General
How long does it take to process my order?
Our standard turn-around time is 5-10 working days. We understand that you will want you order finished as quickly as possible. We complete each order in a timely manner with the highest regard for the quality of the order. When placing your order you will be given an estimated due date and we will call you when your order is completed.
What type of media to record to?
We record to CD, DVD-R and external hard drive. We can also use thumb drives, memory cards, and other media sources if needed for certain projects.
The DVDs we use are 100 year archival Taiyo Yuden premium line DVD-R. These are regarded industry-wide as one of the most compatible and longest lasting DVDs in the world. Data written on the DVD-R disks is permanent. DVD-R disks are compatible with 95% of the DVD players on the market and are supported by the largest number of manufacturers.
Why is DVD a good medium for preserving media?
DVDs are less susceptible to environment changes than older video tapes or images. Also DVD disks to not degrade when you play them even on the 1000th time. (Just try not to scratch or touch the flat surface of the disk too much). Also copies of DVDs do not suffer a loss of clarity as analog media does. DVDs are easier to play at high speeds and you don't have to fast-forward or rewind them. Lastly, one DVD is easier to store than one video cassette or 1000 photos or slides.
How do I know a DVD-R will play in my DVD player?
Most of the newer DVD players should be able to play a DVD-R disc even if that feature is not listed.Some older players (older than 2004) may not play the disk perfectly. In that case that your player will not play the disks we make for you, we will copy your data onto a different type or brand of DVD. If that doesn't work we will purchase a DVD player for you that will play the original. We feel it is our responsibility for the DVDs we create to work with your hardware.
If you're making a DVD for a slideshow presentation, please ask us for a demo disk that you can try out in your DVD player. If the demo disk works then the DVDs we make for you will too.
Here's a link to a searchable database of DVD players from different manufacturers that you can check for compatibility with our DVD-R discs:
http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers
Will a DVD-R play in my computer?
Your computer needs to have a DVD drive and for video you need to have DVD player software installed.
Do you have a quality guarantee?
We actually have two types of guarantees. Our compatibility guarantee assures you that we will do whatever it takes to make your DVD playable in your home (if you already had a DVD player), even if that means copying your material again or even buying you a brand new DVD player. Our quality guarantee assures you that we will do our best to make your transfer look as good as, if not better than, your original media. If there is any inconsistency between your original media and your digital media we will fix the problem with rush order status.
What is the best way to place my order?
If you are local you can just come in. Our address is 8305 Vickers St. #206, San Diego, CA 92111. If you have a video-tape transfer order you don't need to make an appointment. If you have any questions or have a film, slideshow, or scanning order we would appreciate an appointment or at least a call before you come in so that we can help you as quickly as possible. Our phone number is (858) 503-7965.
If you are not local or wish to send your materials in, please do so. You can find forms to print out and send in along with your order on the website. We will give you a call when your order is received and go over the details with you before we start to process your order.
What types of payment do you accept?
We accept credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, AMEX and Discover), checks, and cash. We also accept ITEX most of the time and on certain types of orders. Please call to find out the latest information on ITEX payments.
Do you keep my a copy of my order in case I need another copy later?
On certain types of orders we keep a master DVD. For all slideshows (basic, ideal and custom) and scanning (slide, negative and photo) orders we keep a master DVD with your data and case/DVD artwork (if applicable). For all film orders in which we produce a DVD with custom artwork we will keep an extra master on hand.
We keep a backup copy just in case you lose yours or you need more copies for relatives.
Scanning
What is the typical turnaround time for slide scanning?
The time it takes to process your slide scanning order depends on the number of slides being transferred. Typically you can expect 5-10 business days for a standard order. We always write down an estimated due date when you place your order and you will be notified when your order is complete.
What is the best way to view my slides prior to having them digitized?
There are a number of ways to view your slides. There are many inexpensive "slide viewers" on the market where you would put each slide into a device that will magnify it. There are also "light boxes" that you can purchase. A light box is exactly as it sounds: a box with light coming out of the top. You can lay out your slides on the top of the box to view them more easily. Remember that: after the digitization process it is very easy to categorize your slides by moving the files into different folders.
How many slides/photos/negatives can fit on one data DVD?
The answer to this question depends on many factors including the file format, resolution, magnification, color bit depth, etc. For basic transfers a DVD will hold about 900 slides or negatives and 2000 photos.
Can you touch-up my images when you transfer them?
Yes. We have a couple different options available for images that have faded over time. Please ask to see an example when you bring in your order.
What type of photos can you scan?
We can scan all photos sizes up to 8.5" x 11" at our regular pricing. We can scan photos larger than that (up to 12.2" x 17.2") for $10 per image.
What types of slides can you scan?
We can scan 35mm, 110, 120, 220, 126 and 127mm slide formats.
Video-Tape Transfer
How many hours of video can go onto one DVD?
Two hours and four minutes of video will fit onto one DVD.
If my movies are transferred to DVD can I edit them on my home computer?
