FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will you work on my copyrighted video?
Q: What formats of video can you convert to DVD?
Q: How long does it take to convert my video to DVD?
Q: Will I receive my original tapes back?
Q: What are menus and chapters?
Q: Will the DVD play in my specific DVD player?
Q: Do you convert videos so I can put video on my web site?
Q: What is PAL and NTSC? Can you transfer both formats?
Q: I just want a DVD I can edit on my own computer. Can you do that?
Q: How much will it cost me to convert my videos to DVD?
Q: Why convert to DVD?
Q: Will you work on my copyrighted video?
If you are the copyright holder, yes. Or, if you can get the written permission from the copyright holder, then yes, we can help you. Otherwise, the threat of legal prosecution prevents us from being able to work on copyrighted material. Sorry.
Q: Why convert to DVD?
DVDs offer many advantages:
For the reasons above and
many more, DVDs are becoming the mainstream, and VHS is becoming
obsolete.
Unfortunately the commonly used VHS tapes have a lifetime limit. They
won't last forever. They degrade whether you play them or not. Video on
tape also degrades in quality every time you play them, due to friction
between the VCR head and the tape. Let us transfer your video to DVD
and help your media last forever!
Media formats we accept:
- mini-DV
- Hi8, Digital8 (also called D8)
- VHS or SVHS (Super VHS)
- VHS-C or SVHS-C (VHS compact tapes)
- DVCAM
- HDV
(high
definition on mini-DV tapes)
- DVD
- CD
- audio cassettes
- slides
- photos
Q: How long does it take to convert my video to DVD?
Generally, from the time we recieve your video, it takes about 5 business days for us to create your DVD. If you send a large quantity of tapes, we may require additional time. If we do, we will keep you updated via email. Q: Will I receive my original tapes back?
Yes, we return all of your original materials with your completed order, including tapes, pictures, CD's, DVD's, etc.
Q: What are menus and chapters?
)
When you insert the DVD into your player, the first thing you see on your TV is the menu. The menu tells you what videos are on the DVD. The chapters are locations in the video that you can jump to at any time. If you do not specify where you want your chapters, we will use our best judgement. Q: Will the DVD play in my specific DVD player?
There are different DVD formats. We record your video onto the DVD-R format, which plays on most modern DVD players. If your DVD player is old, you may want to check to make sure it plays DVD-R format. About 85% of existing drives and players can play DVD-R. Almost all DVD players manufactured in 2003 or later can play this format.
Every DVD we make has high quality requirements. We test each DVD we make on two different DVD players to check the quality of video. First we test it on a DVD player connected to one of our computers. Next, we test the DVD on a standalone player connected to a TV. The DVD's we make must play correctly on both systems before we send them to you.
If you have trouble playing our DVD's on your player, it may be due to a compatibility problem with your specific player. It's usually the older players that are not compatible. Not all players and drives can read DVD-R format. The basic problem is that DVD-R has a different reflectivity than pressed discs (the pre-recorded kind you buy in a store), and not all players have been correctly designed to read them. The DVD's we make will most likely play in your hardware. The newer your hardware is, the better success you will have.
Q: Do you convert videos so I can put video on my web site?
Yes, we can convert your video to a format you can use on your website, such as the WMV format (Windows Streaming Video). Q: What is PAL and NTSC? Can you transfer both formats?
PAL and NTSC are video standards. NTSC is the accepted format in the United States and Japan. PAL is used in other countries, including Europe.
We can now transfer both PAL and NTSC formats for the popular video types:
Q: I just want a DVD I can edit on my own computer. Can you do that?
Yes, we can convert your video to a format that you can edit. We can convert your file to an MPG file (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, your choice), AVI, etc. Click here for all formats we support.
Just tell us what you want on our order form in the blank titled "Special Instructions".
Q: How much will it cost me to convert my videos to DVD?
Our rates are very affordable. Calculate your cost now using our online calculator. Have another question not answered here? Contact us