VIDEO
SERVICES
->
Please use the CONTACT US link at the top of the page to
inquire about letting us restore and convert your precious
VHS and S-VHS videos to high quality DVD format.
Services are based in the USA, out of the Nashville,
Tennessee area.
All orders are handled through U.S. Mail (or Fedex or UPS or
whomever you prefer).
PLEASE NOTE! Unlike many other services that seem to
have popped up online in recent years, we do not use cheap
VCRs chained into low-grade DVD recorders (Panasonic and
Philips garbage in particular). We use broadcast-grade
hardware and professional software. If you pay somebody for
video work, one should expect the work to be done on a high
quality setup, not a setup that was purchased on clearance
from Walmart.
Basic
Conversion (includes Basic Restoration):
Price. Prices start at $20 per DVD, and is based on a sliding scale
that is solely dependent on the workload (video length,
artwork extras, number of source tapes, editing required,
etc). Unlike other services online, we do not create a
"one size fits all" pricing scale, as it is
entirely unfair. Prices reflect ONLY the work you want
done.
Includes. The basic
VHS-to-DVD
conversion service includes a mild restoration treatment
(time-base
correctors, detailers, proc amps ... all hardware, no
software). It also comes with either no menu or a basic
one-page menu, using one of our templates or an image you
e-mail to us.
Example. For example,
$20-25 is usually a no-frills conversion from a single
2-hour tape to DVD, with either no menu or a basic one-page
menu. There is no editing involved.
Extras. Advanced menus,
custom graphics, multiple tape sources, editing work, etc...
those are items where we start to add in costs. Most of this
can be ascertained within 1-2 e-mails with the client, and a
price set. Prices are very competitive, especially
considering the free hardware treatment we give to your
video, and others do not.
Foreign tapes. We can also convert foreign formats (PAL and
SECAM) to NTSC, either to a new VHS tape or to DVD.
Advanced
Restoration:
Price. Prices start at $30-40 per DVD, and is based on a sliding scale
that is solely dependent on workload required (mostly the quality of the audio
and video).
How bad? To be quite
honest, just because you think the error is bad doesn't
mean it really is. Some of the worst-looking errors are
simple to fix, and some of the most minor errors can be
impossible to fix! Please try to describe the error in
as much detail as possible. Also understand that restoration
means "make it better" and not "make it
perfect".
Process. Advanced restoration techniques
often involve both hardware and software. We have a
stack of video hardware and a library of video software at
our disposal, for treating most errors.
Includes.
Whatever hardware or software work is required for the
restoration to be successful. It also comes with either no
menu or a basic one-page menu, using one of our templates or
an image you e-mail to us.
Extras.
Advanced menus, custom graphics, multiple tape sources,
editing work, etc... those are items where we start to add
in costs. Most of this can be ascertained within 1-2 e-mails
with the client, and a price set. Prices are very
competitive.
Samples. These are past projects done for individuals,
using our service. Images have been used with
permission. And unlike a lot of those con sites out
there, none of these images have been "made
pretty" with Photoshop or other devious lies.
These are raw and unaltered. What you see here is
video work, not fake Photoshop magic. These are
typical work projects, nothing fancy or extraordinary:
VIDEO SAMPLE (A)
The above
project was a multi-generation VHS tape in EP mode, at
one time even being converted from PAL to NTSC. It was
obviously copied with coaxial cables on cheap VCRs
onto cheap tapes, given the noise, grain and color
loss. The project involved hardware and a double pass
through two separate pieces of software to correct
these flaws as best as possible. Note how noise was removed, but the little
polka-dots on the girls dress remain!
VIDEO SAMPLE (B)
The above
project was professional videos shot in a less than
ideal environment, in terms of both audio and video.
The color was almost entirely lost and the contrast
was dismal. It was run first through hardware, then a
single pass through software. Note how the color of the lamp (tan) was
maintained in the final file, while the dark skin
color and blue jeans had the color restored!
We will add some audio samples in the near future.
DVD-R
and DVD+R Duplication:
Contact us for current rates. All duplication is done for media costs plus a
small flat work
fee. This service is mostly intended for duplication of
projects we helped you to create, as we know our masters
will be to DVD spec compliance and in copy-able
condition.
If you would like pressed discs made, or many hundreds or
thousands of duplicates, then contact NewCyberian.com
(one of our site sponsors).
