Professional Video Tape/Disc to Digital Transfer Service

Base Pricing*

We only charge for program time on the tape:

  • 30 minutes or less: $20
  • 30 - 60 minutes: $24
  • 60 - 120 minutes: $38
  • More than 120 minutes:  $38 + $10/ additional hour

Before quantity discount. Flash drive additional (or provide your own). Shipping not included. Minimum order $85.

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Transfers for Professional Video Tape Formats

We support an assortment of legacy professional videotape formats including:

  • 3/4 U-Matic - the broadcast standard before Betacam. (We currently only accept the smaller tapes.)
  • Betacam / Betacam SP - the broadcast standard before Digital Video
  • SVHS - The budget pro format that produced excellent SD results
  • DVCAM - Sony's high-end digital SD format, used in newsgathering and field production. We can accept large-shell tapes as well as mini.
  • Digital-8 - Sony's budget SD video format
  • HDV - Sony's budget entry into high definition.
  • XDCAM - Sony's professional disc format (HD)

For each tape you supply we create a Standard Definition AVI source file to SD DVCAM specs and then we render one transcode to h.264,(MP4 or MOV). Additional professional formats can be rendered at extra cost including, h.265 (HEVC), ProRes, QickTime, MXF, or any other format supported by Adobe. Pro formats will require larger output drives.

XDCAM discs may be simply extracted as native MXF files with export to MP4, or you may request realtime conversion to full-frame HD ProRes files (choose your flavor of Apple ProRes).

Options
(Extra cost)

Enhancements:

  • Color Correction
  • Videotape Repair
  • Upres to HD

  • Scene Detection  (digital formats only)

Deliverables:

  • Flash Drive
  • Portable Hard Drive or SSD
  • Bare Hard Drive or SSD
  • DVD/BluRay with Menu (for set-top box)

Transfer Process

In the Advent Media production studio, we play your analog tapes on professional legacy equipment, using time base correction to stabilize video as much as possible. It is digitized first to the professional DV codec as a robust, high-bitrate "source" file (I-frame DV AVI at around 30Mbps in standard definition).

Digital formats are transferred by direct bitstream to a computer where the AVI source file is created at the datarate of the tape (essentially a direct copy, now in a computer file). HDV/XDCAM footage is in its native anamorphic 1440x1080 60i format. SD footage in NTSC standard nonsquare pixel 4:3 raster - 720x480 60i.

What You Get
(Future-Proofed Data)

This source file is then transcoded to the "release" format you prefer. You can choose the common MP4, or any professional format. Lightly compressed release files will require larger release drives.

On your flash drive or portable USB hard drive, you will receive both the Source File and the Release File in the format of your choice for each item, You can opt to omit the release file and receive only the Source, saving money with a smaller release drive.

Optical release media (DVD/BluRay) is available, but is not recommended if using the footage for editing or archiving. However if the original is a master of a program you wish to prepare for distribution, we can also author a release disc in DVD or BluRay, and make a limited number of copies with printed face label.

How it works.

2. Drop Off
3. Pick Up

Turnaround Time:1

Typically within 1-2 weeks. Larger orders may take longer. Rush service available (extra cost).

We're located in NW Columbus, Ohio, very near the OSU airport.
(We accept major carrier shipments if you're not in the Columbus area. You provide the box!)

$85 minimum per order.*

Professional Format Q&A

  • What do I need to provide for an accurate quote?

    When you request a quote, please provide:

    • The TYPE of materials you want to transfer (Video, movie, stills, etc.) Combination orders are welcome and qualify for greater discounts
    • The LENGTH of program on the tape. If you don't know how full the tape is, just report the number on the case, e.g. T120.
    • And the QUANTITY of each type of material
    • If tape is damaged, describe the problem
    • Whether you want your files on a flash drive or optical drive (DVD)
  • Can you transfer my tapes in HD?

    Most legacy formats are in Standard Definition (720x480 pixels, 29.97 frames/second, interlaced), and the source transfer files are in this format. Most professional video formats provide excellent SD footage that will look great on a CRT, but because it is interlaced and small by comparison it will look soft on a big TV. We offer uprez to HD or 4K at extra cost.

    HDV footage (on DV tapes) and XDCAM (on optical disc) are recorded in the "anamorphic" HD resolution (1440x1080) which stretches to fill the 16:9 screen. For the release file, we can export as-is in the original anamorphic format, or it can be rendered to full HD (1920x1080) or regular HD (1280x720) - your choice. We can also deinterlace and uprez HDV footage to "full HD" or 4K UHD at extra cost.

  • Can you transfer tapes with TV programs?

    Assuming you have permission to copy from the copyright owner or the tape is old enough to be in the public domain, yes we can transfer TV program masters or dubs from the listed pro formats. But if these are off-air time shifted recordings, copyright restrictions prevent us from transfer. Client assumes all responsibility for copyright infringement.

  • What is Scene Detection?

    When we capture footage from digital sources (DVCAM/XDCAM/HDV/Digital-8), we have the option to have the machine capture each start/stop of the camera as a separate file. This is very helpful if this is a camera-original tape and you want to edit on a NLE There's no extra charge provided it's done in capture.

  • Can you transfer tapes from foreign countries (PAL/SECAM)?

    No. Our equipment only handles NTSC tapes.

  • Can I choose the file format for my release files?

    Yes. We commonly transcode source files to the h.264 codec with the MP4 wrapper, but we can export to practically any format you prefer. See full list of supported formats HERE. "Pro" formats will require significantly more disk space.

  • What are my deliverable options?

    USB Flash Drive or Portable Hard Drive or SSD:
    Most of our customers choose delivery on a USB flash drive or portable hard drive. With so many sizes available, we can usually fit all your content on one USB drive. Most modern TV sets and all computers (Mac/PC) will play content from a flash drive. We include instructions on how to backup and safeguard your investment. If you desire to edit directly from the portable device, we can use a portable SSD, which provides superb speed for editing when connected to a Thunderbolt or USB 3.2 port.

    Bare Hard Drive / SSD
    If you have a drive "cradle" or "dock," we can place your files on a "bare" SATA drive, which can either connect via USB through a drive dock, or attached directly to the computer via SATA connector.  This offers greater capacity and speed than portable drives.

    Optical Disc
    For professional formats we generally do not recommend optical disc, but if you would like for us to prepare a release disc from an edited program master, we can author a DVD or BluRay and make copies.

    Digital Download
    We do not offer digital download for professional formats. 

  • Can I provide my own disk for output?

    Yes, we support BYOD (bring your own disk). While we normally provide output on our media (cost varies with drive size), you can instead provide a new-in-box (sealed) flash drive or portable hard disk/SSD at no extra charge. We can estimate drive size needed with your estimate, and confirm the size when transfers are complete.

  • Can I make my own copies?

    Absolutely! We make no copyright claim on your content, so you are free to make copies to share (provided, of course, the content is not copyrighted by a 3rd party). If you prefer for us to make your copies, they're available for only the cost of the media.

    Additional copies may be ordered from our master files with or without the source files for up to 3 months following delivery. Our masters are scheduled for deletion after 3 months unless you choose the archive option.

Take the next step.
Let us know what legacy materials you have to see how we can help.
Get a quote