• General FAQs

  • Why should I transfer my tapes to DVD? They look fine to me.

    • Great! That’s means we will get a great copy onto DVD before they get worse. The fact is, all tape fades gradually over time (whether you play them or not). The longer you wait, the worse they get… You will see a noticeable difference between newly created tapes and tapes that are as little as ten years old. So don’t let your memories fade another day, save them for generations to come on DVD.

  • What formats can you accept?

    • We can except the following formats:
      
       

  • How much can fit on a DVD?

    • We recommend 60 minutes of video per DVD. This insures the maximum quality possible. However, roughly 120 minutes can fit. For photo montages, thousands of pictures with music will fit; for film 60 minutes is about 800 feet of 8mm film (16 - 3 inch reels or 2 - 7 inch reels).

  • DVD recorders are commercially available now. Why shouldn't I just do it myself?

    • Consumer level equipment can’t do the high quality transfer, editing and special effects that our professional video equipment & software is capable of. Additionally, many people have large quantities of photos and videos that they have saved over the years, often in different formats – do you want to undertake the tedious and often technically frustrating task of transferring your media? We do this for a living… our experience enables us to create the best production possible from your video source. It could take you years to get to the same level. You’re creating family heirlooms – get it done by a professional.

  • How long do DVD's last?

    • The life span of a recorded disc depends upon such things as the properties of the materials used in the disc's construction, its manufactured quality, how well it is recorded and its physical handling and storage. The disc manufacturer we use carried out an accelerated age testing by subjecting samples of its discs to environments that are beyond those experienced under normal storage conditions. Based on their extensive age testing, they believe their disks will last about 100 years. By comparison, VHS tape deterioration starts on day 1, and becomes very noticeable in 10 years or less.

  • I heard that DVD copies do not work with all DVD players. How do I know if your DVD's will work with my player?

    • If you bought your DVD player within the last three years, chances are excellent the DVD we create will work. The DVD format we use is the most compatible with DVD players. Check this compatibility site to see if your DVD player has been identified as incompatible with recorded DVD media. However, not being on this list is no guarantee of compatibility. If you have an older DVD player, consider a new one, they are very inexpensive and have lots of new capabilities. Or, Beacon Digital Video can purchase and install a new DVD player for you, ask us about pricing.

  • I'm overwhelmed with this project; can someone at Beacon Digital Video help me?

    • Of course we can! We can provide as much help as you need. Project Preparation Consulting is priced separately – less than our Custom Editing charge, see our price list for details.

  • What else can be done to enhance my DVD video?

    • The possibilities are endless! Take a look at our price list packages and custom editing/additional services for some ideas, or talk to us about ideas you may have - we will be happy to give you a custom quote. This DVD is going to last for 100 years… get it just the way you want it the first time.

  • Do you offer a guarantee?

    • Yes, we guarantee you'll be happy with the final production we do for you. Why? Because we put our heart and soul into every job we do and we collaborate with you at the start, and if necessary, during the process. Since you've been an active participant along the way, we'd be surprised if you're not happy with our work, but if you're not and you let us know within 3 days of receiving it, we'll re-do it for you! We want happy customers!

  • What forms of payment do you accept?

    • Currently we accept cash or check. We will be accepting Visa and MasterCard in the near future.

  • When is payment expected?

    • Unless other arrangements are made, we require 50% of the estimated project cost before we begin the project and the balance when the project is complete.

• VHS to DVD FAQs

  • What video formats can you accept?

    • We accept VHS, S-VHS, VHS-C, DV, mini-DV, DVD, VCD and most digital formats (AVI, RM, MOV, etc.). If you don’t see your video format here, give us a call, we are adding new capabilities all the time.

  • How much video footage can fit on a DVD?

    • We recommend 60 minutes of video per DVD. This insures the maximum quality possible. However, roughly 120 minutes can fit.

  • Can I combine multiple video tapes to create a single DVD?

    • Yes, you may combine VHS tapes to create a single DVD.

  • What are scene selection buttons?

    • These buttons appear on DVD menus which allow you to navigate to a particular scene within your video. For example, if you have a DVD of your Hawaiian vacation, one menu may say “Maui”, and on that menu there could be scene selection buttons of “Helicopter Tour”, “Road to Hana” and “Exploring Lahaina”. Scene selection buttons can be text, a graphic, or a photo (including a still image of one of the scenes from the video clip). We can even create a “video button” that shows a motion video preview of the clip the button points to.

  • What is an opening menu?

    • When you first insert your DVD into the player, an opening screen comes up that introduces your video. This is the DVD opening menu and contains the title of the DVD. You click on this screen to begin playing your video. The screen may also have buttons (such as scene selection buttons) that you could select - in addition to a “play” button. This screen can contain text, photos, background photos and even motion video backgrounds.

  • What is a closing screen?

    • This screen signals the end of the video, or the end of a section of the video. Closing screens can be as simple as “The End”, or could be just like the end of a Hollywood feature film… with music and scrolling credits – with you as the star!

