What can you do that I could not do myself?
Good question. With the introduction of iMovie, iDVD, and some windows applications that may be cheap or free, anyone can make a movie, edit it, and put it onto DVD. But if you want a professional look and feel to it — something you can CHERISH forever — than you will want someone with many hours and years of knowledge to painstakingly care about your project.
Anyone can fix or rebuild a car; anyone can make a 5 course meal; anyone can build a home; however, not everyone can do these things and be of any worth. Creating a DVD package is no different. You wouldn't let anyone other than a pilot to fly a plane. You wouldn't allow anyone other than a surgeon to operate on you. So why let just anyone other than a trained and experience professional editor handle your precious memories?
We have been editing movies, music videos, documentaries, and music since 1983. With over 25 years of experience working on projects we have the skill, knowledge, and know-how to make your package something you will CHERISH forever. Just because someone has an editing program on their computer doesn't mean they know how to use nor does it make them an editor.
How do you compare to others that do this?
There are many people that have this type of service; just do a search on the internet and you will come up with hundreds to thousands of them, and although some may have merit, more than half of them are just people transferring your footage directly to dvd with no creative or redeeming aspects or value.
Out of the other half that actually does something for you there is a large portion that are just technical and do it because they have the high end equipment and expensive applications that allow them to do it in a more professional manner than most; however, not to be arrogant or put us on a pedestal, but there is more to creating a professional and enduring DVD package than just transferring your footage and using all the expensive tools, there is experience, skills, craft, and creativity. We need to inform the public that not all services are the same. It is the editor. The editor is a story teller. Just like with wine making. Take two different wine makers using the same grapes and you will have two different wines and the most experienced and caring winemaker will have the better tasting. [ Back ]
Why DVD?
DVD is the standard that has revolutionized the way we watch movies.
DVD does not deteriorate with time no matter how many times you watch it. Using the same care applied to CD's, DVD's will last for many years. VHS on the other hand deteriorates with each use and deteriorates after many years even when they are not watched.
DVD eliminates the need to fast forward and rewind to your favorite moments. Using the DVD Menu you can skip to a particular chapter that is 45 minutes into the video in a second's time.
What is HD DVD?
Please see the article HD Made Clearer
What about BLUE-RAY?
Blue-ray has made it's mark on the public; however, it is still not widely accepted in homes as the default; beyond the fact that less than 1% of consumer home movies are recorded with Blue-ray quality, so why create a Blue-ray dvd when the quality will be less than what the media will show? [your video will show all the flaws of the consumer level media]
As for slideshows, they can be converted to blue-ray but if the images given to us are jpg's and 800 * 600, or less, in size, Blue-ray will not make them look any nicer; in fact they will look worse and show all the flaws that the image has — it would be like driving a Yugo in the Daytona 500. If the images were taken at a higher resolution and size then Blue-ray is a possibility, as is prosumer (semi-PROfessional conSUMER level) video recorders — the faux HD they offer will work in some instances.
Blue-ray is available if you choose and in the coming years may become a standard format but in 2010, 80% of people still have DVD movies and to retrofit their movie library to Blue-ray will take time and money; plus there is another new format monster being introduced, so once you have done your movie library to Blue-ray, you will now have to get it on the newer media. Look at the transitions that music and video have already come. Do you honestly think there will be an end to all formats? Technology has it's downfalls.
What is a Chapter Marker?
A Chapter Marker is like a bookmark. Your DVD will contain chapter markers at 5-minute intervals (or at scenes that you specify if you purchase the Back-Stage pass). These allow you to instantly access scenes from the menu, and skip forward or backwards from chapter to chapter using your remote.
If you have watched commercial DVDs, you have navigated the movie through Chapter Markers.
Will my DVD have menus for navigation?
Yes, absolutely! Unless you specify that you do not want any menus, all of our DVD transfers include 2 FREE basic menus: 1) a standard Title Screen Menu (which is the first screen you see when you load the DVD, and includes your title, a Play button and Scene Index Menu button) and 2) a Scene Index Menu. The Scene Index Menu allows you to see images of the chapter points of your DVD, and jump directly to any scene you choose. It will display the chapter numbers, and if you purchase a Custom Scene Menu, you will also be able to specify your own captions for under each chapter image on the menu screen.
How long will my DVD last?
If handled properly (like a CD), a DVD can be expected to last for over 100 years (possibly much longer)! Also, because playing it won't wear it out, your DVD will have the same high quality in the future as it does today. Your memories will be preserved for generations to come!
Why do VHS or other format tapes lose quality?
In as little as a couple of years, the magnetic particles that make up the picture and sound on your videotapes begin wear off of the plastic tape. Some of the tape is rubbed off every time you play it. Stray magnetic fields in your environment also cause signal loss on the tape, even when it is not being played. In addition, if you copy your tape, the copy will be of lesser quality. So copies of a tape are even further degraded in quality from the original. None of these things can happen with a DVD! Transferring your video to a digital DVD eliminates the threat of losing any more of your video's quality. In addition, your DVD can be copied without any quality loss at all. By the way, since your original master tape has the least quality loss, it is recommended that you send that to us for transferring!
How much video will fit onto my DVD?
