I'm working with large volumes of digital music...archived concert recordings, mostly on DATs. I've run into several issues and am looking for assistance.
1) AIFF are limited to 2GB. Most shows are in the 3-4 GB range. So, I can cut the shows into 2 pieces which requires me to be sitting at the computer to stop the DAT recorder and WTS before the 2GB limit and in between songs. Considering the volume I have this is nearly unacceptable, but I need to archive.

2) Once I do archive, there is the compression issue. I can't have hundreds of AIFF files on my hard drives (in pairs because they are longer than the 2GB) or I'll be broke buying external drives And editing the audio becomes cumbersome with 2 separate files per show. Anyone have opinions on the Apple lossless formats? CAF, MPEG4, etc. They compress nicely and from what I can discern CAF is forward compatible for current/future tech editing and playback. Up to date information is scarce or even absent, most info concerns video and windows not audio and macOSX.

So, bite the bullet and use AIFF or a better option? Pre-editing backups and storage need to be lossless. thanks
jay

Well, if it has to be lossless that limits your options. I record a six hour Blues show on Sundays and just save it as mp3 Higher Quality and I uncheck the Record Lossless Original option in the Saving options. Six hours of very good audio comes out as about a quarter of a gig.

Yes, the original copy needs to be lossless (WTS).. then preferably losslessly compressed for archival purposes. These are the problems: Can't store one show at one time (> 2GB) and cannot find unequivocal CURRENT data on lossless digital audio compression. Source -> WTS -> ?format on hard drives. thanks,
j