Multi-media cabinets. Not sure if this posted in the right area.

[rberger3]

Hi,

I am not sure if this is in the right area and please feel free to kick it wherever it needs to go, but I currently have over 2000 dvd's and it's starting to take up some space.  I'd like something like this  http://www.mmdesign.com/multimedia-storage-cabinets.htm but I am not going to pay $700 after shipping, that's just ridiculous   

I've seen these http://www.ideastreamproducts.com/vaultz/CDCab.html which aren't bad but i'd need to get a couple of them so it would end up being around $400 and they look kind of gaudy. 

Something like this isn't bad either http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130201400447&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=003  but since it opens from the top i can't really stack them. 

I basically want to put all the dvd casing away somewhere and just have these in cd sleeves.

Any thoughts?

[javeryh]

You could get a few TBs worth of hard drive space and rip them all to the computer and use some sort of front end to categorize and select everything... A guy I work with does this with his movies (and everything he rents) and it works great.  He uses Apple TV for his interface but I'm not sure exactly how it all works.  I'm not sure what to do regarding the physical copies - 2,000 is quite a lot.  I packed away about 1,500 CDs about a year ago - I put the discs in a few 300+ jackets/books and the cases in storage in the basement.  The racks were taking up too much space and didn't look so nice.  To be honest though, after ripping them all to the computer I rarely, if ever, take out the discs to listen to.

[rberger3]

I have thought about this.  I assume storage space via TB will start to get cheaper and cheaper and this will be a real option very soon.  I guess i could just wait.  I would just need to find a way to get a dvd-9 down to about 1 gb worth of space to make a TB really stretch it's limits.

[sstorkel]

Any thoughts?

Do you want to build or buy? Do you want the DVDs to be visible (like a books in a bookshelf) or do you want them to be hidden?

Building something like this or this out of wood is pretty easy.

[rberger3]

Not visible and they will be in cd sleeves.  I will simply use a movie manager to know where they in the cabinet my numbering the sleeves and syncing them in the program.  I use this right now http://www.collectorz.com/movie/ just a pain going through cd wallets trying to find them.

[IA1NY]

Give Ikea a shot if you have one nearby.  http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30032387  You can flip the drawers around and add a pull for a solid face look.

[rberger3]

Unfortunately no ikea near me.

[massive88]

I have thought about this.  I assume storage space via TB will start to get cheaper and cheaper and this will be a real option very soon.  I guess i could just wait.  I would just need to find a way to get a dvd-9 down to about 1 gb worth of space to make a TB really stretch it's limits.

Thats possible, but there will be a loss in quality, and it will take for freaking ever to transcode 2000 dvds.

Imo, its not a viable possibility.  Id consider either upping your space calculations to include full dvds, or estimate more like 5 gigs per dvd9 as a pure rip of just the movie should be around that.

[rberger3]

yeah, ripping 2000 + dvd's will be    But being able to stream them would be sweeet.  I did 4 last night down to 1 gig each and handbrake allows me to queue them up so i don't have to wait and load each one for shrinking.  I have some other ideas too but i am not sure how i might incorporate them.

[(+_+)]

Have you seen these? I'll probably get around to building myself one... some day since I have similar media storage issues. You can probably build one at half the cost and taylored to meet your needs. That's assuming your handy. But if your building your own cabs, I don't think that'll be a problem.

http://www.spinkeeper.com/

[rberger3]

Which on the spinkeeper site were you talking about, theres a bunch on there.  If i decide to go the route of storage i want them in just the cd plastic sleeves and not in the case anymore. 

[IA1NY]

Which on the spinkeeper site were you talking about, theres a bunch on there.  If i decide to go the route of storage i want them in just the cd plastic sleeves and not in the case anymore. 

It looks like you'd want the Library or the Apothecary Cabinets.  Either of those look like they'd be good for sleeved discs.  I've gotabout 1300 CDs stored in sleeves in a divided drawer of our old school entertainment center.  I like having them in a single flexible drawer.  I don't have to worry about a genre spilling over into multiple drawers.

How are your woodworking skills? You can check online at some of the woodworking plans sites.

[rberger3]

Not great.  I can see if my neighbor can help, he works in deck repair and construction.  So he at least knows something about woodworking.  also will still keep my eye out for a digital solution.