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Camcorder/Player Video Formats + Sound in the field

Below is a chart displaying the several camcorder/player formats and their advantages and disadvantages in the field, and when used in conjunction with a computer-based capture system. It should be remembered that VHS, VHS-C, and 8mm are all analog formats, and hence will only work with analog capture systems such as Pinnacle's Studio. Digital formats - miniDV/Digital8/miniCD - can be used with both digital (IEEE1394/Firewire/iLink, or USB-2) or analog capture systems, though the former is much easier and gives much higher quality results. MiniCDs have the added advantage of allowing simple data transfer from your computer's CDR-W drive. Digital8 is a proprietary format only available with Sony Digital8 camcorders.

Format: VHS VHS-C 8mm miniDV Digital8 MiniCD
Advantages in the field Large enough to feel like pro gear Inexpensive Inexpensive Most common digital format - high quality Also high quality, with the added advantage that the tapes are inexpensive (ordinary 8mm). Swapping disks is quick and painless, and there is no need to fast-forward/ rewind.
Advantages in an editing environment Tapes can be used with any VCR, so you don't need to tie up your camcorder when capturing or sending back to tape. With an adapter, tapes can be used in any VCR (see VHS) none High quality, capture interface gives direct control over camcorder see miniDV. Sony Digital8 cameras will also play back and digitize analog 8mm video tapes Very easy to transfer files, since CD can be dropped into a CDR-W drive.
Disadvantages Quality not great Lowest quality. Quality not great, and unlike VHS/VHS-C, you must tie up your camcorder for capture. Somewhat more expensive. Tapes are also expensive. Although miniDV playback/
recording  decks (similar to VHS VCRs) are available, they're very expensive. Without one, you must tie up your camcorder for capture and shooting back to tape.		 Format is unique to Sony Digital8 camcorders, and is being phased out. Files are compressed, and hence there is a very slight reduction in quality (it will be hard to tell, though). Blank disks are expensive.

Dealing with Sound when using your camcorder

Sound is tough.  The microphones built into most consumer-grade camcorders are usually good enough quality for speech, when the person is close to the camera. But they have three main disadvantages:

Location.  They're mounted permanently on the camcorder, hence they work best when your subject is close - not always convenient, and frequently not even possible. As a results, you'll pick up every other noise around you.

Volume control. Camcorders provide automatic volume control, which works OK in general, but produces some odd problems when "on location" - if, for example, an air conditioner is running quietly in the background, as soon as your subject stops talking, the automatic volume control takes over and boosts the air conditioner noise until it dominates the sound track!

Plugs. Since consumer-grade camcorders use 1/8" mini-plugs for their external microphones (see Analog issues for a discussion of plug styles), you are severely restricted in what microphones you can use which will plug directly into your camcorder.

Solutions:

  • Pro-grade camcorder and pro microphones. Perfect for that deep-pockets-budget video program! Out of reach for us common folk . . . 
  • Long-cord, mini-plug lavalieres and microphones. They're out there - I purchased my 20'-cord mini-plug lavaliere for $20 on eBay. Radio Shack makes one that'll need a cord extension. JVC makes a good hand-held as well (see Hardware for details).
  • Adapter + pro-grade microphone. This isn't worth it. It's possible to adapt a "pro" (XLR, three-prong) microphone for use on a consumer grade camcorder, but it doesn't work well.
  • Beachtech mini-mixer and pro grade microphone.  There might be other products like the Beachtech out there, but I haven't found them. This mixer bolts to the tripod socket of your camcorder (they also have a socket, so you can still use your tripod), provides two XLR connection points for any style microphone plus a mini-plug line-in, and the output is a mini-plug for your camcorder. Works really great! It's not cheap (around $160, though prices vary wildly), but it's worth it for lots of uses.
  • General sound mixer with adapter for camcorder. Ordinary sound mixers can be purchased for $60 or less, and will take several sound sources including pro microphones. The disadvantage is that such mixers must be plugged into a wall outlet, and add a serious level of complexity to remote shoots. However, that's how the pros do it!