HVSN Top Leaf Turning Movies

HVSN Top Leaf Turning Movies:

September conjures up images of leaves starting to change colors. We picked a movie for each of the colors that will soon carpet your yard.

Orange County - A surfer dude from Orange County dreams of going to Stanford. His application is rejected when his guidance counselor sends the wrong application. Enter his smart and sweet girlfriend and needy friend (Bueller anyone?) There’s more than one way to enter Stanford.

Red Dawn - Soviet troops begin landing on the football field of a Colorado high school. A pack of teens, armed only with hunting rifles, pistols, and bows and arrows, struggle to survive the elements and the Soviet predators.

Old Yeller - A stray yellow dog wanders onto a Texas homestead and, although branded as good for nothing at first, he is soon beloved by all.

The Green Mile - A black man falsely accused of child murder and rape waits on death row. His mysterious gift profoundly changes the lives of all those around him.

The Unsinkable Molly Brown - A semi-true rags to riches account of Molly Brown. Born very poor she became one of the country’s leading philanthropists – and one of The Titanic’s most famous survivors.

Want the Best? Trust Us with Your Home Movie Transfers!

Home Movies are special. So special, in fact, that there is a day reserved for them. This year, on

October 21, the world will once again celebrate these treasures on annual Home Movie Day. However, we like to think that from now through the Holidays is really Home Movie Season! Do you have home movies in your closet, basement, or attic? Can you picture the joy these images would evoke as family and loved ones gather for the upcoming holidays? Now’s the time to get these films together and bring them in to us to transfer for safekeeping and a convenient viewing experience.

Why bring them to us? We love home movies and have shown it by being at the cutting edge of this valuable service at every turn of technology. Home Movie Day reminds us of where we in the movie transfer biz came from. How has our business of home movie transfer evolved? Here’s a short history:

Projecting films onto a wall or screen and videoing: 
Primitive as it sounds the first method used to transfer 8mm and 16mm film was to video your projected home movies. The results were less than stellar. Difficulty matching frame rates of film to video, low quality screens and inferior video camera chips set film transfer enthusiasts on a quest for a better way.

Film transfer box
Next came a plastic box where the film was projected into one side of the box and a mirror would project this image into a video camera lens on another side of the box. Although this was perhaps a slight improvement the same limitations and appearance of the wall/screen technique were evident.

Telecine 
A more direct way to transfer images came with the invention of what was called Telecine. This looked a lot like a regular film projector but, instead of projecting the image through a lens, it would project the film image directly into a video chip inside of the projector where the lens would be. That information was then recorded directly to a tape.

Frame by frame
This method used a process like the Telecine machine, except the process stopped each frame long enough to literally take a picture of it. Although a vast improvement from the early days it was still only as good as its weakest link – namely a lower resolution camera – usually only one chip.


Enter Flashscan Technology!
Flashscan, the technology of the Home Video Studio Network, is the leading technology available – and it’s available for you to experience and enjoy today! Here are some reasons why our technology is the best:

Primary and secondary color correction – your film’s color will look as good as it can with our smart color adjustment. Exclusive German engineered Flashscan MWA Nova HD Digital Film Scanner - the clearest, truest image for your precious memories.

Sprocket-less drives - This means you will watch a steady image. No jumping or jerky motion inherent in sprocket machinery. Plus damaged sprockets and shrunk or warped film is no problem with us. Laser frame alignment and 3-chip cameras – This ensures a complete frame capture so no part of the frame is cut off.

No doubt technology will keep advancing and we are proud to be part of this industry. As always, we will stay on the leading edge of video technology so you can enjoy your memories in the best and easiest way possible.

Call us today and let’s get started.  559-732-3050

Welcome
We are part of America's largest video production services network with studios located in the United States, Canada and Sweden, and are dedicated to remaining the leading provider of video production, post-production, DVD and digital content services in the global marketplace.

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Home Movie Transfer - 8mm & 16mm Film
Don't let your treasured film memories fade away! Preserve your 8mm, Super 8 and 16mm film by transferring them to an Archival Platinum DVD. These DVD's are entirely scratch proof and rated to last 100+ years!
With tens of thousands of satisfied customers and over 30 million feet of film transferred in our thirty years of business, Home Video Studio is the leader in home movie transfer. With professionally trained film technicians and state-of-the-art equipment your precious memories are in the best of hands. Sprocketless drives, color correction and full frame capture guarantees that your film will look its absolute best! Whether you have one reel or hundreds call us today! 559-732-3050

Can a Cassette Tape Be Transferred to a CD or MP3?

