Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
How much video footage can I put on a DVD?
While the technology will allow for many hours of footage on a single DVD, we do not recommend putting more than 120 minutes of video on a DVD. The more video that's recorded to a DVD, the lower the quality (bit rate) will be. If these were our home movies, we'd want to record them at the highest bit rate possible - which means less than 60 minutes of video on a DVD.
I don't know how much film I've got or how long it is. Can you give me some guidelines ??
Based on experience, here are approximate amounts of 8mm, Super8 and 16mm film footage and the amount of film footage each yields:
3" diameter film reel = 50 feet = 3 minutes of footage
5" diameter film reel = 200 feet = 12 minutes of footage
7" diameter film reel = 400 feet = 24 minutes of footageKeep in mind that your film reels may not be completely full of film. Also, take a good look at your larger reels of film. Often you will find markings on them that indicate approximate footage of film. Regardless, you are only charged for the footage of film you have (not simply the size of your reels) - ie, a 7" reel with only 200 feet of film gets charged only for 200 feet.
How long does the conversion to DVD take?
It will depend primarily on the size of your order and current workload. A typical order (a few hundred feet to a few thousand feet) of film to DVD would typically require 4-5 weeks to complete, although on occassion we are able to complete them faster. If you have specific turnaround requirements, check with us regarding rush order availability before sending us your order. (NOTE: If you're trying to place your order for the Christmas holiday season, your best bet is to try and get us your order by Thanksgiving! After that, we can only offer our services on a "best-effort" basis.)
Does the film-to-DVD process harm the films?
Absolutely Not! The conversion process is non-destructive and your film reels will be returned back in their original box unharmed.
Will the DVD be better video quality than the original tape?
No. The DVD will match the video quality of your film as it is today. While the video quality is not improved, it will not degrade over time like a film reel will.
What if there are bad sections in the film?
We will do our best to do real-time color correction and enhancement where possible. Note, this is not intended to be film repair or restoration. Those services will add substantially to the cost of the project if desired. We recommend you take your films to a repair/restoration specialist in those extreme cases or if your film is in poor condition.
Will sound from the films be included?
Most of the films we have seen do not include any sound. However, if your films are among the minority which do include a soundtrack, we will certainly include that. There is no additional charge for this service.
An optional add-on you may opt to include in your project is to add music. If you'd like us to include some "background music" along with your silent movies we charge a per DVD (original DVD, not the extra copies) fee. You can either include your own music to use (on CD) or we can use some generic/royalty free music that we have (note: we have a very limited selection).
Is video editing included in the price?
No - not really. For no additional charge, we will do simple trimming of the start and end points of the footage being converted so excess blank space at the beginning and end of the footage will not be on the final DVD. However, we do not include more complex video editing in the package pricing model. For example, what we won't do as part of the standard package price is edit out sections of video or shuffle the order of footage around.
We can provide the additional service of custom video editing - such as editing out sections or shuffling the order of the video. This type of editing is handled on a case-by-case basis; we basically charge per hour with a one hour minimum. If desired, we can provide a quote before sending us your order. Simply contact us if you have a special request or need a quote.
Are DVD chapters included in the price?
To some extent yes. Each order comes with your choice of either (a) DVD chapters at fixed intervals -- for example, every 3 minutes; OR (b) three custom DVD chapters -- the first at time 0:00 and you pick the exact times for the remaining two. Additional custom DVD chapters can optionally be added on for a small fee.
Can I customize my DVD case and label with a still photo or video still capture?
Yes, absolutely. One of the biggest advantages of choosing Shoebox Memories is the lengths we will go to customize the DVD for you. We work very hard to try and meet the requests and needs of our clients. Please be sure to note them on your order form, or contact us to discuss what you had in mind. There is no additional charge for this personlized service. Just ask for it! :-)
What if I don't want to customize my DVD case and label?
If you don't have a preference or don't specify what the DVD case and label should look like, we will use one of our pre-defined templates. If your DVD is of one particular subject (for example a wedding) we will likely choose an event-themed template to use. By not specifying anything, you're letting us use our discretion and experience.
Often our customers aren't quite sure what's on the videotapes and/or a mixture of events are on the tapes. In those cases, we typically take a "collage" approach to the design. This offers a generic design, but also gives you the benefit of seeing what's on the DVD at a glance.
Can I put several film reels together on to a single DVD?
Yes, absolutely. Each DVD we create will incur the "setup charge". You can put as much film footage as you like on a single DVD up to the limit of 2 hours. Note if you have 2 hours, 10 minutes - we are flexible enough to accomodate. Just understand that you will be reducing the overall quality accordingly by stretching our suggested limitations. In addition, if you have other particular requests or needs in mind, please don't hesitate to contact us.
I may want to do some DVD/video editing in the future. Will I need to re-convert my film to DVD again??
Not necessarily. As part of our film-to-DVD conversion process, your films are stored in a digital format on MiniDV tapes. These tapes can be viewed by any MiniDV camcorder, which you may have at home. If you'd like to purchase these MiniDV tapes, you can do so for $15 each. This is completely optional, although we'd generally recommend it. Having the film footage on MiniDV will prevent you from having to re-convert your film to a digital format again in the future, and would allow someone (including Shoebox Memories, a friend, or yourself) to make a new customized DVD for you relatively easily.
I'd like to have Shoebox Memories convert the film to MiniDV format,
but I'd like to make my own DVD myself. Can you help with that?
Yes. Some of our customers wanted to create the DVD themselves, and we are happy to help. Rather than create the DVD for you (which you don't want to begin with), plus charge you for the MiniDV tapes, we will swap out the DVD for the raw MiniDV tapes. You can then take these MiniDV tapes, import the video onto your own computer and create your own DVDs.
Can I order several copies of the DVD to send to friends and family?
Yes. Additional copies of the DVD may be requested when the initial DVD order is placed, or anytime within 3 months after the order is completed. For security and confidentiality reasons, we require the original purchaser to make the requests for any additional copies of the DVD. Additional copies may be sent to relatives directly if desired, for only $5.00 per address we send to (sent via USPS). Please download and use this order form or contact us. If shipping is not required, there is of course no charge for it.
Is the film to DVD conversion/transfer done on the premises?
The facilities required to get the high-quality, high-resolution results (using professional-grade telecine system) do not allow us to handle this on the premises. To provide the best possible service, we have a trusted business partner that has been doing film transfer since the 1980's. They receive orders from customers around the world on a regular basis, and are amongst the most experienced technicians in the field. Shoebox Memories staff personally handles all of the DVD post-production work, however, to customize the order to meet your specifications.
How can I be sure my order won't get lost?
As we mentioned we work with a trusted business partner who has roughly 20 years of experience. During the film transfer process, a technician is with your film during every step of the process. In addition, a structured organization system helps keep tabs on your orders at all times. To date, we have had 0 (zero) problems and a 100% success rate. We've never lost a film. You may want to read some of the comments our customers have left to see how satisfied they have been with our work.