Back up the irreplaceable media and the information needed to reconstruct the edit. Then test a restore. An application’s automatic project saves can be valuable, but they do not necessarily preserve camera originals, audio, graphics, fonts or the external assets used by effects.
On this page
Inventory the things you would need tomorrow
| Asset | Recovery question |
|---|---|
| Camera and audio originals | Can the full source be read from another independent copy? |
| Project, library or database | Can the timeline and edit decisions be reopened? |
| Graphics and external assets | Are the exact versions available? |
| Fonts and plugins | Are names, versions and licensing requirements documented? |
| Reference and approved exports | Can you compare a recovered timeline against the accepted result? |
Generated caches and proxies can sometimes be recreated, but treat that as a documented decision. If a remote collaborator has only proxies, losing them may interrupt work even while originals remain safe elsewhere.
Keep failure paths independent
Two project folders on the same drive are not two independent copies. Consider device failure, accidental deletion, theft and account loss when choosing the additional destinations. Synchronization can propagate an unwanted change; check version history and retention instead of assuming a synced folder is a complete recovery plan.
Run a restore drill on a copy
- Select a small but representative project and note its expected duration.
- Restore its required files to a different path.
- Open the restored project without modifying the only working copy.
- Resolve missing paths using the recovered originals.
- Check titles, audio mapping, speed changes and representative effects.
- Export a short section and compare it with the reference.
- Write down missing dependencies and fix the backup set.
Define a recovery objective
Decide how much recent work you can afford to repeat and how long recovery can take. That decision helps set copy frequency and the usefulness of an offsite copy. It does not justify deleting earlier versions before verifying the new backup.
Budget capacity for the whole plan
Use recording storage arithmetic for complete-copy budgets, then add project assets and expected revisions. Keep a short inventory with your folder structure. A successful copy job is encouraging; a successful reopen and export is stronger evidence of recoverability.
Sources and scope
This is a recovery-planning method. Creator Edit Lab has not validated a particular backup product or your existing backup. Sources checked October 6, 2026.