Can a Cassette Tape Be Transferred to a CD or MP3?

Whether you have one cassette tape that is special to you or you have a vast selection that you have collected over the years, you may be wondering whether it is possible for a cassette tape to be transferred to CD or digital format, such as MP3. The good news is that you certainly can and there are many advantages to doing so.

Why Transfer Cassettes to Digital or CD Format?

Your favorite old cassette may be playing fine now, but what about in five years from now, a decade, even longer? It would be a shame to lose those precious memories to time. Perhaps you have a mixtape put together by a love you won or lost, or maybe you have a copy of a rare album that you want to cherish and listen to for many years to come. By transferring your cassettes to a more versatile and durable format, you can protect your memories and relive them over and over.

The benefits speak for themselves:

• Equipment is becoming obsolete: The equipment for playing back cassettes has largely been discontinued by most electronics brands and you may have to borrow equipment or pay a higher cost for purchasing new equipment. CD players, on the other hand, are still very much part of our lives. Digital formats, such as MP3, provide even more playback opportunities, allowing you to play your converted cassette on your computer, a mobile phone, a tablet and a wealth of digital devices.
• Make as many copies as you need: Transferring cassettes to CD also allows you to make further copies with a CD burner and relevant software. You can request this service from a professional company at the same time as your cassette content is transferred or later when you need more copies.
• No more rewind: You may feel nostalgic whenever you pop a cassette into a cassette player; the whir of the heads as they engage with the tape and the clunk of the buttons as you press play is a satisfying ritual many will never get to experience. However, one thing you’ll never have to do again with CD or MP3 format is rewind or forward to your favorite tracks or segments.
• Preserve content forever: You and future generations may lose the chance to listen to your cassettes forever unless you convert them now to a more durable format. Your cassettes will be preserved in all their glory and made available to share with others, be played on the move or simply protected from the ravages of time.

Which Cassette Transfer Format Is Best?

Whether you choose to transfer your cassettes to CD or digital format will largely depend on your needs and how you intend to play back your converted content.

Converting to CD: CDs can be played on any device that is compatible with the CD format. This can include a wide range of devices, including standalone CD players, computers, games consoles, in-car entertainment systems and portable CD players.

Converting to MP3: If you would like to play your cassette content back on your mobile phone, a computer or share with friends over email, you should choose the MP3 format.

How Can a Cassette Tape Be Transferred to a CD or MP3?

The best way to transfer cassette memories to CD or MP3 is through a professional service. A professional company will have years of experience in handling and processing older media types and will take expert care of your treasured cassettes. From the moment they receive your cassette to the moment your original copies and your new copies are returned to you, you can be sure that care and quality are a top priority.

It makes no difference whether you have a handful or boxes full of cassettes that you wish to convert. The process is the same; a repeatable, proven and professional service that creates a carbon copy of your original content in a modern format that will give you many years of enjoyment.

Cassette Transfer or Duplication?

In addition to converting your cassette content to modern formats, you can also choose to have your content duplicated. Whether you have your child’s first words captured on cassette or a very special album that you want to share with a dear friend, you can choose to have your content duplicated as many times as you wish. A cassette transfer not only allows you to relive those moments, it can make a very unique and thoughtful gift, too.

If you opt to have your cassette tape transferred to a CD, you can also order CD artwork. From track listings to a special message on the CD cover, a professional service will offer customizable design options that make it clear when the CD contains.

Keeping Cassette Memories Alive Is Easier Than Ever

Media formats have changed dramatically over the years and the humble cassette has had its day. That doesn’t mean you have to risk losing their precious contents. By converting your cassettes to CD or MP3, you can go on listening to those magical memories for decades to come.

Ready to get started? Click Here!

The Best Way to Convert Slides to Digital

The Best Way to Convert Slides to Digital

Discovering a box of forgotten slides, full of family memories, can be a magical moment. However, if these are slides you have acquired or that you simply haven’t watched in a very long time, you may be wondering what to do with them. The chances are that you no longer have the right equipment to view them and the slides may need a little TLC before they can be played.

Before you start hunting down a slide projector, you might want to consider a service that can convert slides to digital. Not only will you be able to watch your slides at the touch of a button on any device, but you will also be able to share them with friends and family and protect your originals.

