I like DVD's but find learning from them difficult if there are multi phases to the trick (e.g. coins across/long card effects etc.) My solution is to write down a brief description of each phase and practice from that. It may be an age thing (wrong side of 70) but it works for me.
I have a library of magic books as Video's and DVD's were not available until Betamax in 1975 and have no idea when the first Video tutorial was released.
Don't think I am knocking DVD's (I have loads) I think they are a wonderful addition to learning and the shorter tricks are no problem to me. Just wondering what other members thoughts are on written format Vs. DVD.

I e mailed Steve Brooks asking where I should post this topic and he advised me to post it in 'A tangled web we weave...' It is now locked there and has been moved here. Hope this is now deemed the right place.

It probably should be under "food for thought" as it deals with learning modality vs learning preference.

There have been many discussion on this theme, partially confused by the use of "visual learning" to mean "video or TV"
rather than "by visual methods" as opposed to auditory or kinetic.

Many younger folks prefer learning from video/DVD/Youtube since that is what they are used to -
and confuse this with the best way to learn a subject - avoid reading books because they do not have any practiced skill there.

A combinations of methods seems best - as you have found - as far as learning techniques, sleights, etc.
The danger is being a copy-cat rather than having originality prompted.

Now, as to learning magic...

I might be a bit "old school" in that I really only want physical print books these days.

Though I do advocate a mixed approach. Learning a physical skill from a book is a skill in itself. Sometimes it's really difficult to wrap your head around a text description of a method, and seeing it done in video will give you the final product it is meant to look like.

But personally, I just have so much trouble watching instructions in video format. It's too slow, it's too annoying to navigate, performers are often bad instructors, and I don't like having to be in my living room to watch it. Due to the lack of optical drives on laptops these days, literally the only place I can watch a DVD is on my XBox 1 in my living room. I can read a book anywhere. I can flip back and forth through descriptions at will. If the book has gone through an actual publishing company it's been edited so it makes sense.

Keeping notes on longer routines is probably a good idea. That also means you have it in your own words which will make the most sense when reviewing. But yeah, personally, I'll buy the book before I get the video any day.

In my experience, if you are trying to learn full tricks or routines, books are better. but if you are trying to learn slights, video is a better format.