EZPZ Video Transfer

The Best iPad Protection Comes With A Keyboard

Marty Holthaus — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:36:06 +0000

What is the best iPad protection for your "dainty" device?

If you are planning to buy an iPad, I strongly recommend that you also purchase the best iPad protection you can afford. The iPad is an expensive – but fragile – investment. Do you want a cracked screen or water damage to cut its life short? To protect my iPad, I researched a number of shells, skins, sleeves, and folio cases and finally settled on a case that not only protects my iPad but also has a built-in keyboard as well.

Basic iPad Cases ($25-$75)

iPad shells and skins are the most basic form of protection for your iPad. They cover the back and sides of the tablet – but not the screen. A sleeve is a little better. In addition to protecting the back and sides, it protects the screen, too. However, for the best protection money can buy, one needs a folio case. A folio case opens like a book with your treasured iPad safely inside. It keeps the whole iPad safe and secure.

iPad Cases With Keyboards ($99-$150)

As I was researching iPad folio cases, I learned that some folio cases even come with keyboards. I found a great article by James Kendrick in which he discusses how he uses an iPad case with a keyboard to facilitate his writing. That article had a link to another article by another writer, Harry McCracken, who uses his iPad to write, too. Both articles present a compelling argument for why a keyboard is essential for anyone who does a lot of typing.

Why Buy An iPad Case With A Keyboard?

You might be saying that a keyboard is fine for writers – but why do I need an iPad case with a keyboard?

First, the line between tablet and laptop is blurring. As technology advances, the two devices are beginning to merge. A case with a keyboard gives the iPad a lot of that extra functionality you get from a laptop.
Second, a physical keyboard is just easier to use than an on-screen keyboard – and it can make us much more productive. Do you really want to save money with a cheap case only to regret your choice later?

The Clamcase

After looking at all of the best iPad cases with keyboards, I finally chose the Clamcase. At $150 it is at the very top of the price range but, in my opinion, it is worth every penny. I believe it is the best iPad protective case anywhere. Here are my reasons.

Protection – The case is sturdy and solid. You can see that clearly in the photos.
Keyboard – The keyboard has been compared to “Apple’s current keyboards.”
Functionality – It lets you hold the iPad like a tablet or type on it like a laptop.

I definitely recommend the Clamcase with a Bluetooth 2.0 keyboard for the iPad. For more information on the Clamcase, look for an upcoming post. Meanwhile, tell me your thoughts on what makes the best iPad case for you. Just leave your comments in the field below.

Balancing Work And Family Life

Marty Holthaus — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:57:50 +0000

The grass always looks greener on the other side. Balancing work and family life can be a challenge.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Balancing work and family life is not always a simple matter for those of us who have chosen to undertake the challenge. In fact, finding time to do almost anything when you are a parent can be challenging. What once used to be “free time” is now laden with responsibility. Activities that were once a weekly routine like enjoying a couple of hours at the local internet cafe with a good book and some java have now been transformed into a circus act of juggling that same cup of coffee with a handful of obligatory tasks at home. The aforementioned book is usually lost in the shuffle. Getting to page three might be feasible at the end of the day before dozing off – if the spouse is not opposed to a reading light at bedtime. Yes, when we are parents, being able to make time to do anything for ourselves can seem almost impossible.

Yet, all of this doesn’t even take into account the taxation of time by our day job. Some of us are lucky enough to be doing something we love – which is great. Some of us are unlucky enough to be doing something we don’t – which is not so great. Either way, the difficulty in pulling ourselves away from our indentured servitude can be quite daunting. We may find ourselves elated by our job and torn between these duties and the duties we have to our children and spouse – or we may be elated by the sound of the ‘quitting time’ whistle to rush home to our family life where we know we are needed. And then, at the end of our day, when all the children are in bed, we know we might have some crumbs of time to spend on ourselves. Maybe.

No, life for the working parent is not always as simple as it may seem to someone looking in through the pane of glass called “the single life.” Is there a way to balance work and family life – and still have time for ourselves? That is a question I have been asking myself quite seriously these past few months. My wife and I – already parents to two boys, ages six and eight years old – were blessed with a third boy just a little over three months ago. This was more than a surprise. It was a shock. How on earth would we manage another child? The situation has forced me to really dig deep.

