miniDV

MiniDV is a small digital video cassette format that was introduced in the mid-1990s for consumer and prosumer camcorders. It records video and audio data digitally onto a compact cassette using the DV encoding scheme, and it became a widely adopted standard for home video production before the rise of high-definition formats. The format was supported by many manufacturers, and it remained common through the 2000s.

Technical characteristics of MiniDV include standard-definition video in resolutions such as 720x480 (NTSC) or 720x576 (PAL) with interlaced scanning. The DV data stream typically runs at about 25 Mbps, delivering digitally stored video and audio. Audio is encoded as PCM, commonly 16-bit at 48 kHz, with two channels (stereo) and, in some cameras, support for up to four audio channels. The cassettes came in common lengths like 60, 80, or 120 minutes, depending on recording speed and tape quality.

Transfer and editing were facilitated by the FireWire (IEEE 1394) interface, which allowed direct, real-time transfer of video to computer editing systems. This enabled relatively straightforward non-linear editing workflows and rapid digital archival compared with analog formats.

Decline and legacy: MiniDV declined with the advent of high-definition formats such as HDV and later AVCHD, as well as solid-state and optical storage. Despite being largely obsolete for new production, MiniDV remains in use by enthusiasts and archival footage, and many editors still support DV stocks for legacy projects.