[ARSCLIST] Video format preferences

[Tommy Sjöberg <tommy.sjoberg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear all,
In the sound archive where I work there has 
recently been moves to acquire a video camera to 
capture information (interviews, music 
performances, concerts, etc). I have been asked 
for comments as to what format to record on - for 
once I actually have a chance to influence the 
ingested format!

My problem is that I know very little about 
video, how it is saved on the capturing media, 
how it should be stored and safe-guarded for the 
future, etc (except for the basics that apply to 
magnetic media in general). I assume that 
direct-to-DVD recorders should be avoided as that 
means compression right at the source, as well as 
avoiding analogue, but then what? Is miniDV, for 
instance, a "good" format to put on the shelf, 
until such time that it can be transfered to some 
future mass storage device? Are there any 
recommendations out there?

Any and all help in this decision making is appreciated.
Thanxs all,
Tommy

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Tommy Sjöberg
Sound Archivist
The Centre for Swedish Folk Music and Jazz Research
Stockholm, Sweden