Finding a way to do it all has been at the forefront of my mind these past few months. How do I do it? One of the most profound things I have ever learned in life is that the answer is in the question. Ask a big enough question – often enough – and the answer will come. It is the same thing as “Ask and ye shall receive.” Or “necessity is the mother of invention.” My wife and I work different schedules, therefore, much of the week I’m Mr. Mom for the first six hours of my day. In those six hours lies vast opportunity. I know it. I just need to figure out how to grab it.

Over the next five months, I will be reviewing companies that provide video and film transfer services and can convert to DVD as I prepare to convert all of my old home movies and videotapes to digital over the coming years. At the end of it all, I intend to send a few tapes and film reels out to a company or two to test quality. My results will be posted on this website. As a former Hollywood professional and a current home movie maker Dad, I am completely energized by this undertaking. However, it will truly be a challenge to carve out enough time from my already busy schedule to make this happen. A lot of research is required for each company review. The good news is I have been asking myself the question of how to accomplish this goal for a while now and some possible solutions have presented themselves. Balancing my work and family life is important but making time for this research project will keep me sane. Can I do it all?

In another post, I’ll be offering some pieces of gold on how I am balancing this research project of mine with my family life – and fitting in my necessary day job to boot. It would be great if some of my soul-searching about family time management might help you to accomplish your projects as you balance your family life and work. And, even if you don’t have a family of your own, maybe you are just totally consumed by a high responsibility day job with lots of hours. Making time for your creative ‘baby’ could be what brings it all together for you. See you next time.

Finding The Best VHS To DVD Service

Marty Holthaus — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:57:38 +0000

How Does Your VHS To DVD Service Company Rate?

Finding the best VHS to DVD service to preserve your family treasures can sometimes be a little tricky. When you look online, you can find lots of companies that convert VHS to DVD that say they use the same methods as Hollywood for copying your old home movie memories to DVD but are they telling you the whole story? As a former Hollywood visual effects coordinator, let me help you take a closer look at what makes the best video transfer service company.

What Matters Most In A Transfer Service

As I search for the best video conversion service to transfer my own VHS tapes to DVD, I find it important to focus on what matters most. It doesn’t really matter to me if a company uses the “same method as Hollywood” to copy – or burn - a movie to DVD. Burning a DVD is a rather straightforward process once you get to that point. No, what matters most is the method the company uses to digitize the video. Before an old video can be burned to DVD, it needs to be converted to a digital format. The quality of this conversion process, more than any other factor, dictates the quality of the final DVD. Here are three basic quality indicators I use to help identify the best video transfer service companies.

Quality Indicator #1: Video Capture Device

To select the best video transfer company, there are certain indicators I look for on a company’s website. When a company offers specific details about the equipment they use, that is always a good sign. As an example, they might mention the brand name and model number of the video deck they use to play the VHS tape as it is being digitized. Even better, the company may cite the name of the video capture device they use. If a company says it uses something called a “Canopus” (or “Grass Valley”) ADVC 300, for instance, then things are looking good. This capture device is well-respected for the way it captures the analog signal coming from the VHS tape and for the way it cleans up any noise and enhances the video. If no details are disclosed, then move on.

Quality Indicator #2: Color Correction

Another good indicator in choosing the right video transfer service company is color correction. If a digital transfer service company advertises that it will enhance the color of your video, making it look better than you remember it, there is a good chance that they are telling the truth. This is a guarantee that many companies will not make because it is a challenging promise to keep – unless they actually are a professional company using some of the best equipment and methods. Color correcting digitized video can be done with additional hardware or software but no matter what method is used, it is something that is rarely offered by a fly-by-night video transfer service. So, if your potential transfer house is offering you color correction, take another sigh of relief because you are on the right track.

