Video to DVD Transfer

DVD -  finally a way to store your family memories for at least 100 years.

New Lower Price!!!!

$15 per hour of transfer.

If the DVD format is new to you, read on to learn more about this new recording format.  If not, use these links to learn more about:

The Process

Pricing

What is DVD? Originally it stood for Digital VideoDisc, but because this format has so many other uses the name has been dropped and it is simply referred to as DVD. It looks like a CD but holds 7 times as much information. This increase in storage capability allows 2 hours of video to be stored on one disc. Over time, we will see the disc expanded even further in storage capabilities.

What is wrong with videotape? Nothing. Videotape is very inexpensive, convenient and has served us well, but its useful life is not very long. The industry has rated the life of videotapes to be as short as 10 years although we have seen tapes last much longer.  Also, videotape is very fragile and easily subject to being damaged or erased.

Why so short a life? Videotape is a piece of plastic with metal particles glued to it. The metal particles hold the recorded magnetic signal. Over time, the properties of the tape change, the magnetic signal can weaken and the glue holding the metal particles can lose its adhesiveness. When this happens, you lose part of your recording. We have seen such severe cases of particle shedding that the tape player had to be thoroughly. cleaned afterwards.

Is there anything I can do to keep my tapes as long as possible?   Yes.  Tape life is directly related to storage methods.   Use the following guidelines to maximize the life of your tapes.

• Store away from magnetic fields. Never place a tape near a speaker.

• Store in an upright position like a book.

• Store the tape fully re-wound.

• Store in a climate controlled environment.

• Exercise the tape from time to time. Fast forward the tape to the end and rewind it. This is particularly important if you play the same segments repeatedly.

• Check for signal loss and make backup copies.

Will we be using DVD in a 100 years? Not likely, but the important part about DVD is that the information has been digitized and can be transferred to whatever format is in store for the future without any generation loss.  Currently, every time videotape is duplicated the copy never looks as good as the original a term referred to as generation loss. 

Making a DVD from a home video with authoring is much more involved than duplicating videotape. There are four stages to the process.

1. Capture – This is done by playing the video tape out from a VCR into a computer which digitizes the information. This is done in real time.

2. Conversion to MPG – The raw data must be compressed to MPEG to fit on a DVD.   If you are familiar with using images on the Internet then you are probably familiar with the JPG format for pictures.    MPEG is the same concept as JPG but for video.   The length of time to accomplish this part of the process is about a 1:1.3 ratio.

3. Authoring – The material is divided into subsections, chapter points with thumbnails and titles  for easy reference. 

4. Burning of the DVD – Time for this process can be ½ hour for every hour of recorded video.

$50 for a duplicate DVD of material already prepared by PMI.

Editing and/or advanced authoring is additional - $60 per hour.  Editing would be transferring only certain selections of videotapes.  Advanced authoring would setting up specific chapter points on the DVD for easier reference. (Ex. Mary’s Birthday Party, Dad’s Retirement Speech, Our Trip to the Shore, etc.)

For movie film to DVD transfer, add the film transfer rate to the price above.

Please keep in mind that we cannot duplicate copyrighted material.

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