The simple answer is no. The complete answer is yes, almost anything is possible if you are an advanced computer user, but for many reasons it is not advised to do so. The main reason is that you would be working with highly compressed video.
If you transfer the data from the dvd to the computer for editing, the quality is not the same as that of the originally uncompressed video used to create the DVD. It also takes a lot of processing power to edit the compressed video, and although you can fix this problem by converting it to a less compressed video format (such as AVI), you will still see a quality loss. Also when you re-render that video that has previously been on a DVD it will recompress again and you will notice more than a little loss of detail.
**At DVD Your Memories we can and have edited from a finalized DVD for certain projects where no other media is available. Please just call us if you have further questions about this.
What if I want to review each of my tapes before giving them to you to transfer?
At this time we do not rent out our machines for customer to view their tapes. The main reason for this is that some of the decks we use cost up to $2000.
Fortunately, at the time oforder we ask a series of questions which usually negates the need for customer viewing. Here are some important points to remember:
If there is a blank tape, we do not charge anything and we do not transfer it.
We also ask if you want TV shows recorded. If you chose for us not to record any television shows that might be on your tape then we will copy all the footage up to when a television show starts and nothing after that.
Can you combine multiple video-tapes onto one DVD, and does it cost extra?
Yes, we can combine multiple tapes onto one DVD and there is no difference in price for this service. However we don't usually recommend this practice for a few reasons. Remember that: a maximum of 2 hours will fit on one DVD, so if your tapes average one hour or more it would not be possible to combine. Also, if you don't know the exact timeline of your tapes, it is best not to combine tapes because it gets confusing when the material on one DVD skips around in years.
What if I need some editing done on my video-tapes?
No problem. We can transfer your videos onto external hard drives that allow for editing.
Can you enhance the picture of my video-tapes?
Yes, older video-tapes can be transferred through a color corrector. We can adjust full RGB, brightness, contrast, sharpness, tint, etc.
What types of video-tapes can you transfer?
We can transfer VHS, VHS-C, Hi8, 8mm, Video8, MiniDV, MiniDVD, MicroDV, and Betamax I, II, and III formats.
Can you transfer PAL video tapes to DVD?
At this time we cannot transfer PAL formatted video. However, we can produce a PAL DVD from original NTSC video.
Film Transfer
When transferring movies, what frame rate(s) do you use?
We use 15, 18, and 24 frames per second for capturing. The rate is determined by the type of film (regular 8, super 8, 16mm, 16mm with sound). We capture directly into a computer so it is perfectly synchronized. We also have some examples of our quality if you would like to view them.
Can a rent a film viewer to preview my movies before they are transferred?
At this time we don't rent out any type of film viewer. However we do have an option which will allow editing of the film footage after it has been transferred in order to take out segments, move different clips around and much more.
How many feet of film can fit onto one DVD?
Regular "8" fits about 1350 feet. "Super 8" can fit about 1800 feet. 16mm film with sound fits about 4000 feet at 24 frames per second.
Can you add background music to my order?
Yes, we can add stock music or you can bring in a CD of your favorite music and we'll put that behind your video.
Can you transfer film with sound?
Yes.
Do you enhance the color of my movies?
Yes. Every step in the process of film transfer helps to enhance the final images. Cleaning the film will help with getting most of the dust and other particles out of the way. The transfer technician adjusts a neutral-density filter and monitors the white and black levels on a waveform monitor. Once the video has been captured it is then adjusted for color shifting as is very common in many old film formats.
What if my film smells like vinegar or has a white powder on it?
This is common symptom of older film. Even if your film smells awful, most of the time it can still be transferred. If your film has curled over and smells like vinegar then there is a chance that the images are unrecoverable. Best thing to do is bring it in and we'll see what we can do. There is no charge for attempting to recover film.
How is my film cleaned?
The film is cleaned while rotated onto a secondary reel. Different cleaning methods are used depending on the type of film and the condition it is in.We also check for breaks or bad splices at this time. Repairs are made and there is no additional cost for this. Film may be spliced onto 400' reels in the order you specify.
How do I know how many feet of film I have?
Usually a 3" diameter reel holds about 50 ft. A 5" reel holds 200 ft. A 7" reel holds 400 ft. If you have a box of film that reads 25 ft., it may actually contains 50ft. This type of film was recorded on 2 sides and then split during the processing.
Quality Guarantees
What is the Compatibility Guarantee?
We guarantee that your DVD movie will work in your home DVD player or we will go to great lengths, including recopying your media or purchasing a new player to make sure that you can play your DVD.
What is the Data Warranty?
We will guarantee that the DVDs (data or movie) we sell will last for 100 years. If your DVD stops working before that time we will gladly re-transfer your data for you. Furthermore, on all photo, slide, and negative scanning orders as well as all film transfer and slideshow movie orders we keep a backup copy of everything in our San Diego location.
**Data warranty excludes customer caused data loss such as scratches or damage to the disc itself. It is always wise to make a backup copy of your media to be stored in a separate location.
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