Quality Indicator #3: Uncompressed Video

The third and most “black-and-white” of my three “litmus tests” for identifying a company that offers a good video transfer service is also the most simple. Most ordinary companies that offer a VHS to DVD transfer service will only deliver standard definition video on DVD. The best companies know that this is only the beginning. The world is changing to high definition. Even if your particular analog video format can only be digitized to standard definition (VHS is the example I am thinking of), it is important that you receive the raw digital files of your digitized home videos. These uncompressed digital files contain the most detail and, as such, become your new “master” with which to preserve your video memories for future generations. You will be able to use that master to convert to the next format when digital video technology takes another leap into the future. The DVD copy is just that – a copy on DVD. A good video transfer company will offer you these uncompressed video files on either a data DVD or a hard drive. So, if the company you are considering to transfer your videos to DVD also delivers uncompressed video files in addition to the DVD copies, then you are in good hands.

Grading Transferring VHS To DVD Service Companies

As someone who is looking for a convert VCR to DVD service to get his own personal videos transferred to digital, this website is helping me organize my thoughts and notes as I research various companies. I hope that this site might help you identify the best copy VHS to DVD service for your needs, too. As I continue to compare companies based on the three quality indicators listed above, I will write reviews of those companies and add some of the highlights to this post. Keep reading.

Yes Video – Great Price, Average Quality

Marty Holthaus — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 01:13:16 +0000

This is an in-depth review of Yes Video. If you are looking for Yes Video reviews to help you decide if it is the right video to DVD service company to digitize your family’s video memories, then you must read this article. I used my own research and personal experience in the film industry to go into great detail about this company and its services. Most importantly, I did this research in preparation for the transfer of my own home movies and videos to digital.

Photo courtesy of freephotosbank.com

Yes Video Transfers Video and Film To DVD

Yes Video provides VHS to DVD services as well as 8mm film to DVD services. It also transfers prints and slides to DVD as well as certain digital media formats to Blu-ray. It does not transfer older video and film formats to Blu-ray so, for the scope of this article, I will only focus on the transfer of analog film and video to DVD. By the end of the article you will see why I think Yes Video is a great company to transfer your VHS and film media to DVD – if price is your only concern. However, if high quality is essential to you, then Yes Video is not the right choice.

Yes Video does provide good quality – within the scope and limitations of their methods and equipment. But for me – someone who is looking for the best quality that I can afford – Yes Video does not make the grade. Don’t get me wrong. For what Yes Video offers, they do an excellent job. They make it possible to view your old home movies and videos in convenient digital formats at standard resolution. However, I am not just concerned with transferring my home movies and videos to DVD only. I also want them delivered as uncompressed high resolution video files that can be used as a digital archive for extended preservation. This will give me further options in the future as technology advances and my budget increases.

Yes Video And Its Partners

The website for Yes Video is http://www.yesvideo.com/ and the phone number is 877-817-5375. They provide an order form online so that you can either ship your film and videotapes directly to them or drop off your order at one of over 30,000 retail partners in the US, Canada, or Puerto Rico. These retail partners include:

In addition to these retail stores, Yes Video also has two online partners that offer their digital transfer services.

Target

Kodak

An Introduction To Yes Video

Yes Video, started in 1999, has two processing labs. With two locations, the company can serve their customers quickly and efficiently. The home office in Santa Clara, California serves everyone on the western half of the United States while the second lab in Norcross, Georgia speeds up orders for all of their East Coast customers. Transfer services typically take about 3 weeks. When your order is done, it is shipped back to the retail store where you dropped off your order.

Can I Trust Yes Video With My Original Home Movies?

Yes Video is probably the largest VHS to DVD transfer house in terms of the number of customers they have. Their retail partners have good reputations for their products and services. Also, Yes Video is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), a collection of offices throughout the U.S. that use a standardized method to rate businesses based on feedback from customers. In the past, the BBB has consistently awarded Yes Video with an ‘A-’ or better. To see the current Better Business Bureau web page for Yes Video, click on this link.

Yes Video Tracking And Security

It takes 5-7 days from the day you drop off your order at the retailer to the day that the order is received at one of the processing labs. Once received, your media is bar-coded and tracked so you can locate your media and determine the specific stage of the transfer process. Yes Video guarantees that all of your media originals will be returned to you.

