Here is a list of useful facts regarding home video formats such as Beta, VHS, Hi8, MiniDV, and VHS-C video tape.
- Video tape rewinding - should always be either totally rewound or totally fast forwarded when being stored.
- Video tape storage should be in a reasonable temperature range with little variation, dark, and with low humidity.
- Video tape storage - should be stored upright, like books in a book case. It is best to keep tapes in plastic cases in order to minimize exposure to dust.
- Videotape preservation - the overall life is limited. There are no definite numbers, but tape life is estimated from 10-30 years depending on storage conditions. Degradation of the image and sound is worse the longer a tape has been in existence.
- Video degradation happens. Symptoms of video degradation are static, snow, color loss, general distortion, ghost images, and possibly a total loss of the video. Some of these symptoms can be remedied if the tape is transferred soon enough, but once loss occurs to the source tape, it is permanent.
- Videotape transfer, properly done, can save a lot of video/audio and accomplish amazing things. However, the transfer capabilities are limited by the source quality. So the sooner, the better.
- Video equipment quality varies greatly. There really IS a difference between consumer video, prosumer video, and professional video equipment.
There have been various (and numerous) videotape formats over the years. Some you may not have heard of include:
Betacam SP
M-II
EBU C-format
EBU B-format
U-Matic
D series formats
Digital Betacam
Ampex DCT
DV / DVCAM / DVCPRO
Digital8
D-VHS
W-VHS
Digital S
Betacam SX
HDD-1000
If you’ve decided to have a professional film or video transfer company do the work of transferring your film to DVD, you’ll save yourself the work of buying telecine equipment, video capture devices, VCRs, a 3CCD video camera, blank DVDs, a time-base corrector, a DV tape deck, etc. There’s a lot of stuff (expensive stuff) you need if you’re going to do it and do it correctly!
Video Transfer Service Company Questions to Ask
You have seen the ads online, and maybe even the auctions on eBay for companies who will transfer a reel of your Super 8 film for $10 or a VHS tape for $20. They promise to transfer your video to a DVD. But how do you know they will do the job correctly? Will you ever see your video again? Who are these people??
Here are the things you need to find out when considering hiring anyone to transfer your film or video:
- How much experience they have. How many years they have done this work. How many times they have done this.
- What pieces of equipment they use during each step of the process.
- What method they use for film transfer.
- What are the total fees they charge for a job and what exactly is included with their price.
You will want a transfer company that will provide you with the following:
- Full-frame, flicker-free film transfer
- Color-correction of the captured video or film
- Backup of all raw captures on MiniDV or other DV tape
- A written contract that specifies how they compensate in case of loss or damage
Video or Film Transfer Company Dangers
Many times, the profession film editing “company” asking for your business is a guy who is working out of his basement. If his house burns down, or if his equipment damages your only copy of your home movies on videotape - you’re very likely out of luck. You should be aware that anyone can advertise just about anything on the web. Be careful that you are hiring a genuine company with a solid reputation!
