Equipment & Technical Issues

The institutional or individual collector of single-channel media art works should be familiar with a range of technical standards and issues. Perhaps the most important technical consideration is knowledge of accepted archival media formats (such as Digital Betacam and Betacam SP) for acquisition. Proper selection, installation and maintenance of video and audio playback and display equipment are also important to the acquisition process, and collectors should consult qualified technicians where possible. These issues have an impact beyond the purely technical: Perhaps most significantly, the decision to acquire works on a particular format will have implications for the future stewardship, preservation and viability of the work. These equipment and technical decisions should also speak to the artists' intentions, as they will impact the meaning and perception of the work.

This section provides recommendations and outlines of standard media exhibition formats, playback equipment and display devices, for both video and audio. The section also includes a projector installation guide and general technical and equipment troubleshooting tips.