If that all sounds a little daunting, don’t worry. By entrusting your cherished memories to a professional conversion company, you’ll soon be able to enjoy those special moments in digital format for many years to come.

What Does the Conversion Process Look Like?

There are a number of ways to convert slides to digital and the best results will always be achieved with professional equipment and expert knowledge. Whether you own Ektachrome, Fujichrome, or Kodachrome slides, it is possible to scan each slide and convert it to a high-definition, versatile format that can be viewed and shared over and over without any degradation in quality.

Before the scanning process takes place, it is important to remove any surface dust that has accumulated over time. Even the smallest dust particle can appear very large when an image is scanned and spoil the overall effect, so it is important to ensure a pristine surface before scanning begins. This is achieved by using a bulb blower or compressed air blower to gently blow away any loose dust that is present. The slide will be thoroughly inspected to ensure it is ready for the scanning process.

The scanning process involves placing the slides onto a special scanner that captures the image and converts it to a digital format in high definition. You can choose for your slides to be converted to digital files on a USB stick, copied to CD or DVD, or a combination of these formats. It is also possible to request batches of slides to be sorted into named folders of your choosing, which is perfect for when you need to access an image fast or organize a large and diverse collection.

The Benefits of Converting to Digital

By converting your 35mm slides to a digital format, you free your hidden memories from their dark and dusty box and make them easily accessible and shareable. From family photos and vacations to special birthdays and candid moments, there are many benefits to converting your slides to digital format.

Accessibility and sharing: Let’s say you want to view your slide images on a range of devices, including your mobile phone, your computer, and your tablet. You also want to be able to share these digital images with others. By converting to a digital format you can do all of these things easily, at a touch of a button and whenever the mood takes you. Being able to relive those precious memories over and over and without dragging out cumbersome equipment is a great feeling.

Obsolete equipment: While it is still possible to lay your hands on slide projection equipment, there will be a time when these items become harder and harder to find. By converting your slides to digital format now, you can ensure they are accessible to future generations on a wide range of modern devices.

Convert your way: You can also choose to convert your slides into CDs or DVDs. These formats take up much less space than boxes of 35mm slides and are much more durable. These formats also make great ways to gift a collection of slides.

Using a Professional Conversion Service

When you consider how precious your slide memories are, it makes sense to ensure they are preserved to the highest standard and without any risk to the original copies.

A professional conversion service will give you complete peace of mind that not only your digital copies will be presented in the best possible quality, but that the original slides will be returned to you in the condition in which they were received.

Choosing a local company as opposed to a big-box service offers much more than convenience. With a smaller company, you can receive status updates and speak directly with the technician handling your slides.

Whether you have a handful of slides or boxes of slides that require conversion, a professional service will ensure they are transferred to the format of your choice quickly and to the very highest standard.

Relive Those Special Memories Today

Thanks to modern technology, it is now possible to enjoy the images from the past on the devices of the present. When you convert slides to digital, you revive those memories and make them accessible to everybody regardless of their location or viewing preferences.

Don’t let those memories gather dust when they could be liberated with digital conversion. The process is fast, safe and effective and will ensure your special moments from the past are preserved for you, your family and future generations to enjoy.

Ready to get started? CLICK HERE!

Digital Video Archive is AVAILABLE at Home Video Studio-Visalia, Ca!

Digital Video Archive at Home Video Studio-Visalia, Ca! from ARTSVDO on Vimeo.
Home Video Studio-Visalia is an Authorized Representative of Digital Video Archive! Go to www.DigitalVideoArchive.com to get started! 2017

Digital Video Archive - DVA - The New Way to Watch, Organize, Edit, View, Share and Preserve Your Memories!

Video-to-Cloud – Digital Video Archive - DVA The New Way to Watch, Organize, Edit, View, Share and Preserve Your Memories!

In the beginning there was 8mm and 16mm film. 

Then came VHS, Beta, 8mm, Mini DV, 

and other video tape formats.

DVDs were next, and we really liked them because they were slim and cool and gave us more control with features like menus and submenus and chapters.

DVDs have been the state-of-the-art for more than ten years in the video and home movie transfer industry. In fact, Home Video Studio still transfers video to DVDs for our customers who request that service.

