUE THE TAPES ONCE
After That, Make Copies
A second drive costs very little compared with repeating a large video transfer project. Once the family archive is digital, redundancy becomes one of the easiest forms of insurance you can give it.