The
following services ARE NOT available:
Physically damaged media. Our
transfer/restoration services are for fixing signal errors
and issues that exist as an inherent flaw of the VHS/S-VHS
format. We do not work on moldy tapes, flood-damaged tapes,
tapes that were in mudslides, tapes that have melted from
fire, tapes where the magnetic particles are flaking off,
etc. Contact us for references to other services that do
provide this work.
8mm film or video. We do
not work with 8mm film (8mm, Super 8, etc) or 8mm video
(8mm, Hi8, Digital 8). Contact us for references to other
services that do provide this work.
'Un-erasing' video tapes.
It has been amazing how many people have contacted us in the
past, requesting that we "un-erase" a tape. When
you record over a VHS tape, your data is gone and has been
replaced. This is why safety tabs exist on video tapes, to
prevent this sort of mistake. Sorry, but your original
information is gone forever.
Contact
information:
Use the CONTACT US form found in the menu at the top of the
page.
Try to answer these questions (and if you cannot, no
worries, we'll figure it out together):
For VHS-to-DVD work, we'll need to know the following information about each tape:
1. Are you seeking basic conversion or advanced restoration?
2. Running time of the tape? In hours:minutes.
3. What kind of flaws are in the video, if any?
4. What kind of flaws are in the audio, if any?
5. Was the tape recorded in SP, LP, EP or SLP mode?
6. If this is a foreign (PAL) tape, do you want it converted
to a PAL(foreign) or NTSC(USA) DVD?
Describe problems however you can, tech terms are not required.
We can usually figure out what flaws a person is talking about, when they use common language.
We'll look over the answers, maybe ask more question if needed, and then
we'll give you quote for the work that will likely be needed to purify the audio/video and transfer the video.
Also let us know if you want any extra services (such as special DVD menus, DVD cases with case artwork, web-ready versions, etc), and
we'll let you know what might be needed and any related costs.
For digital file work (creating web-ready or
streaming video formats), well need:
1. Desired format output (XVID, WMV, FLV, QT and MPEG-1 are
most common). Optionally specify a maximum file per video
(or state bandwidth restrictions), if required.
2. Source for the conversion. If source is VHS, answer the
VHS-to-DVD questions too.
3. Running time of the source? In hours:minutes
4. What kind of flaws are in the audio, if any?
5. What kind of flaws are in the video, if any? Please note
that digital source have very little latitude in regards to
error removal. Software is the only means to remove the
flaws, and it is inferior to analog methods for the most
common video errors found in consumer-originated videos. If
you have the analog source (VHS tape, for example), please
submit that instead of the other digital source.
6. Are there any framerate preferences? If this question
does not make any sense, just ask for 24fps, which is a
popular standard (the same speed as professional motion
pictures).
We look forward to working with you!
Policies
and other fine print:
1. All work is pre-paid. Work will begin after
payment is accepted. We only accept company check, cash,
money order or Paypal.com payments. Paypal allows you to use
credit cards, debit cards and Paypal funds from existing
accounts. A Paypal account IS NOT REQUIRED to use a credit
card. Ask us for an invoice, and one will be generated.
2. We will give you an estimated completion date in e-mail.
Once the videos arrive, we will confirm this date, or
extend/shorten it as needed, as prescribed by the workload
that needs to be done. Please do not e-mail us more than
once a week if you are inquiring about the status of a
project. Having to answer these sorts of petty e-mails steal
away valuable work time. Video projects generally take
2-3 weeks, on average.
3. Source only? Sometimes, some people just want us to
convert the source, not author it. We gladly grant this
request, dumping your raw source files onto a DVD. Since
this saves time and workload, it can reduce costs (although
the minimum per disc is still $20).
4. Bulk discounts? Because work is already being done on a
per-situation basis, all work is at the lowest possible
price. Not to mention that our service often out-prices
competitors (at least ones that do quality work on quality
equipment).
5. Office visits? Phone calls? At this point in time, no
public offices are available. No public phone numbers are
available. We are unable to accommodate customers in this
manner. E-mail is the primary means of communication, if for
no other reason than it provides plenty of documentation
that either party can refer back to at any time.
More will be added to this page as it becomes necessary.
Page Last Updated: February
2nd 2007
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