Abstract: Systems and methods provide a digital asset management system with archival and retrieval features. A database is synchronized with an online file system and maintains information related to files in the system. During an archiving operation, a user selects files to be archived, and a plurality of archiving parameters. The archiving parameters can include a media type and a data allocation scheme. Based on the archiving parameters chosen, the files are automatically allocated across one or more subfolders or “virtual media folders.” Each virtual media folder is a virtual representation of a specific removable media object (e.g. CD, DVD, tape, flash memory drive etc.) and is configured for subsequent copying to removable media. When a user wants to retrieve a digital asset that is no longer on the online file system, the system checks the media path and prompts the user to insert the removable media object of the same name.