FAQs

No, in a word. Depending on the type of tape we may use a tape player equipped with firewire to import the video straight into video editing software. A good example of the equipment we use is this Sony DV deck (see image below).

Within the programme we can cut out the bad sections, stabilise the video and generally edit it to remove those “rat tails” that often appear at the bottom of a converted tape. Its then output via the computer directly to a video format compatible with your order.

We do not use a video to DVD transfer recorder that simply copies the content of your tape straight to DVD. The quality of this type of conversion is usually very poor.

A single DL DVD will hold around 90 minutes of video without reducing the quality. Should your tapes exceed 90 minutes then we supply an additional DVD(S) to take the extra video length. There is no extra charge for these DVD disks, if they are needed. Where companies state that they will place 4 hours of video on a disk, it is very much reduced in quality to fit. Bearing in mind video tape is of a much lower quality than today’s modern formats it is wise to use best quality.

No we charge per tape, so if you have a 240 minute tape you will still just pay the usual charge regardless of how many disks we use.

Yes, we provide a Movie Style hard backed Presentation Cases which can hold 2 DVD disks should the need arise. It is printed with the title of the video. (See images below)

 

Yes, for a small extra charge the copies can be supplied in the same style case as the original. Otherwise they are supplied in DVD Plastic sleeves. You must ask for Presentation Cases during the ordering process.

Yes the DVD is printed with the name and title of the video along with a selected image from the video. Same applies to all copies. (See image below)

The Digital File is supplied as an MP4 (H.264) which can be edited or played back on modern computer equipment and Smart TV systems.

The Digital File (mp4) loaded onto a memory stick can be played back from a PC or laptop by simply plugging it in and clicking on the name of the video. The computer will automatically play the file. If you intend to play it back on your Smart TV you first need to look and see if you have a USB port. Most Smart TV systems have an onscreen display that allows you to choose the source of your picture. Choose USB and click on the name of the video. You should check in your TV’s instruction book on how to play back a video on a USB stick. Some TV’s have multiple USB ports but only 1 of them may play video. Please note that Digital Files will not have a front end loading system, or chapters.

If you ask for a digital copy of your video then this file can be read by all standard video editing programmes.

As the file is digital there is no way, currently, to setup an interactive menu. The movie will play from the beginning, but you can fast forward or rewind as you like.

The finished Video DVD can be played on all laptops and computer systems as well as standard domestic DVD players.

Yes, your original video file is stored on our system for 30 days, in case you require more copies, or there is a problem with the original transfer. After this time the files are securely deleted.

Quite often family video on a VHS tape (for example) ends and is followed by Commercial TV – an episode of Coronation Street for example! We edit out this Commercial TV but leave the family video alone. The only exception is when the video image is so bad or degraded that we remove it as it is unwatchable. Even then we only remove it if it lasts more than about 10 seconds (if we spot it!).

Yes, we offer a tape repair service, which is designed to allow the tape to go through our transfer process. It is not designed for continual playback.

This is mould and can degrade a tape and is caused by storing the tape in damp, warm conditions. The tape can still be transferred to DVD but quite often the quality is not as good as a clean type, obviously.

Yes!

We cover all the popular home Cine Film versions which go under the names of Standard 8 / Regular 8 / Dual 8 and Super 8.

A brand new Frame by Frame Scanner is used to capture each individual frame of your cine film. Bearing in mind that a typical cine film will take 18 pictures a second a typical 3” reel would have something like 4,000 separate images. These are captured one at a time and stored on a fast computer equipped with lots of memory and SSD drives. These images are then stitched together using sophisticated software and imported into a video editing programme for final editing etc.

Not at all. The sprocket holes are used by a projector to draw the film through the film path. A “claw” was most often used to pull the film through the gate that displayed the image onto a projector screen. Our system has no claw and does not use the sprocket holes. Instead the film is wound round an empty cine reel and pulled through the machine at a set speed.