Video Formats Transferred By Yes Video

Yes Video can transfer up to two videotapes to a DVD for a combined total of two hours of footage. If the combined total exceeds the limit of one DVD, then any extra footage gets transferred to another DVD and treated as a separate order with an additional price tag. They do not mix video and film media types on one DVD. Also, tapes are transferred as a direct transfer, so footage is not edited or enhanced. Here is a list of the analog video media formats Yes Video can transfer to digital.

Beta (BetaMax)
VHS
VHS-C
S-VHS (Super VHS)
Hi-8
Digital 8
8mm Video
MiniDV

Yes Video Tape Transfer Process

Videotapes are played using tape decks that are connected to computers. (Yes Video does not disclose the models or brand names of these tape decks.) As tapes play, footage is digitally captured to MPEG-2 format and burned to a DVD at 720 x 480 standard resolution. All footage is backed up onto Yes Video servers. Yes Video does not, at this time, convert analog video media such as VHS to Blu-ray.

Film Formats Transferred By Yes Video

Yes Video can transfer up to 1,600 feet of 8mm film or Super 8 film to DVD. They also transfer up to 3,200 feet of 16mm film. If the combined total exceeds the limit of one DVD, then all extra footage is transferred to another DVD, treated as a separate order, and charged an additional price – just like video conversions that surpass the capacity of one DVD. Also, just like video, all film is delivered onto a DVD at a standard resolution of 720 x 480. Here is a list of film formats Yes Video transfers to digital.

8mm film
Super 8 film
16mm film

Yes Video Film Transfer Process

Yes Video will clean your film, which minimizes the effects of scratches, dirt, and dust. They also remove any old film leaders that are spliced at the beginning and end of your original film reels and any blank footage they find between your shots. All footage then gets spliced together and placed on a new 7-inch diameter (400 foot) reel with new leader. The film then gets projected into a condenser box, where it is digitally captured by a digital video camera. The captured image is sent to a computer in MPEG-2 format. It is at this stage that color and lighting are enhanced and the footage is then burned to DVD. Yes Video does not, at this time, convert old film media to Blu-ray.

What Customization Is Available With Yes Video?

Yes Video provides many choices to customize your final DVD. You can create your own title and choose from twenty unique themes, including holiday images, beach scenes, and travel themes. Each theme modifies these elements:

DVD Case
DVD Disc
Main Menu
Chapter Titles

In addition, each chapter in the menu incorporates an image from the actual footage of that chapter of the DVD, making it easier for you to find a specific shot or event. These chapter images are also printed on the DVD case as well. You can even choose background music for each DVD. To top it off, Yes Video adds three one-minute music videos with highlights of your footage to each DVD they produce. If you wish to customize your DVD even further, you can re-design your DVD and its content after the initial order is completed with an online tool that Yes Video calls MemorySafe®.

What is Memory Safe®?

MemorySafe® is an online tool and storage system that allows subscribers to do a variety of things with their transferred film and video footage. With MemorySafe® you can view, edit, and share your memories with family and friends – from a PC, Mac, iPad, or mobile device using such methods as email, Facebook, or Twitter. A free trial is provided with your digital transfer through select retail stores or online with Yes Video. After the free trial, the service is only available through a paid subscription. At this time, MemorySafe® is only available with direct orders through Yes Video or from one of these four retail stores.

If you have MemorySafe®, your footage is not only saved to Yes Video servers but is also uploaded to an online storage system as well. It lets you order additional copies of your DVD or design a new version. Here is what you can do.

Rearrange the footage on a DVD
Combine clips from different DVDs
Revise your DVD soundtrack with music from your home computer

The Limitations Of Editing With Yes Video

Yes Video does not edit your old movies and videos for you and it does not deliver to you the uncompressed digital files that allow you to edit digital video at home on your computer. However, if you have read the section above about MemorySafe® you know that self service editing of your digitized footage is available at an additional cost. If you are trying to save money and are content with a simple assembly edit of your footage rather than a more detailed cut, then simple planning of your basic Yes Video order can improve your DVD. If you are going to use Yes Video, here is what I would recommend.

Since each DVD order at Yes Video requires a separate order form that must be dropped off with the media that is to be transferred, I suggest that you organize all of your media in advance. If you group your media together in groups that will fit on each DVD and number each piece of media in that group, you can achieve a more interesting sequence of events on your DVD. Keep in mind these tips.

