COMPARISON OF AUDIOVISUAL FORMATS BY EVALUATIVE CRITERIA

 

Durability
  1. the laser optical disc formats reveal virtually no wear with use
  2. on the other hand, the various discs have not been around long enough to
offer any accurate predictions as to their life expectancy Sound Quality
  1. digital formats, including videotape, offer the greatest fidelity
  2. although not readily apparent upon listening, the lower sampling rate employed
by minidiscs render them (in theory) inferior to other digital formats Video Quality
  1. the laser formats are superior to videtapes
  2. DVDs offer the greatest promise for conveying video information
Versatility
  1. tapes, minidiscs, and recordable CDs provide multiple recording capability
  2. VHS, Beta, and open reel offer a variety of recording and playback speds
  3. Laserdiscs come in two configurations: CLV (regular playback only) and CAV
(special effects--e.g., still framing, single frame random searching--built in General Availability of Software and Equipment
  1. only CDs, audio cassettes, and VHS are widely available in retail outlets; these

    2. formats also offer the widest variety of prerecorded titles

  2. LV, DAT (blank tapes only), MDs, 8mm, and DVDs can be found in specialty venues
  3. open reel, Beta, and DCC can only be obtained via specialty mail order firms
  4. many formats developed and marketed in recent decades--e.g., CED, VHD, U-matic,

    5. 8-track tape--are no longer being produced; older material may be obtained at a

    discounted price

  5. an increasingly limited number of cassette deck and vinyl record turntable models are

    6. available to choose from (conventional wisdom has it that these formats will be phased out in the near future)

  6. most consumers and educational institutions are likely to possess VHS, cassettes,
and CDs; other formats--e.g., LV and DATs--are preferred by professionals and

serious collectors

 Cost of Software and Hardware
  1. relatively expensive software: CAV laserdiscs, MDs, DAT, CC, newly released VHS

    2. titles, 8mm and open reel (blank tape)

  2. relatively cheap software: older/budget CD and VHS titles, blank cassettes, DVD

    3. releases

  3. most equipment reasonably priced if purchased without needless "bells and whistles";
CD players represent the most outstanding value--some models retail for less than $100 Future Potential
  1. LV and VHS will soon be replaced by DVDs
  2. DAT and MDs, which failed to replace audio cassettes, will soon be replaced by
recordable CDs