But there’s a new kid in town – The DVA – the Digital Video Archive – Video in the Cloud. DVA is the latest technology and it is fast becoming the media of choice. These days we most often transfer everyone’s old VHS, BetaMAX, 8mm and Mini DV tapes to DVAs rather than DVDs. Here’s why:

• DVA is cloud-based. Your memories are safely archived - never again vulnerable to the elements, breakage, or being lost.
• Each of your old videos (your old memories) are transferred to new DVAs and uploaded to Digital Video Archive. You can then view, organize and edit your old memories.
• View your family videos on any computer, iPad, Tablet, Smartphone or Smart TV.
• Invite your friends and family to view! Our sharing capability is private and by invitation only – very family friendly.
• Add, change and re-title chapter markers online. Organize your new DVAs into albums (we call them Archives).
• You can also easily edit your videos.
• We’ll also make a Master Digital Video Archive and store it off-line for safekeeping.
• Memories, videos and DVA… they are one and the same! Never worry about the legacy of your family again.

“Hey You…Get on to Our Cloud”™

That’s right! Get on to our cloud. It’s easy! Just bring in your old DVDs, videotapes, 8mm, and 16mm home movies. We’ll take it from there: 

1. First our DVA experts will convert your content to Digital Video Archives. 
2. Then we’ll upload them to our cloud: DigitalVideoArchive.com and you will receive a private and secure DVA account.*
3. With your account, you can view, organize, edit, and share your new movies with your friends and family.
4. With that same account, you can immediately begin uploading your own personal videos from your computer or smartphone. You’ll be able share these videos with your friends and family as well. Plus your friends and family will want to start their own Digital Video Archive accounts and load up their videos! Soon you’ll have new DVAs from them to watch!
5. You’ll never have to worry about the safety of your family memories again!

Digital Video Archive Technology is here!

Home Video Studio is the leader in the preservation of memories, and we’re on the leading edge of this new technology. DVA brings families and friends around the table again. Getting in touch with the past, sharing the present, and making new memories for the future has never been easier or more fun! 

Call us today!

*Monthly membership and data plan required beyond 2GB of storage.

What is Vinegar Syndrome?

What is Vinegar Syndrome?

Vinegar Syndrome is a term used in the industry to describe decaying film. It is called this because of the vinegar like odor that decaying film gives off during the decaying process.

To understand what Vinegar Syndrome is, we have to understand exactly what film is made from. Modern films, those made after 1948, are made from a film stock base containing Cellulose Triacetate. Triacetate is a polymer, manufactured from a chemical reaction involving cellulose and acetic acid. Vinegar syndrome is the reverse reaction of the breakdown of the acetate.

Because of the way the film substrate is made, there will always be an inherent amount of ‘free’ acetic acid, generally trapped between the substrate and the emulsion. This is normal, and under cool conditions of storage, around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, Vinegar Syndrome may never make an appearance.

The trouble really begins with heat and high humidity. These cause the film to start breaking down into the two main substances that formed the base material in the first place, i.e. cellulose and acetic acid.

The area of the film that seems to be the most affected is between the substrate and emulsion. A build-up of humidity, combined with heat will cause acetic acid to burst through the emulsion as a gaseous substance, creating microscopically small holes through the emulsion as it escapes into the air and gives us the typical vinegar odor that exudes from acetic acid.

The decay process follows this pattern:

• Acetic acid is released during the initial acetate base deterioration, leading to the characteristic vinegar odor. This signal marks the progression of deterioration.
• The plastic film base becomes brittle. This occurs in the advanced stages of deterioration, weakening the film and causing it to shatter with the slightest tension. These physical changes happen because cellulose acetate consists of long chains of repeating units, or polymers. When the acetic acid is released as these groups break off, the acidic environment helps to break the links between units, shortening the polymer chains and leading to brittleness.
• Shrinkage also occurs during this process. With the cellulose acetate polymer chains breaking into smaller pieces, and with their side groups splitting off, the plastic film begins to shrink. In advanced stages of deterioration, shrinkage can be as much as 10%.
• As the acetate base shrinks, the gelatin emulsion of the film does not shrink, because it is not undergoing deterioration. The emulsion and film base separate, causing buckling, referred to by archivists as ‘channeling.’ Sheet films are often severely channeled in the later stages of degradation.
• Crystalline deposits or liquid-filled bubbles appear on the emulsion. These are evidence of plasticizers, additives to the plastic base, becoming incompatible with the film base and oozing out on the surface. This discharge of plasticizers is a sign of advanced degradation.
• In some cases, pink or blue colors appear in some sheet films. This is caused by annihilation dyes, which are normally colorless and incorporated into the gelatin layer. When acetic acid is formed during deterioration, the acidic environment causes the dyes to return to their original pink or blue color.

