How should my editor return footage?
 

I have editor working on miniDV footage. Should they return it also on miniDV? the easiest thing would be to return on DVD, but that introduced compression and reduces quality, right? or does it have to come back to me on hard drive? thanks.

It depends on what you want, what you asked for, and what you paid for. It also depends on length. MiniDV gives you a more static copy. If you already are getting it on hard drive with other edit files and the original files, that is even better than you get on tape. But remember, writing to tape is 1:1, so if it is 2 hours, that is a minimum of 2 hours more time on your project.

And yes, DVD is lower quality if it can be played in a player. If it is data copies of your orginal and segments of the final in something like DV-AVI, it may be at the same level as what you would get on tape.

I would ask for DV.