Our standard videotape to DVD conversion service provides a professional and economic transfer of unedited content from your original videotape to a premium Grade-A DVD.  One of your original input videotapes is written to a corresponding output DVD.  We will capture all video from the head of the tape to tape's end, unless you give us other instruction.  If there are a few seconds of blank videotape between video segments, these will carry to your DVD.

The DVDs themselves will contain fixed chapter markers, not exceeding 10 minutes between chapters and DVD startup menu.  We can combine tapes, however, you must give us precise direction and the content of combined material must not exceed two-hours.

The DVDs are not copy protected.  They are your material; we simply provide the means to freeze the current content to a persistent digital format -- the DVD.

We employ digital filtering technology to retain or improve your picture quality.  We do utilize a professional Time Base Corrector (TBC) to perform transfers when original analog tape requires it.  When you have a digital tape, we will use digital cables (FireWire) to move audio/video content to the DVD.  There is absolutely nothing a TBC will do to improve the transfer of digital tapes to DVD.  In cases where your video was filmed in very low light or has bad color throughout, we can employ a separate color corrector at our discretion.

We return your DVDs and also your original tapes back to you at the end of our conversion project.

Our Pledge.
Our standard conversion service is a convenient and economical way to freeze the existing content on your videotape they way it exists today.  Videotape has a lifespan of about 5-10 years before entropy sets in and 20 years before they are practically gone.  We are not claiming to make your videos look brand-new, shot in hi-definition film.  If static has already overtaken your tapes, we aren't claiming we can magically reverse time. 

We pledge that we will professionally capture your video content and that the resulting DVD will look the same or in some cases better than your videotape.

In summary, we guarantee this service will protect your current video assets by converting your content to a stable format with a longer lifespan -- the DVD.   We guarantee our DVDs will play on arrival if your DVD player supports DVD-R format.  Typically, DVD players built on or after 2002 will have no issue.    New entry level DVD players today can be purchased for less than $50 at your local electronics store.

How long will these DVDs last? 
Each situation is going to be unique, but environment and care are the main factors in the longevity of your DVDs.

Our DVDs contain a silver alloy and can last up to 100 years when taken care of.  Why 100 years?  In simple terms, exposure to the elements, namely sunlight and oxygen will eventually decompose the layer of silver on which the layer of binary data is written.  The effects of entropy can be minimized by ordering a second copy of your master DVD and keeping that secondary copy in a sealed black non-opaque plastic bag.  This sealed bag should be kept at a constant nominal temperature and not handled or opened; perhaps a safety deposit box.  

We do offer a DVD with a layer of gold that has a 300 year lifespan.  Before you jump on that option, think about the technological changes in the last 20 years.  Can you imagine the changes that will come in the next several decades?  The reality is -- your silver alloy DVD will be converted to a technology not yet invented by a person not yet born before it will expire.  Our material upgrade charge for the 24-carat gold DVD is $10 per produced DVD.   If you want this option, please specify in writing on our order form and we will comply.

We collect no money up front.
We only collect payment when we have completed your project and are ready to ship back your originals tapes and newly preserved DVD product.

If you happen to include a blank original tape in your project, we will not charge you blanks.  We only charge for what we can deliver.  This is one of many reasons we have a no money up front policy.

Why do we use Flat-Rate Pricing?
In short, to keep it simple.  One rate.  No surprises.

Video on long playing (LP) VHS tapes, up to 6 hours, is typically not pristine to begin with.  In our experience, LP VHS tapes are typically older and have been recorded on more than once, leaving a lesser quality audio/video artifact behind as a result.  If you submit a long playing VHS tape, exceeding 2 hours, we will place all content in a single DVD.  However, if you want us to limit the content to 2 hours per DVD produced, we will honor your request.  Please write a note to that effect on your order form and we will comply.  If we need to use 2 or 3 DVDs to capture the content on your 6-hour VHS tape, we do not charge an additional transfer cost, as part of our flat-rate policy.

Our Customers...
While family video conversions are the bulk of our business, we have also serviced the needs of insurance companies, universities, state and federal government agencies as well as various corporate entities.  Recently, a Los Angeles film company hired us archive decades of their irreplaceable masters.  We have even been trusted to process official active-duty military footage!

Many of our customers refer their friends and family. We appreciate the word of mouth referrals. Click here to see what people are saying about us.

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In this service offering, the following types of videotape formats are supported.  You may click on the logos below if you're not sure what type of videotape you have.