Can it be treated?

Unfortunately there is currently no practical way of halting or reversing the course of the degradation once it has begun.

Can you transfer my films that have Vinegar Syndrome?

Depending on the stages of deterioration, we may still be able to transfer your affected reels. Unfortunately, the warping associated with the deterioration may

affect the picture quality. Also, once un-spooled from the tightly wound original reel, we may not be able to return the reel back to the original reel in the same tightly-wound manner and we generally only get one chance to transfer the reel. (That’s the good news. The bad news is that if you don’t act soon – you may never get a chance to preserve these reels.) It is also important to note that studies show that Vinegar Syndrome is contagious, so you should check all of your reels and separate out the ones that have been affected from the ones that appear fine. You should consider preserving all of your reels as soon as possible as once the odor is apparent, there is no way to reverse the process.

Don't Delay! Ready to get started? CLICK HERE!

How to Digitize Photos & Preserve Albums (The Right Way)

How to Digitize Photos & Preserve Albums (The Right Way)

Time passes quickly, and special moments are fleeting. Your photos are a treasure trove of milestone events, special people and candid shots, and they should be cherished and cared for to preserve those wonderful memories. You may have these photos tucked away for safekeeping in

dusty boxes or carefully curated in multiple albums. They may only be brought out now and again, or you may lovingly browse through the pages often.

In those moments, have you wondered if there is a way to preserve photos so that you can relive those special moments over and over again for years to come?

Digitize Photos to Preserve the Memories

Digitizing old photos is a process that requires great care and attention. When there is only one original and only one chance to get the process right, it is important to choose a reliable digitization method. Taking your cherished memories to a professional company will ensure they are restored and converted using advanced techniques and the most efficient duplication equipment.

Whether you take along a handful of loose photos or a collection of very special albums, you can be sure that each photo will be lovingly converted to the digital format of your choice. What you do with them afterward is entirely up to you. You can store them in the cloud, edit them, share them on Facebook, use them as mobile phone wallpaper or print off copies for friends and family to enjoy. The choice is yours!

Your Digitized Photos, Your Choice

When you digitize photos, you can choose exactly how you would like them stored. For example, you can choose to have your photos preserved and stored on DVD, Blu-Ray or USB memory stick or a combination of all formats. These formats can all be published, shared and stored easily. Imagine the space you could gain on your shelves by replacing large photo albums with compact DVD cases. You can view your memories whenever you like without the fear of damaging, fading or tearing your original copies. 

Another benefit of photo digitization is that your photos will be made readily available for editing and viewing whenever you wish. From turning your photographs into homemade Christmas cards to using editing software to correct blemishes and other problems, digitizing your photos gives you total freedom over what happens next. Share them far and wide with family across the globe, or simply enjoy the peace of mind that photo digitization brings.

It makes no difference whether your photos are from a bygone era or just printed yesterday. Any photo can be digitized and immortalized forever, and in a format that can be shared easily with friends and family. Digitized photos can also be transformed into beautiful gifts that keep on giving. From a handy keyring to a professionally produced slideshow with music, digitization gives you so much more freedom over what to do with your photos.

Duplication & Restoration

A professional service typically offers restoration and duplication

services for your original photos, as well. If you have some favorite photos that have lost their color or luster, it is possible in most cases to restore them back to their original glory. Once restored, you can choose to order physical copies or simply have them digitized in their improved form. You can also order physical copies of your originals without any enhancement if you wish.

Professional digitization services can also manage duplication of bulk orders. This is especially handy with photo albums, but also with organizations looking to preserve photographic data or a way to archive photographs without needing masses of physical storage. All photographs will be carefully prepared and scanned using specialist equipment. Once your photos have been digitized, you have your cherished memories in a flexible format that can be used for anything.

Advantages of Choosing a Professional Service

Digital cameras have only been around for a relatively short while, but when you digitize photos from the past in high resolution, you gain all the innovative qualities of modern digital photos. Once stored in the digital format of your choice, you can also edit your photos, further enhancing them and bringing them to life for future viewing.

Every photo that you give to a professional service will be hand-checked before it is scanned and converted to digital format. Your old, faded and dog-eared photos will be treated with great care and returned to you in the same condition they arrived. This means you not only have the original photos to cherish but beautifully produced new copies that will stand the test of time.