DVDs hold up to two videotapes for a total of two hours of video.
DVDs hold up to 1,600 feet of 8mm or Super 8 film or 3,200 feet of 16mm film.
You cannot mix video and film with Yes Video.
I suggest numbering your media so that each media format is grouped together followed by other media formats. Switching from 8mm film to 16mm film and then back to 8mm film is something Yes Video cannot do. I would follow the same guidelines with video formats as well.

Are Yes Video’s Methods The Best?

YesVideo reviews their transfer methods on their website. They do not give all of the details but they explain enough to satisfy the average customer. And, from what I can see, they do such a fine job with the methods they use, that they meet most customers’ expectations. However, being tech savvy and having worked in post production for over ten years, I tend to examine things a little more closely. Here are my thoughts.

Yes Video Tape Transfers – The Pros And The Cons

As far as video transfers go, Yes Video does not go into detail about the methods they use to digitize video. This is a signal of lower – or at least average – quality. In terms of resolution, they deliver transferred videotape just like everyone else – on a DVD at a resolution of 720 pixels wide by 480 pixels high. This is called standard definition, or low resolution. The biggest problem I have with Yes Video, in addition to the lack of disclosure about the methods they use to digitize video, is that they do not enhance the color or the quality of the video in any way before or after digitizing the media and they do not deliver uncompressed digital files for editing on a home computer editing system. That is very disappointing.

Yes Video Film Transfers Are Not Perfect

For film transfers, Yes Video has even more to be desired. Even though film captures much more detail than video, Yes Video delivers the same level of quality as their video transfers. This means that you will lose detail that is there in your film original if you have Yes Video transfer your film to digital. In contrast to Yes Video, there are companies that scan film all the way up to a resolution of 1920 x 1080. At Yes Video 720 pixels wide by 480 pixels high is the best they offer for film formats. This is a huge difference. On the bright side, Yes Video is less expensive. They do clean your film footage, re-splice them into more manageable reels, and adjust color and lighting. But – again – when compared to a post production house like Pro8mm in Burbank, California which uses a true scanner or a home movie transfer service like Got Memories in Tempe, Arizona which uses a quality frame-by-frame telecine, Yes Video cannot compete. This is really something to think about.

Remember, I mentioned that I worked for over ten years in post production, where high resolution film standards are expected and the quality of each frame is scrutinized with great attention. Obviously, when you are working in the motion picture industry, the size of the viewing screen is much larger than the size of the standard television set displaying your home movie. However, TV screens are getting larger all of the time. And if yours is not, you might still want to think about using a company that converts your analog film footage to high def. Film is going to disintegrate over time so it is wise to capture your film images into a digital format at the highest possible resolution that you can afford.

The Price Is Hard To Beat

All of these flaws considered, Yes Video still offers a very reasonable cost. They offer comparatively low prices for film transfers and are quite competitive for their video transfers. Depending on the retail partner you choose, prices may vary. Some packages are only offered through Yes Video directly or certain retail outlets. Capturing original audio from your original film media can cost more. Damaged media will cost more to transfer as well. If you under-estimate your order and it turns out the media you sent does not fit on one DVD, that order will be charged extra as well. To give you a basic outline of the pricing at Yes Video, here is a current listing from their website for direct orders. Other retail store pricing may be different. Prices are based on the amount of content that gets transferred. Additional charges are incurred for the number of DVD discs used to fill your order.

Video: $19.99 per tape
Film: $19.99 for the first 200 feet (approximately $.10 per foot)

If you are about to place an order with Yes Video, you may be able to save some money by using a coupon code. It is possible to find these on the internet simply by doing a search for Yes Video coupon code on Google. If you are able to find a current code, you can type that code into the space provided at the time of checkout when placing the order on the Yes Video website and it will give you a discount on the order. The amount of the discount may vary according to that special promotional code. (In general, this is something you can do any time you are making a purchase over the internet and a ‘coupon code’ field is provided for the product or service at the time of check-out.)

