A Bit of History on Data

Digital media has become the new celluloid – but how much do you know about this medium? Watch this primer on digital data storage and get caught up on the basics of the backbone of every modern filmmaker’s workflow.

If you have any further questions be sure to check out our questions page on Filmmaker IQ:

Errata:
The Windows File System is NTFS (not NTSF as we have in the video) - a little dyslexia there.

The correct spelling is Terabyte.

[EscapeMCP]

Been working in IT for 20 years and never realised that HDDs look for a CHANGE in magnetic field, and not just the direction of said field. Makes total sense what with the current induced/inducted into the head. Really enjoy your videos - you cover topics which are very handy to know if you are going to be making films, but are still useful even if you are not (which I ain't). Thanks.

[catsgonom]

I've learned more from this channel in one day of watching than I have in 2 years of film school. Why am I even going to college? This is free!

[DIYCameraGuy]

As always, this is a well crafted and informative show. Thanks for all of your hard work.

[Non_Machina]

This is one of the best data storage summaries I've watched. Period.

Thanks for the many minutes well spent.

Also, I'm sure someone has pointed out somewhere the NTFS.

- 10

[MovieMationStudios]

Could you do a video on encoding and how big production houses process all of their footage to get ready for editing? You are the most informative channel on all of YouTube John and I respect you greatly!

[Spacekriek]

Thank you, a very well produced video. I need to point out something at 10:10, both lands and pits on a CD or DVD are read as zeroes, the transitions are taken as ones.

[mosesknows]

Wow, another great video, glad to see you're back John.
Thanks much, Moses...

[BasicFilmmaker]

Thanks John. I love the background information and how it helps others understand how we got to where we're at. And I love this -- "But first, you have to get out there and make something great." -- John Hess :)

[PogieJoe]

Thanks for all the hard work you put into these, John. They're always phenomenal and I always learn a lot!

[Erik-rphi]

You cover a subject very very deep for helping people produce a product. Well done.

[SanczykLucas]

You deserve a gigabyte of subscribers! Keep it coming John. Cheers!

[JustCallMePCra]

You are so great at this... You have a new very happy subscriber... And will binge watch these one day very soon...

[RCAvhstape]

This is great info. But to add another nitpick: when current can pass through a switch, we say it is "closed", and when current cannot pass through, we say it is "open". A switch is part of an electrical circuit, and a "closed" circuit allows current to pass through it from one terminal of the voltage source to the other.

[JoeBetro]

I love your videos. Probably my favourite channel on Youtube. Great quality and delivered with real passion. Keep up the greatness!

[JuanFelipeCadavidjfcr]

Great to see you back! Love all your videos, please keep em coming

[swaygfx]

I learn so much subconsciously through this channel.. I just turn it on I listen whiles doing other stuff

[zioscozio]

At 17:41 it should have been NTFS. For the rest great video!

[billpancake]

SUCH a great video John, you are a true scholar, Sir! I doff my cap to you

[cavalrycome]

Nicely done. A very thorough treatment of the topic.

[СергейДружинин-ны]

2:30 "a bite is a number of bits to express a character"
This is one common view on it.
Another POV may be expressed like "a minimum segmentation of memory used in computer logic". So, actually, there may be any information stored in bytes, not just characters.