what codecs/formats for home video

[stanDVD]

After learning Windows Movie Maker 2, I recently started playing with VirtualDub. I started reading about codecs, etc. My question is in what video format should I keep my home video files that I originally recorded on miniDV video camera? avi, mpeg2 ? which codecs to use (lossless or near lossless)? any advice, suggestions for programs, etc? avi uncompressed files are just too big.

[rago88]

Keep them at avi.
there will be no compression.
mpeg2 is what you would convert to if you want to burn to a blank dvd and play on a set top dvd player.
mpeg 2 will require some compression and returns a much smaller file. The output still will look very good to you..
I bought an external 500 gig hard drive and keep those large avi files there.
I also never copy over anything I recorded on my mini-dv camera.
that way you always have the original recording.

[stanDVD]

thanks, I'm not fully convinced on avi uncompressed, as it takes about about 2GB per minute. That's not practical IMO. Windows Movie Maker files (DV-AVI NTSC) take almost 9 times less space. Can I get this codec and use it in VirtualDub?
At this point I capture from miniDV using WMM, and I wonder if I loose something, and if there are advantages of using VirtualDub to capture instead, or some other software?

[paglamon]

At this point I capture from miniDV using WMM, and I wonder if I loose something, and if there are advantages of using VirtualDub to capture instead, or some other software?

MiniDV tapes store the video as DV-AVI. The best way to get DV-AVI into PC is to transfer it via Firewire card. WinDV is a free(and excellent) software to transfer via firewire. DV-AVI takes up about 13GB per hour.If you wish to compress it using Virtualdub,the try XviD or DivX at about 1500kbps bitrate to get a pretty nice quality.