Closing Argument – The Pros And Cons Of Yes Video

Yes Video has the following pros:

Convenient
Efficient
Good Reputation
Moderate Pricing

However, Yes Video has a few limitations you should keep in mind:

Does not offer color or lighting enhancement for video transfers
Delivers standard definition resolution for film transfers (720 x 480)
Does not deliver uncompressed digital files for editing on your home computer and for archival preservation

To be fair, I have not personally tested Yes Video. But, based on what I have learned about them, I do not want to personally test them with my family’s home movies and videos since my standards are much higher. My family memories are too precious to me. This is not to say that Yes Video does not offer a legitimate service and follow through on what they promise. They, in fact, do. However, the quality they provide is not satisfactory for me. If you feel the same way I do about quality, then keep checking back for more information on VHS to DVD transfer service companies.

How Do I Convert To DVD Without Losing My Sanity?

Marty Holthaus — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:00:17 +0000

Which Path Should You Take To Convert To DVD? Pick One.

If you are preparing for the enormous challenge of transferring your home movies and VHS to DVD, Blu-ray, or some other digital format, you have no doubt started to feel more than a little overwhelmed by the huge amount of information on the subject. There are thousands and possibly millions of choices out there for people that want to make sure that their old movies and videos are preserved for generations to come. And, whether you have a family of your own or not, you most likely have old videos – even if they are just a few years old. With the lightning speed of technology, you are going to need to convert to DVD or another format to insure that your footage will survive through the continuing evolution of video.

About Me

I am Marty Holthaus and I spent more than ten years coordinating visual effects for over twenty Hollywood movies, including Superman Returns and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Before that I attended film school where I learned a fair amount of technical knowledge. And before that I was a home movie aficionado, making my own movies as a young boy. Nonetheless, as I begin my quest to transfer my old movies and videos to the digital realm, I also am overwhelmed by all of the choices.

How To Transfer VHS To DVD

Here are the three basic stages for transferring video or film to digital:

Get a machine that will play your original.
Connect that machine to a computer or another machine that can convert your original to digital.
Copy the converted digital data to the medium of your choice, such as DVD or Blu-ray.

VHS To DVD Recorders And Converters

There are so many economical products on the market that can get the job done at a low to medium level of quality. However, having worked on Hollywood productions where high definition resolution and state of the art film scanners are the norm, I have a hard time trying to persuade myself to settle for anything less for my home movies. Whatever path I choose is going to impact the quality and longevity of my family’s home videos for generations to come. For this reason, I am searching for the very best digital transfer possible.

Can I Afford High Quality Hardware And Software?

The average person probably cannot afford the very best hardware and software that is required to perfectly convert to DVD. As I said, I worked in Hollywood post production for over ten years and I know that high end equipment is not cheap. And the older the visual media you want to convert, the more expensive a high quality transfer is going to be.

Let’s take film scanners as an example. If you have old Super 8mm film that you want to convert to digital and you were serious about buying your own true film scanner (not just a telecine, which is more of a medium level quality), it might cost you tens of thousands of dollars. I know I sure don’t have that kind of money in my film to digital transfer budget. Chances are you don’t, either. And, even if you could afford your own film scanner, would you really have the time to master such a highly specialized field. I don’t think so. So, what are the options?

Film And Video Transfer Services

Here is where I think. Throw in the towel. Don’t fight an up-hill battle. It just doesn’t make sense. There are plenty of companies out there that have already invested in state of the art film and video transfer equipment. In addition, they already have trained technicians who have been through the learning curve and are proficient at getting close to perfect results from the equipment. Why not use them to get the best digital transfer you can possibly get? It would save you lots of time and money. You would get higher, more consistent, quality than if you tried to do it on your own with equipment you could afford to purchase. And, so what if you still can’t afford the very best company? Maybe you can afford the 2nd best. Or maybe the third best? You will still get a better transfer from someone at the top of the list than if you tried to do it on your own with inadequate equipment. Do you see my point?

How Do You Know What The Best VHS To DVD Service Is?

The biggest problem I now face is determining the right company for me. If you are still with me, you are probably thinking the same thing. If you are now leaning towards hiring a professional company that provides transfer services, too, then you are probably asking yourself the same question. Is there a company out there that provides top of the line digital transfers at a price that I can afford? If not, what is the second best method I can afford and what is the best company using those methods?