Any size reel. Most popular are 3”, 5” and 7” reels. (See images below)

   

Yes, very cine film is cleaned and lubricated before we run it through our frame scanner. This has the added advantage of us finding out if the film is broken and needs repairing.

This is known as splicing. We use a splicing machine which is a small piece of kit designed to attach two broken ends of a cine film together. Usually the film is broken because an old splice has broken down over time. Here are pictures of our splicers in use today.

 

Just about any! The most popular is DVD format playable in all Pc and laptop systems, DVD players etc. We can also save the file in a digital format for playing back on your Smart TV and computer. However, there are no chapters or front menu in a digital file. Here is a list of the formats available.

 AVI, MPEG-2 (.MPG) in Dolby Digital audio, Windows Media Video (WMV), H.264 AVC MPEG-4 (.MP4) in 8 bit with AAC/Dolby Digital audio/LPCM ^NEW , H.264 AVC (.MKV) in 8 bit with Dolby Digital/LPCM audio/DTS/AAC ^NEW, H.264 AVC (.M2TS) in 8 bit with Dolby Digital/LPCM audio, *XAVC-S(MP4) in 8 bit with Dolby Digital/LPCM audio/AAC, *H.265 HEVC (.MP4) in 8 bit with AAC/Dolby Digital audio/LPCM ^NEW, *H.265 HEVC (.MKV) in 8 bit with Dolby Digital/LPCM audio/DTS/AAC ^NEW, *H.265 AVC (.M2TS) in 8 bit with Dolby Digital/LPCM audio.

By default we save all slide scans as jpeg files. We can save as tiff files for the professional photographer but the file sizes are huge by comparison.

Typically we scan at 2400 which results in a size suitable for printing as an A4 picture and displays the picture accurately on HD and UHD TV systems. We can scan at up to 4800 which results in a file big enough to print at 24 x 16 or A2 size. There is no discernible difference on screen between the lower and higher resolutions.

Digital ICE is an automatic method of removing dust and blemishes on a slide as it is being scanned. However, it is widely acknowledge that this system leads to softer focus pictures. It is better to scan the image and make corrections afterwards.

Yes, we remove surface debris such as dust particles using a gentle air spray and a horse hair very fine brush.

Yes, we correct the colours as often older slides have a colour “cast”. Typically, this is a darker brown or Orange colour. By fixing this problem and adding contrast and backlight the slides are bought back to life. Click here for some sample scans.

Sure no problem. The finished slides are supplied on a non copy protected disk so that you can share or manipulate the picture freely.

Most likely yes if it is a more modern Smart TV. If your TC has a USB port then usually it will have a facility to play the images one by one. A quick check in the manual will tell you.

This can happen when transferring images from a CD or DVD. All you have to do is right click the image, select properties and make sure that “Read Only” is unchecked.

Not as yet!

Yes, we can. From 6 x 4 up to A1 poster size. See our photo printing pages for more details.

Yes, just let us know that you would like straight scans.

Yes we can do a full scan, which is popular with some customers. You can then crop and edit them yourself.

Yes we can. 35mm is by far the most widely used format but there are other formats which can be viewed here: You need to remember that if the slide is of a smaller format the rules regarding scanning resolution will change.

There may be an additional charge for Medium and Large Format slides depending on style and type.

This very much depends on the scan resolution. At our standard 2400 dpi you can expect something like 1400 or so on a dual layer disk. If scanned at 4800 you will get about 400 or so.

No. All scanning is done in house at our new purpose built workshop.

Yes, we can provide 5 slides as examples of what you can expect. You will receive 2 images per slide. The first is the raw scan without any additional work and the second will be the enhanced version.

The images will resize proportionally onto the screen with the longest side being the larger dimension. However, a square picture which for example may measure 2 inches by 2 inches cannot fill a screen which is 44 inches wide and 24 inches high (50” Wide screen Smart TV). The reason for this is one size is a square and the other a rectangle.