Home Movie Film to DVD Transfer

I got a lot of questions last week regarding 16mm and 8mm Home Movie Film Transfer to DVD so I thought that I would post a blog today answering some of those questions.

But first the pitch...

Simply put, our film transfer service is the best way to enjoy your 8mm film, Super 8 film, and 16mm film all over again! Sure, you can drag out your old projector and watch them like you used to-40 years ago. But why do you want to risk ruing the film with a super hot bulb or damaging sprocket drivers--thereby ensuring that no one can enjoy the film ever again. And do you really want to be changing a reel every 3 to 10 minutes? Of course not. And sure you can have the big discount warehouses and superstores transfer your film to DVD, but do you want to have a transfer that produces a lower quality image with dull and muted colors and fuzzy images or includes all the leader or film with no images? Or worse yet having your film sent to Mexico or India for transfer and run the risk that it will be lost in transit, lost in factory, or switched with the customer from Biloxi, Mississippi, or Barcelona, Spain? Of course not, so you NEED to bring McKenna Video your film to transfer.

We bring your old home movies back to life by transferring them to DVD. We use the latest digital frame-by-frame transfer method, which produces stunning, ultra high quality DVDs with an extremely clear and crisp picture (relative to the quality of your film to start with). We add background music (at no extra cost to you!) to produce truly heart-warming results. We can also put your film on VHS tapes if you prefer (I don't recommend this as VHS is about 1/2 the resolution of DVD). These images of your family are irreplaceable. We understand that and will treat them as if they were our own. Don't settle for inferior transfer methods like direct capture or "project and record"! Let McKenna Video Services digitally master your home movies and preserve them for generations to come.

Here's what to do:

1) Gather your home movies. Go ahead! Venture into the attic, basement, or closet and retrieve that dusty box of home movies;

2) Put them in order that you would like to view them on your disc. Alternatively, we can randomize the order if you prefer;

3) Call McKenna Video Services to schedule a time to bring them to our studio (mail order also available);

4) Bring or send your films to McKenna Video Services. We'll accept your film and your payment and give you an estimated time to complete the transfer;

5) When complete, you'll pick up your film and new DVD and bring them home with a bag of popcorn for viewing in the comfort of your living room.


And now, here are some of the more common questions that we get regarding film to DVD transfer.

HOW MUCH FILM DO I HAVE?

There are 3 common reel sizes, although other sizes were sometimes used. A 3-inch reel will hold 50-feet of film, a 5-inch reel holds 200-feet, and a 7-inch reel holds 400-feet.


CAN I EDIT MY FILM BEFORE IT IS TRANSFERRED?

If you wish to edit your film prior to bringing it to us you are free to do so. Once we receive the film, we process every foot we receive. Once transferred into a digital format, we will normally edit out excessive periods of under or overexposed film if there are no viewable images before we master a final disc.

If you wish to edit your content further, we can assist with that after we digitize the film. We can have you back into the studio for editing and sometimes we provide a "preview disc" with instructions for you to take home and view before sitting down with us to edit.


I WANT TO EDIT MY OWN FILM AND MASTER MY OWN DVD-WHAT CAN YOU DO?

A lot of our customers want to master their own DVDs-we just need to know that at the onset. Once digitized, we can transfer your unedited film to a mini-dv tape or a hard-drive as a Quicktime .mov (preferred) or Window Media .wmv file. We can even create mp4's if you wish to share your film on Facebook, youtube or other social media sites.


I HAVE SPECIFIC NEEDS FOR MY MENUS, CHAPTERS, TITLES, BACKGROUND MUSIC, ETC. CAN YOU HELP WITH THAT?

Certainly. Our goal is provide you with exactly what you want-something our competition won't do. We will conform your disc to your exact specifications.


HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

Film transfer is a time consuming process. We normally ask for about 3 to 4 weeks, depending on your requirements, how much film you have, and what we have in queue. We do offer rush services if needed.


IS IT SAFE? WILL I RECEIVE MY FILM BACK?

Film is not destroyed or damaged in the process. We return everything that you bring to us: film, reels, cans.


CAN YOU TRANSFER TO BLU-RAY?

Yes, we can transfer to blu-ray disc for you, but it does not increase the quality of the film. Home movie film never offered high resolution, so using a high-def transfer is not worth the added expense, in my opinion. Blu-ray offers the ability to store much great amounts of film on one disc, instead of many.


HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Exact pricing depends of the type of film you have and the services that you order. Please call us at (253) 539-3438 for an estimate.


I hope this helps you understand the film conversion to DVD process a little bit better. As always, don't hesitate to call or send an email for more information.

Blessings,

Chris