When choosing a professional service to digitize your memories, assess your needs and do your research. Depending on your intentions, you might choose a company that specializes in a specific service, format or product. No matter what specific service you require, the best professional digitization service will have a lot of past experience and industry knowledge. Most importantly, always consider a company that shows a deep understanding for how valuable your memories are.

Keeping Memories Alive for Future Generations

Protect your original photos and albums for the future by creating digital copies that can be viewed and shared over and over. A professional company will treat every photo with great care and will return your photos and albums back to you in perfect condition.

Ready to get started? CLICK HERE!

The One Thing You Need to Know Before Converting Reels to DVD or Digital Files

The One Thing You Need to Know Before Converting Reels to DVD or Digital Files

Your film reels are precious heirlooms. Maybe they hold the last footage of your beloved grandparents or memorialize all the years of vacations your family spent at the beach. Maybe they’re just sweet reminders of your own childhood, or maybe it’s just fun to watch old friends looking younger and dressed in wacky fashions of the time.

Whatever your old film reels hold, they’re irreplaceable. That’s why you shouldn’t hand them over to just anyone. Converting reels to DVD or digital files is a process best left to experienced professionals. If your reels are damaged or destroyed, you’ll lose that footage forever. Choose a company that values your film as much as you do and explains the process before it begins. Before you convert your footage, you should know exactly what’s going to happen to that special footage so you can feel more comfortable about entrusting it to someone.

What Does the Conversion Process Look Like?

Not all video services companies operate the same way. Some take shortcuts or charge extra for unnecessary services, like splicing together multiples reels of film. That step makes the conversion process faster for them, but you shouldn’t have to pay extra for it.

Typically, the conversion process involves a series of steps.

• Splicing: If you have multiple smaller reels, they may be spliced into one larger reel to speed up the conversion process. For example, if you have three individual reels, they may all be combined into one larger reel before they’re converted.
• Cleaning: Sometimes cleaning is necessary, but may not be if you’ve stored your reels carefully. If you or your parents kept the reels jumbled in a box in the dusty attic, they’ll probably need to be cleaned before they’re converted, in order to get the best quality picture. Often, microfiber cloth is used to remove dust. You should stay away from any liquid or chemical cleaning processes as they can damage the film over time.
• Transfer: Converting reels to DVD or digital files can be done in a few ways. Some methods are outdated and produce poor quality footage. For instance, projecting the film onto a screen and using a camera to record it will produce footage that’s distorted and murky. Professional companies use frame-by-frame film capturing equipment to digitize film.
• Frame rate adjustment: This step is an important one in making sure that the finished footage looks smooth and continuous. If you have 8mm reels, they have an fps (frames per second) of 16, which essentially means that the camera captured 16 images every second. Video records at a much higher frame rate, so your video will flicker and look choppy and dated when it’s converted to DVD or digital files. A technician who is converting reels to DVD or digital files typically has to adjust the speed of the images in order to account for that difference and make the footage look stable and smooth.

Note that some companies, especially big-box stores and drugstore chains, advertise that they can convert reels to DVD or digital files. Those companies likely don’t perform this conversion service in-house, so you can’t know for sure who’s handling your reels and what processes they use. These companies also sometimes print the finished DVD or digital files with their own copyright information, which doesn’t make sense; after all, it’s your footage, not theirs.

The Benefits of Converting to DVD or Digital Files

Even if you still have a working projector, it’s smart to convert your film to DVD or digital files now. Reels are fragile. They can become brittle and break or become damaged from exposure to the elements. By contrast, DVDs, MP4s and other digital files don’t deteriorate over time. As long as you’re gentle with your DVDs and memory sticks, you can keep and enjoy them for decades.

Convert reels to a durable, modern format that doesn’t require any special equipment to view. As technology changes and advances, you won’t have to worry about maintaining an ever-aging projector in order to enjoy your precious memories. If DVDs or digital files do eventually become obsolete, you’ll have a much easier time converting them to a new technology than you’ll have converting reels into whatever format is popular in 2030.

DVDs and digital files are also super portable and shareable. You can make copies to distribute to family members or upload the footage to your computer to safeguard it in case the original is misplaced.

Another major benefit of DVDs and digital files is just how easy they are to play in a variety of settings. Pop your DVD or digital file into a laptop and easily project the footage at your next get-together. Want to share the film at a family reunion, wedding or anniversary party? Many events spaces have the capability to connect a laptop to a projector, allowing even tech novices to easily play your footage for a crowd.

