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This page addresses points about which many people have asked us over the years.....
We are sometimes asked "how do you do the cine to DVD transfer"
"What system do you use?" "Do you use flying spot?" "Do you use telecine? or Phoenix transfer system?" "Is every frame scanned?"
Of course every frame is scanned!!!...........the programme would be otherwise incomplete - ridiculous question!
"How do you copy videos to DVD!!!" ???????????and about EVERYTHING else we do!!!
Now please understand. Our systems are MY OWN - they have taken years to perfect and in the case of the
cine film to DVD process, I believe that I have, in the last year or so, achieved a process which is now as good as
cine to DVD transfer is EVER going to be. We are at a level now, where our DVDs are as good as is ever going
to be possible. The latest DVD players (including blu-ray ones) actually upscale the DVD signals on our DVDs
to FULL 1080 when connected to a HD 1080 capable TV via the HDMI socket.
I have recently carried out extensive trials using both
upscaling ordinary DVD player AND Blu-ray player connected via the HDMI. The picture quality is STUNNING
- yes really.
As time goes by and more and more people offer (on line) apparently similar services to ours. I often get e.mails
asking me to comment on what is claimed by these other operators - even including a link for me to click to go to
the 'similar services' website. Please do NOT send a similar question to me - I will ignore it - I suspect most of them
are from my competitors anyway! If I were to reply, this is what you'd get.
"ANYONE, whoever they are, can SAY anything they like on their website. I prefer to let my great number of
very satisfied customers, whose messages are shown on our FAQ page
(CLICK HERE TO SEE THEM)
to vouch for our quality of service - I usually update these EVERY SINGLE DAY and I still receive far more than I actually
do add. Additionally, of course! you can get our FREE DEMO' done within 48 hours usually, this enables you to
actually see for yourself. Please do not take at face value ANYTHING that anyone tells you about these services,
as I tell you elsewhere, many of these are 'COWBOY OPERATORS' or simply HOBBYISTS trying to make additional
pocket money, regardless of what happens to your priceless materials."
Now to address some questions which I consider to be worthy of response.
1. MY FILMS ARE MORE THAN 40 YEARS OLD, WILL THEY STILL BE ANY GOOD?
yes of course! MOST are over 40 years old, many are over 70 years old! The earliest films we have done go back to
say 1918 which were on 16mm film introduced by the 'yanks' during WW1. Then Pathe started the 9.5mm format
in the early 1920s, then Kodak with standard(regular) 8mm in 1936- which was simply the existing 16mm split
down the middle to give the 8mm. Finally, super 8mm arrived in America in 1963 (very famous super 8 film of
Kennedy assassination) and in Europe the next year 1964. Camcorders arrived in the early 1980s - we copy
ALL formats. Most cine films are "silent" and can be copied as such, or we can introduce music
(VERY popular) if you so wish. Films with their own soundstripe can have that original sound recording
reproduced on the DVD (provided there IS actually recording on it - often there is not!) Please note that
it is EITHER soundstripe OR music on an individual spool - NOT both.
2. HOW LONG CAN A TITLE BE?
Often 'less is more' but I'll do as many words as you can realistically read on the TV screen. Typical titles
"Smith Family Memories 1962 - 1977" "Majorca Holiday 1964" "Jenny and David's Wedding Day, July 15th
1975, at Christ Church Herefod, Best Man Eric Jones, Bridesmaids Alison Ford and Wendy Evans" -
or whatever you want. We start every cine to DVD job with a 'scrolling up' caption "A Presentation By
Memories On Video" then "A programme Compiled From Cine Films" -then the caption/title
which YOU have requested. This then 'cuts away' and the pictures start smoothly. It is often a nice feature
to credit the film maker "Films made by Jack Davies in the 1960s" Use your imagination - remember,
we want you to be delighted!