We can transfer up to 2 hours of high quality video from your tape. If your tape contains only 1 hour or less, we will be able to take advantage of even higher encoding bit rates to produce a super-high quality DVD.
Can you squeeze more than 2 hours on a DVD?
While it is technically possible to transfer more than 2 hours onto a DVD, it greatly reduces the quality of the DVD unless you use the "HIGH-END" equipment that Hollywood uses, but that would be adding thousands of dollars to your cost.
In order for us to do this, we need to lower the bit rate and quality of the video and audio greatly. We do not do this because we use only a high-quality true DVD transfer process. Therefore, we will transfer up to a maximum of 2 hours onto a DVD. If your video is longer than that, additional DVD's should be ordered.
How long does it take to create my DVD?
The Balcony package can be finished in 5 days. The Front Row needs 10 days to complete. The Mezzanine needs two weeks to finish. And the Back Stage will need no less than 3 weeks to complete.
Of course it all depends on the complexity of your project. Highly customized orders sometimes take longer. We will send you a confirmation e-mail as soon as we receive your tape(s). Our turnaround time is usually less than two weeks, but you should allow the maximum days per package for processing—we take our time to do it right and to make it look great for you and all who will view it for years to come.
What tape formats do you transfer?
Formats we accept are: VHS, VHS-C, SVHS, SVHS-C, Hi8, Digital 8, Mini DV and 8mm camcorder tapes. We also only transfer NTSC at this time, not PAL.
Can you add music to my DVD?
Yes, we can add any music to your DVD, which will play (in Dolby Digital audio) continuously on the Title Screen and/or Scene Index Menu screen until a button is pressed. We can also add music to your silent video if requested; however, we are an ASCAP member and follow all piracy and theft laws; YOU MUST OWN THE MUSIC YOU ARE USING BY PROVIDING US WITH THE CD. WE CANNOT PROVIDE YOU WITH MUSIC FROM OUR LIBRARY unless it is our own composition. See World Next Door Music
My VHS tape has already begun to degrade, will converting it to DVD make it better?
Please keep in mind that the quality of your DVD is totally dependent on the quality of the source tape; if it is already too late, and your video is in fairly bad condition, unfortunately, transferring to a DVD will not make the image any better. The good news is that you discovered it, and are able to have your video transferred to DVD now before it is gone forever!!
Will my DVD play in wide screen format?
Your DVD will be recorded with the same aspect ratio as your original recording. Matte-Bars can be placed to give it a "Cinematic" look, which helps remove some of the warbled edges from bad tapes, but it will not play as a "wide screen" movie on newer TV's.
Do you transfer tapes that contain adult content, nudity or pornography?
NO! Absolutely NOT!
Can I play my DVD in my computer?
If your computer has a DVD Drive and player software, YES!
We can even add a hyperlink to your website or email address if you are giving the DVD's as gifts so that when clicked they can visit your website or send you an email — this only works when used on a computer — this does not affect the operation in a DVD player for the TV.
How do I know if my DVD will play in my DVD player?
Why is compatibility even an issue? Why are DVD's that you buy or rent at video stores compatible?
The answer is that the DVD's produced in Hollywood are stamped from glass masters, a process costing thousands of dollars — a process one does not use for a family home movie, unless you are Speilberg, Lucas, or Bruckheimer. They are mass-produced by actually stamping the video out with the actual discs themselves rather than "burned" onto an existing disc.
Services like DVD-Memories transfer video to DVD using a "burning" process to burn the video to a blank disc — this is the only affordable method of transferring your video to DVD, unless you know someone in Hollywood like we do, but even then it costs quite a bit.
No one can guarantee compatibility Hollywood and they have had a few problems, but the DVD's we produce are compatible with most all DVD players manufactured in the last few years. However, since not all manufacturers have complied with the DVD specifications, neither we nor anyone else can guarantee compatibility on every player.
There should be no compatibility problem with DVD players being sold currently. Some early release DVD players (those sold in 1997 thru early 1999) did not comply with DVD-R standards and there were incompatibility issues. If you want to search your DVD player for possible issues go here. But we assure you, We have had no trouble so far with clients that we did not resolve.
What if my DVD will not play correctly in my DVD player? What is your return policy?
You will receive a test disk before work has started to double check the compatibility.
Can I order copies of my DVD?
Yes, you can order additional copies of your DVD's with your order for less than half the cost of the original DVD.
Can I order copies of a commercial or copyrighted video?
NO. We do not Pirate Movies and you should not either.
Can you provide references?
Because our privacy policy does not permit us to disclose our customer's names or any personal information other than our cleared client list so we cannot provide reference information to you. We hope you understand because you may be one of our customers that we keep confidential.
Will my video be kept confidential?
The contents of all your material is kept strictly confidential, and we respect your right to privacy. At no time will any contents or material be disclosed to a third party. Completed DVD projects are briefly scanned for quality, and your video may be reviewed in the case of technical problems only. In addition, all information and data is wiped from our equipment after you safely receive your discs.
We have a small employee base of 2 people that handle all the images and footage, create the DVD design, and everything else you will see. The two have been working together for 25 years. e have two additional employees that review the footage for clarity, content, mistakes, and emotions — It usually makes everyone cry; when that happens we know we are finished with it.
We keep the DVD files for your future purchase of more copies.