  • How do I specify what I want to capture from the video tape? (Edit Decision List Form)

    • You have two options besides saying to capture everything on the tape. You may sit down with us in our studio and we can go through it together, or you can fill out an “Edit Decision List” that will tell us what to transfer.

  • I'm overwhelmed with this project; can someone at Beacon Digital Video help me?

    • Of course we can! We can provide as much help as you need. Project Preparation Consulting is priced separately – less than our Custom Editing charge, see our price list for details.

  • What else can be done to enhance my DVD video?

    • The possibilities are endless! Take a look at our price list packages and custom editing/additional services for some ideas, or talk to us about ideas you may have. This DVD is going to last for 100 years… get it just the way you want it the first time.

• Photo Montage FAQs

  • What size pictures can you work with?

    • We can work with any size picture.

  • How many photos do I need to create a DVD?

    • Minimum charge is based on 50 photos or slides. But if you don’t have at least 50 photos of one subject, it’s OK to create another photo montage subject on the same DVD.

  • What criteria should I use when selecting the photos to include in my photo montage?

    • It will probably be very apparent to you what photos/slides you should include: meaningful pictures - shows character and personality - photos that are candid - a mix of close-ups as well as photos that have groups - more horizontal shots than vertical shots. (The reason for this is that TV screens are wider than they are high, so horizontal shots fill the screen and look much better. Vertical shots will appear on the TV screen with black borders on each side because of the cropping needed - too many vertical shots one after the other won't be as pleasing to look at as horizontal ones) – avoid too many photos without people – avoid photos that are too similar.

  • How should I choose the order for my photos?

    • We will prepare your project in the exact order that you provide the photos to us. You can choose to organize them in any way you want, but here are two examples:
      

  • Can photos be in albums and frames?

    • Unless you will damage the photo by doing so, all photos should be out of albums and frames (we can do this for you if you prefer - standard Project Preparation Consulting fees will apply, see our price list for details.

    • We can still use photos that can’t be removed from albums or frames, but the quality of these pictures on the DVD may not be as good as the others.

  • Can I provide digital photos?

    • Sure! Files with a "png" extension are best, but you can also provide "jpg" or "bmp" too. If you have a different format than these, give us a call, in most cases we can convert your photos to the proper format.

    • If you are scanning your own pictures, we have found 600 DPI to be the best resolution for regular sized (3x5 or 4x6) photos. This is detailed enough to allow us to pan and zoom the photos if that is something you choose to have done. If the photos are large - such as 5x7 or 8x10, 300 DPI would be OK. If the photos are very small, or you can scanning slides, a higher resolution (2400 DPI or more) is better.

  • Can I include more than just photos and slides?

    • Yes. Sometimes people like us to scan birth announcements, clips from the newspaper, diplomas, or other such documents to include with the montage. It doesn't have to be flat either... we photographed a trophy to include it in a project, so really most anything can work.

    • Another option is to include video in with the still pictures.

  • How many photos do I need to make up a 5 to 30 minute production?

    • 50 photos result approximately in a 7 minute production

    • 100 photos result approximately in a 14 minute production

    • 150 photos result approximately in a 20 minute  production

    • 200 photos result approximately in a 28 minute production

  • How long will each photo appear on the screen?

    • Each photo will appear for between 6 to 8 seconds – this is normally the most suitable but this can vary depending on the nature of the photos, the tempo of the music and the special effect transitions we're using.

  • Do I need to supply music, or will you do that?

    • Many of our packages have music insertion built into them. For those package deals, you need to provide the music (if you want music... we do suggest it because it adds a lot to the production), and tell us the tracks you want and the order you want them. We can also provide music recommendations and purchase music for you.
      
      Use this table as a guide to know how much music to provide:
      
       

  • How do I go about preparing and organizing my photos?

    • Follow these steps to prepare your photos:
      
       

  • I'm overwhelmed with all my photos; can someone at Beacon Digital Video help me?

    • Of course we can! We can provide as much help as you need. Pre-production Consulting is priced separately – less than our Custom Editing charge, see our price list for details.

  • What are scene selection buttons?

    • These buttons appear on DVD menus which allow you to navigate to a particular scene within your video. For example, if you have a DVD of your Hawaiian vacation, one menu may say “Maui”, and on that menu there could be scene selection buttons of “Helicopter Tour”, “Road to Hana” and “Exploring Lahaina”. Scene selection buttons can be text, a graphic, or a photo (including a still image of one of the scenes from the video clip). We can even create a “video button” that shows a motion video preview of the clip the button points to.

  • What is an opening menu?

    • When you first insert your DVD into the player, an opening screen comes up that introduces your video. This is the DVD opening menu and contains the title of the DVD. You click on this screen to begin playing your video. The screen may also have buttons (such as scene selection buttons) that you could select - in addition to a “play” button. This screen can contain text, photos, background photos and even motion video backgrounds.

  • What is a closing screen?

    • This screen signals the end of the video, or the end of a section of the video. Closing screens can be as simple as “The End”, or could be just like the end of a Hollywood feature film… with music and scrolling credits – with you as the star!

  • I see a photo montage package on your price list, am I locked into that or can I customize?