Making the Conversion

Beware of any video transfer company that isn’t transparent about its methods and pricing breakdown. Experienced, reputable professionals are willing to walk you through every step of the process because they recognize just how priceless and irreplaceable your film is.

Relive old memories using today’s technology by converting reels to DVDs or digital files and enjoy them for decades to come.

Ready to get started? CLICK HERE!

How Much Does a VHS Conversion Cost?

How Much Does a VHS Conversion Cost?

Today, your VCR may be chugging along just fine, playing your old home movies without incident, but tomorrow may be a different story. If that trusty old VCR breaks, finding a new one to watch your cherished memories will be difficult. Instead, you should invest in new technology that will make reliving your past much easier. Just imagine how sweet it would be to watch those dance recitals and years’ worth of Christmas morning footage on your laptop or smartphone.

The cost for a typical video tape to DVD transfer service ranges from $9.95 to $39.95 per tape. Additional services may cost extra and , VHS conversion service should be willing to work with you to create a realistic estimate for your job. While price is certainly a factor in choosing the best VHS conversion service, first you should consider all the elements of a successful VHS conversion and what it’s worth to you that every part of the job is done right.

1. Who Is Performing the Video Transfer?

Anyone with an iPhone can take photos, but that doesn’t make them a professional photographer. Similarly, with VHS conversion services, you may find someone on Craigslist who says he can do the job cheaply or hear of a friend who converted his own VHS tapes to DVD. Remember, though, that your tapes are priceless and they can’t be replaced if they’re damaged. You shouldn’t hand your memories over to someone who doesn’t have the training and professional experience to handle the intricacies of the job.

Professional VHS conversion services have trained professional staff with years of expertise and experience who understand the value of the tapes that you are entrusting to them. Trust the experts whose business depends on preserving memories.

2. How Is the Transfer Being Done?

As the VHS format started becoming less popular, several large corporations saw an opportunity to make money by offering conversion services. That’s why you may see this service offered at your local drugstore or big-box store. Those companies are in the business of making profits first and satisfying the customers second. Because VHS conversion is only a tiny part of their overall profits, it doesn’t make sense for them to buy top-of-the-line equipment and thoroughly train their staff on the proper techniques.

Those companies may be reputable and reliable in other services, but VHS conversions just aren’t what they do. A professional company will use designated computers and premium software to ensure a high-quality end result for your irreplaceable memories.

3. Where Is the Transfer Being Performed?

Some companies that offer VHS conversion don’t have the appropriate amount of space or a properly trained staff to perform the conversions in-house. Instead, these companies collect a large number of tapes from their customers and ship them out of state or even out of the country to have the video transfer performed.

Choosing a local company gives you the peace of mind to know that your tapes are being handled with care. It’s comforting to know that you can call and talk directly to the transfer technician about the status of your job or to ask questions about the process. In a small, dedicated conversion facility, you’ll know your tapes will be treated with care.

4. What Is Included in the Price?

A reputable conversion services company won’t try to hide any fees. You should be able to request a breakdown of every charge involved in the conversion process upfront so you can get an accurate picture of what different providers are charging.

That price may be higher than what those drug stores and big-box chains advertise, but they’re probably hoping you won’t look too closely at what you’re getting — or missing. A place that advertises a price of $9.95 to digitize your tapes is almost certainly not including the price of DVDs, memory sticks or return shipping. By the time everything is added up, you could wind up paying several times over what you thought the job would cost.

5. When Will the Job Be Completed?

A good transfer facility will be able to turn a VHS conversion job around within two to four weeks and may even offer same- or next-day services for an additional price. Companies that ship tapes out to other states can’t complete even a basic job that quickly when outbound and return shipping are included, so it may take up to a few months to get your converted video.

6. What Extra Bonuses Come with the Transfer?

No two jobs should be treated the same way because every client has specific needs. A reputable conversion service will have the capability to offer the specific services you want. Maybe you want a DVD with a disc menu that has chapter marks and thumbnails for easy navigation or you want the footage itself edited in a certain way. Maybe it’s important to you that the discs are packaged in cases instead of paper sleeves.

We understand that you want to get the best deal possible when digitizing your VHS tapes, but there is one important idea to remember: those dusty old tapes are your precious, irreplaceable family heirlooms. So while the overall price is, of course, important, you should take into account the many other factors and choose a company that you can trust.

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