how do you organize your skating tapes and/or videos?

[AuroraBorealis]

Hi,

I'm working on designing a system for storing my skating videos and thus I'm interested in how others organize and label their collections. :)

The most efficient way of organizing tapes is, I guess, by season and competition... but do you make lists of what is on each tape and what different skaters you have?

And how about Windows Media Player and Real Player files? Do you store those on your hard drive or elsewhere? Perhaps on CDs? How do you label them? Do you organize CDs by skater name or by event?

So many questions! :)

AuroraBorealis

[flippet]

Back when I was childless and had something akin to time, ha ha, I attempted to organize my tapes. I consolidated them to new tapes, editing out the commercials and any fluff I didn't want (like when the same &$#&% piece of fluff is shown for the 8th time in a competition :evil: ), and while doing this, I tried to write down each competitor, program/music, and any notes on the performance (i.e., whether this was the defining skate of that program that season, or whether it was just phoned in, etc.). Needless to say, the project was too big and overwhelming, and I never finished. I got most of one season's competitions done (2000/01?), but that was it, and I don't think I even got my notes typed up.

Kudos to anyone who can actually organize all this stuff, and stay organized!

[VGL]

We're supposed to organize and label our tapes?????

[Aussie Willy]

I am not too bad with doing this.

Basically all my tapes are in large photocopy boxes (which I can fit about 22 tapes in each) and they are numbered from 1 through to whatever I have (which is nearly 200 - and that is only PAL format!!). I have set up an Excel spreadsheet in which I list the tape number, year, what the event is and then a summary of what there is eg Ladies LP, Dance FD, etc.

However when I get new tapes these days as I watch them I write which skaters are on them on a file card that I keep in the video case. At least if I am looking for a skater I can just check the card and it helps with doing requests. Havent' gotten to the stage of putting these on computer but I might do it one day.

Also if the person who sends me the tape has sent a list of what is on the tape this gets filed in a folder for future reference. You would not believe how many times I have referred back to these.

And the next stage of the process is to list them on my tape trading website.

So it is pretty basic but at least I am organised. And I hope this helps you.

[AuroraBorealis]

We're supposed to organize and label our tapes?????

I'm not saying we're SUPPOSED to... :) I just thought people would be interested in knowing what they have and where it is...

[Darrell H]

Currently I'm burning my tapes to dvd. It won't look like an obsessive amount to the outside world that way.

[The Village Idiot]

I am ridiculously impressed Aussie Willy...

[memememe76]

I keep my tapes in legal boxes, which can fit 50 tapes in each box (I'm on my tenth box 8O ).

On each tape, I put a post-it note on it, writing down the tape number, the events, the disciplines, and the network that aired the event. For example:

Tape #329
1) 2002 Olympics (NBC): MSP, MLP, EX
2) 1983 Euros (Eurosport): MSP, LLP, PSP
3) Doroth Hamill on "Today" (NBC), Sept. 29, 2004

In a word document, I have a listing of the skaters, programs and fluff pieces for each tape. For example:

Tape 329
2002 Olympic Games (NBC)
Men's Short Programs
1. Todd Eldredge
2. Alexie Yagudin - Winter (if I know the title of the music, I will include it)
....

As a shortcut, I go to various tape traders' websites and copy and paste their lists. It's particularly useful when I receive something from the States. Also, the skating orders from icecalc is very helpful. If someone wants my lists, I can send out an attachment--just know it's HUGE.

In another word document, I have two indexes: one for the events, and another for skaters. My event index looks like the thread I started in the Tape Trading forum.

http://www.skatingforums.com/showthread.php?t=16757

It include almost everything I have except news stories (say, all the Skategate stories I have), some talk show appearances (say, T&M on Oprah), and TV appearance (Tara's appearance on Still Standing).

My skater index lists all the performances I have of each skater (group numbers are not included and neither do interviews and fluff pieces). It includes the skater's name, year, event, type of program (short program, long program, artistic program, qualifying program or original dance, etc), title of music (if I have it), and tape number. So, if someone asks me what I have of, say, Rudy Galindo, I can email a list of his performances very quickly without having to look through various tapes. The skater index is alphabetical and when it comes to pairs and dance, I start with the lady's last name. This took FOREVER to compile but I got it done. Yes, I'm sick.

If I were to do anything else, I would include info about the length of each event and the quality of the recording (although I try to mention the poor quality recordings as often as I can).