    • We pride ourselves on personalized service… You can customize any part of your project. Take a look at our price list packages and custom editing/additional services for some ideas, or talk to us about ideas you may have - we will be happy to give you a custom quote. Remember, you are only going to create a DVD of these photos one time. When it’s done, we can make as many copies as you need to share with family and friends, and these DVDs should last for generations to come – so get it done the way you will enjoy it the most!

• Film to DVD Transfer FAQs

  • What film formats can you accept?

    • We accept 8mm, Super 8,16mm & POLAVISION cassettes. If you don’t see your film format here, give us a call, we are adding new capabilities all the time.

  • How can I tell how much film I have?

    • 8mm Film Length Estimate Guide:
      3” reel = 50 feet =    3 min.
      5” reel = 200 feet = 12 min.
      7” reel = 400 feet = 24 min.

    • 16 mm Film Length Estimate Guide:
      400 feet of 16mm = 12 min.

    • POLAVISION Super 8 Length Estimate Guide:
      Cassette = 38 feet of Super 8 = 2:40 min.

  • Why 3 inch reels are 50 feet not 25?

    • Why do some 3 inch 8mm boxes say 25 feet when everyone says they are 50 feet?
      from AMIA (Association of Moving Image Archivists) Newsletter # 44, Spring 1999)
       

      How much film is on a three-inch diameter reel of 8mm film?

      Answer: If it's a full reel, 50 feet. Three-inch diameter 8mm reels originated as 25 foot double width 8mm camera loads to be exposed first in one direction then in the other - two rows of 8mm images running in opposite directions on a 16mm width film with twice the number of perforations as 16mm. The film was returned from processing split down the middle with the two 8mm sections spliced together as a 50 foot length of film on a three-inch reel.

      An amateur filmmaker would purchase a box of unexposed film which came packed in a small black metal, plastic or aluminum can with black friction tape around it to keep it unexposed until use. The filmmaker removed the tape, opened the can and found a daylight load roll of film with a paper wrapper around it bigger than the reel. The paper wrapper was removed and saved in the can for later use for filmmaker identification. The film was threaded into the camera through the gate onto a take up reel already in the camera. After exposing 25 feet, the filmmaker had to remove the full take up reel, turn it over and reload it into feed position to expose the other half of the film.

      This is the explanation for light-struck flashes and splice in the middle of 50 feet of 8mm film. If a Kodak film were only half exposed (run only in one direction), the tail bore perforations indicating the film type and the word "half-exp" for half exposed. When the other half of the film had been exposed, the end sticking out (the initial head of the reel) bore perforations indicating the film type and batch. After exposure the second time through, the user filled in his name and postal address on the wrapping band, wrapped the reel tightly, put the reel back into the can, re-sealed the can with the black tape, and gave the can to his/her photo dealer or mailed it off to be processed.

  • How much video footage can fit on a DVD?

    • We recommend 60 minutes of video per DVD. This insures the maximum quality possible. However, roughly 120 minutes can fit.

  • Can I combine multiple film reels to create a single DVD?

    • Yes! This is one of the benefits of going to DVD… You don’t need to stop every five minutes to change reels on the projector. There is no extra charge for combining multiple reels of film.

  • What are scene selection buttons?

    • These buttons appear on DVD menus which allow you to navigate to a particular scene within your video. For example, if you have a DVD of your Hawaiian vacation, one menu may say “Maui”, and on that menu there could be scene selection buttons of “Helicopter Tour”, “Road to Hana” and “Exploring Lahaina”. Scene selection buttons can be text, a graphic, or a photo (including a still image of one of the scenes from the video clip). We can even create a “video button” that shows a motion video preview of the clip the button points to.

  • What is an opening menu?

    • When you first insert your DVD into the player, an opening screen comes up that introduces your video. This is the DVD opening menu and contains the title of the DVD. You click on this screen to begin playing your video. The screen may also have buttons (such as scene selection buttons) that you could select - in addition to a “play” button. This screen can contain text, photos, background photos and even motion video backgrounds.

  • What is a closing screen?

    • This screen signals the end of the video, or the end of a section of the video. Closing screens can be as simple as “The End”, or could be just like the end of a Hollywood feature film… with music and scrolling credits – with you as the star!

  • I'm overwhelmed with this project; can someone at Beacon Digital Video help me?

    • Of course we can! We can provide as much help as you need. Project Preparation Consulting is priced separately – less than our Custom Editing charge, see our price list for details.

  • What else can be done to enhance my DVD video?

    • The possibilities are endless! Take a look at our price list packages and custom editing/additional services for some ideas, or talk to us about ideas you may have - we will be happy to give you a custom quote. This DVD is going to last for 100 years… get it just the way you want it the first time.

• Additional Services FAQs

  • SORRY, UNDER CONSTRUCTION

NOTE:
- Some features mentioned are not available in basic packages – see price list.
- Additional charges may apply for some features mentioned – see price list.

If we didn't address your specific question(s) take a moment and contact us, either by phone or e-mail and we'll be more than happy to assist you.