3. WHAT'S THE MUSIC LIKE?
Generally 'easy listening' but NOT "supermarket musaak" Orchestral music (not vocals) of well known tunes from
the period. "The Way We Were" "As Time Goes By" "Moon River".........etc If you prefer classical (Mozart,
Grieg, Bach, Elgar.................etc) please write 'classical' alongside your tick for music on order form.
Check out our customer feedbacks - lots of customers say they love the music we introduce.
4. CAN I DO MY OWN COMMENTARY?
Yes you can - but this costs more (obviously!) and you'll need to phone me to discuss the process.
5. CAN I MIX VARIOUS FORMATS OF FILM AND TAPE ON THE SAME DVD?
Yes you can, but please group together ALL 16mm, followed by ALL Standard 8mm, followed by ALL super 8mm,
Please AVOID "16mm, followed by 8mm, back to 16mm, then super 8mm, back to 8mm" (PLEASE NO!)
6. WILL I BE ABLE TO EDIT MY DVDs IN MY PC/LAPTOP?
Yes absolutely, provided of course you know how to! Many of our customers have been doing so for years.
Our DVDs are digital recordings in MPEG2 signal on to DVD+RW disks. That is universally 'downloadable' to
any modern device and is 'editable' (are they really words?) with appropriate software. My own preference for
editing is "Adobe Premier Elements 2.0" which is great. Alternatively, "MPEG Video Wizard" is available from
www.womble.com and you can get a FREE TRIAL
period - which may be all you'll ever need to edit your disks - but it is a very enjoyable hobby- with imagination
you can produce a 'Spielberg' Oscar winner!!
7. WHAT ABOUT HD DVD?
As I write this, HD is the 'buzzword' in the TV business. "Sky" are bombarding us with TV
adverts to change to their HD. Panasonic have just brought out their "All bells and whistles" blu-ray recorder
promising "HD everything" Obviously, I have to always take every new introduction of devices/technology
very seriously and I have been researching/experimenting a great deal this year. I take nobody's word
for anything in this business, I need to see for myself. I've kept my eye on what's on sale and I get lots
of e.mail updates and mailshots from all of the big electronics suppliers. I see that even ASDA (as
opposed to Comet,PC World,Dixons..etc) have both blu-ray and HD players. The claim is "this player
upscales ordinary DVD to full 1080"............................... So I have experimented in my studio.
Conclusion: We are already producing cine to DVD work to the highest possible standard on digital
disks. Comparing the results achieved from playing in an ordinary DVD player on a
non HD TV (traditionally connected via the SCART connections) WITH the same disk played on an '
upscaling' HD or blu-ray player connected via the HDMI sockets the difference is 'stunning' - even to
me after all these years. I have seen my work presented in brighter, crisper, sharper detail than
I ever believed would be possible. This is why I say above that this is as good as will ever be possible
with cine to DVD (and indeed with VHS/camcorder tape to DVD. The message to you-" If you have
not already got a FULL 1080 TV and a HD or blu-ray player, it's certainly time to get one if you want
to see your "Memories On Video" playing to the highest possible standard. NOT expensive!
compared to years ago! You want to confirm all of this? OK take us up on our FREE TRIAL offer.
8. HOW LONG DO YOU TAKE?
VERY quickly these days! Years ago I used to aim to return within 28 days. This meant that there
were always a LOT of jobs waiting to be done! - not good for my equilibrium!
So we stopped advertising until we 'caught up'. Nowadays, we aim to return cine to DVD jobs
within a fortnight at most (often much sooner) and tape to DVD/CD jobs even faster
than that. If a job is urgent (Golden Wedding party coming up.......etc) I can do a 'return of post' job -
phone if required.
9. WHAT'S THE COURIER SERVICE?
Simply phone us before 10 am any weekday for same day collection. You need to give your order with
completed order form enclosed within, to the driver when he calls. We currently charge £10 for collection
of any size parcel in mainland UK - subject to adjustment when prices move!
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