Organizing Your MiniDV Tapes

When my husband and I bought our first camcorder several years ago, we didn’t take time to label our miniDV tapes. This resulted in a huge drawer filled with miniDV tapes. We had no clue what was on each of them and were overwhelmed with the thought of having to go through all of them.

I decided that something had to be done about it or we would keep adding to the drawer and probably would never view these tapes again. So here’s what I did to start the huge organization task ahead of me.

Organize current tape(s)

First, I started with the tape that was currently in my camcorder. I labeled it S1 (for Source 1). I then bought a small notebook and created a log for my tapes. In the first column, I put the name of the tape (such as S1, S2, etc.). In the next column, I put the date/date range of the tape. In the next column I listed the contents of the tape and any special notes. I carry this notebook in my camera bag so I can update it when needed. I also created an Excel spreadsheet on my computer. Occasionally, I update this spreadsheet with the contents of the notebook for a backup.

Organize master tapes

When I finish editing a video on my computer, I always copy the video back to a master miniDV tape for safe storage. (I also create DVDs of the video for friends and family. However, it is best to archive the master on a miniDV tape.) I label these tapes M1, M2, etc. “M” stands for master copy. I created an Excel spreadsheet on my computer with the following columns so I know what is on each tape: Name (such as M1), Date(s), Contents of Tape, and Special Notes.

Organize old tapes

Next, I started organizing that overwhelming drawer full of tapes… which turned out to be a lot of fun. I enjoyed reminiscing about old times. I had almost forgotten how tiny my children were as babies. Before I labeled the tapes, I created an Excel spreadsheet with the following columns: Date(s), Contents, and Special Notes. As I watched each tape, I jotted down the appropriate information in each of the columns. Then, I labeled each tape according to the date it was created in the following format: 2002Jan-Feb. When I finished logging all the tapes, I was able to sort the columns based on date.

Storing tapes

Once I organized my tapes, I needed a safe place to store them. I also wanted them to be easily accessible if I ever needed to review them. I purchased a Bryco 50 Tape Mini DV Storage Rack

on Amazon that was perfect! It holds up to 50 tapes and you can easily view your labels on the spines of the tapes.

This storage rack easily fits in our home safe so I know my tapes are always safe from fire or water damage.

Do you have any tips?

If you have any other organization/storage tips you would like to share, please leave a comment. We would love to hear from you.