Video Conversion Services

Tape to DVD

Videotape is a temporary medium. We’re not just talking about the fact that DVDs and digital video recorders are rapidly replacing videotape (in fact, VHS is pretty much obsolete). It’s the very nature of videotape that makes it temporary, and not at all suitable for long-term use. Simply playing a tape will stretch it out, quickly causing video glitches, tracking problems, noticeable “wrinkles” in the picture (which usually correspond to an actual wrinkle in the tape), and ultimately leading to VCRs eating tapes. A tape can become worn out even if you never, or rarely watch it. Dust, exposure to magnetic fields, and heat are just a few things that are difficult to control but can quickly cause serious, irreparable damage to your videotapes. And because videotape is read through a mechanical process of pulling the tape out of the cassette and running it past the playback head, a slight flaw in the manner that the machine grabs the tape can wrinkle, stretch, or even destroy your tape, even if the tape was stored in perfect conditions!

The solution is simple. Convert your videos to DVD! Unlike video, where a tape of your wedding may not even be playable by your 10th anniversary, a properly cared for DVD can last up to a hundred years or more. They are not vulnerable to magnetic fields, dust can easily be removed from the data surface, and the operation of the player is far less likely to damage the video than with tape. Since DVD is a digital format there can be ZERO quality loss in the conversion (provided that the video is not compressed to fit onto a DVD) – and when a new format eventually replaces DVD, converting from DVD to the new format will still leave your video with the same quality as the original.

In addition to the conversion, we can add interactive menus to allow you to navigate multiple videos on one DVD (currently up to 118 minutes per disc). We can even create chapter markers within a single video, so instead of waiting several minutes to fast-forward to your favorite part, you’ll be able to jump directly there by clicking the appropriate menu button!

Please, because of the nature of videotapes, do not give us the only copy of your video(s). If you give us your master copy, please make a back-up copy first. Tapes could become damaged in shipping; and even the most well maintained machines could suddenly eat a tape if the tape has not been properly stored or spooled.

And although this may seem like a no-brainer, we do still get people asking us this... We will not make copies of any copyrighted material unless you are the copyright holder or you are able to provide us with written permission from the copyright holder. You will be responsible for any copyright infringement issues that may arise involving material you provide for your project.

PowerPoint to DVD

We can convert any Microsoft PowerPoint presentation to DVD.

Tired of the limitations of PowerPoint? We also offer custom Flash Presentations. Flash Presentations are available for delivery on CD-ROM, DVD, or electronically via the Internet.

Electronic Formats to DVD
Do you have electronic video files that you would like to view on your TV? We can convert most electronic video formats to DVD. As long as the resolution is 720x480 or greater, there will be no loss in video quality when displayed full-screen on an NTSC television. We can also reverse the process and create an electronic (even web-friendly) version of your video from a tape, DVD, etc.

Photo Albums to DVD

• $5 per photo provided as a file (min: 10)
• $10 per photo print (max size: 8x10)
• + $25 per 5 minutes of audio/music to be added (customer-supplied, audio editing not included)
• + $21.95 for DVD Master; $11.95 for each additional copy

Unless you specify a size you want the images to display onscreen, they will be as large as is aesthetically pleasing without losing quality.

NOTES:
1. Please do not send us negatives, slides, or transparencies.
2. For files: For optimal size and quality of images on a TV screen, images should be at least 720 pixels wide by at least 480 pixels high. Remember, images lose quality when enlarged, so the larger the images we get, the better they'll look on screen.
3. For prints: Please do not send images larger than 8”x10”. Images smaller than 4”x5” will be scanned with the highest resolution possible for optimal screen quality.
4. Please send us expendable copies of your photos. We don't want you to risk transporting your only copy of photos. We cannot accept responsibility for damage to photos. If you are outside the Tampa Bay Area, please add $3 per ounce for photos that need to be returned.
5. Please do not send us photos that you do not have the express right to use in this manner from the copyright holder. By hiring us, you acknowledge and accept that the full responsibility for copyright infringement that may arise from the use of materials you send us rests solely on you.