Why Some Small Businesses Succeed Where Others Fail

Are you planning to get a bunch of old video tapes and films converted into a digital format like DVD? This is a good move, as film and video deteriorate with age. But conversions aren't perfect; while the companies that make them are very good, the conversion and the materials in question contribute their own quirks to the process, and you should be prepared to see some of these effects.

Conversion Alone Can't Repair Quality

If you're hoping for a clear, original-quality DVD copy of an old video, you might not get that. Simple conversion alone can't repair a video that's deteriorated from age or use. The company might have restoration services available, which can help, but if all you're doing is having the tapes converted, you might see the same less-than-stellar quality on the DVD that you saw when watching the tape itself. This does not mean conversion makes the quality worse; just that you're not going to get a beautiful digital copy that looks like it was just filmed.

Duplicated DVD Compatibility

There are a few DVD formats available, and not all of them work with all players. The one you see most, which is just DVD/DVD-R, should be the one in use at the conversion company. This format should be compatible with most players; ask the company about re-recording onto a different DVD format if you still have a problem playing the DVD.

Both DVD and Computer File Formats Are Advisable

Try to get both a DVD version and a digital version that you can store on your computer or on a backup drive. This copy will let you make another DVD if the one from the conversion company is lost or destroyed.

Direct Transfer of Film

Always have the old media transferred directly (or as directly as possible) to the digital media. For example, have Super 8 films put directly on DVD, not into another film format and then DVD. That extra transfer can result in a loss of quality, and if your tapes were already struggling, the final product could be unwatchable. A straight transfer does a better job of preserving the current quality.

The conversion company, like Prime Time Video Digital Productions, should be able to walk you through its processes for each type of film conversion. This is a great way to preserve memories, so gather your films and start working out which ones need to be converted.