My Plan To Help Us Both

So, to sum up, what is the best way to convert VHS to DVD? If you are converting VHS to DVD, I recommend hiring the best company you can afford to do it for you. Over the next seven months I am going to research as many video to digital transfer houses and film transfer houses as possible. Using my own criteria for grading digital transfer services, I will labor to find the best of the best. At the end of those seven months – November, 2012 – I plan to test one or more of the companies I find with a few samples of my own analog film and video collection to see what companies seem to do a better job. I chose November because this is right before the holidays and, because of this, most VHS to DVD transfer companies offer big sales on their services.

I invite you to join me in the coming months as I investigate as many companies as possible to see if I can find the right match for me. Hopefully, I will find a few companies that will meet your standards as well.

What Are Some Stores That Convert VHS TO DVD?

Marty Holthaus — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:59:52 +0000

If you have been looking around your local community wondering, “Are there any stores that convert VHS to DVD?” then, most likely, you have been left feeling more than a little frustrated. Finding a store that specializes in transferring video to digital isn’t like finding a grocery store or a gas station. And it isn’t as if there are dozens of video transfer franchises advertising and promoting their brand through radio and television, either. In fact, if you went around asking people you know where you could find a store that converts VHS to DVD, it would probably take you quite awhile before you found someone with the right answer. The truth is, the stores that offer video transfer services are not that hard to find.

Stores That Transfer VHS To DVD Are Right Under Our Nose

Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Whether you know it or not, there are probably several converting VHS to DVD stores right near you. As a matter of fact, you may be surprised to hear the names of these stores as they are national chains with brands that are instantly recognizable. Although video memories may not be the service these stores are known for and the actual digital transfers do not actually happen on store property – these stores do, in fact, offer convenient digital transfer services for people like you and me.

Before we go any further, let me be completely clear. Although these stores are extremely convenient since they give you a person to talk with face to face in your own neighborhood, the companies that they are partnered with that do the actual digital transfer are not necessarily the best. If you are looking for the best VHS to DVD service, I recommend clicking on the link above which will take you to a page on this site that discusses high quality video transfers. If, on the other hand, you are looking for great deals and convenience, then this article here may be for you.

Stores That Transfer Video – To Name Just A Few

Luckily, you are not the only person with the question, “Where can I get a VHS converted to DVD?” There are a lot of other people looking for where to go to transfer analog video to digital video as well. One of the stores I first learned about was Costco, the national “members only” warehouse. With over four hundred locations in the United States, it is easy to find a Costco. Another big retail store chain that offers digital transfer services is Walmart. In fact, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. also owns Sam’s Club – another national store chain that can resolve all of your questions about how and where to convert your precious video memories. These three well-known retailers are just several of the largest stores in America offering digital media transfer services. There are plenty of other stores that offer transfer services as well.

Offsite Digital Transfer Services – How They Work

As I mentioned, these shops that convert VHS to DVD do not actually do the digital transfer work themselves. In fact, they partner with specialized stores that actually do the digital transfers. The way these three major U.S. retail stores offer digital transfer services to their customers is with the help of an outside company. Here is how it works.

You drop off your film and video at the big name store location.
The store employee helps you fill out some forms on the types of media you have, the quantities of each, and your preferences.
Finally, all of the materials are sent off-site to where the analog to digital transfer equipment is stored and where the work is actually conducted.

Costco, Walmart, and Sam’s Club – Easy and Convenient!

The best part of using a retail convert VHS to DVD store like Costco, Walmart, or Sam’s Club is that they are extremely convenient. All you have to do is bring your old home movies and videos into the store. They do the rest. And, although the quality of their services has limitations, they meet the standards of most consumers. In fact, Costco, Walmart, and Sam’s Club all use the same third party transfer service, Yes Video, with headquarters in Santa Clara, California. To learn more about Yes Video, just click on the link.

So, what’s next?

So, if you were asking yourself, “What stores convert VHS to DVD?” you now know the answer. In further posts I will discuss more about stores that change VHS to DVD, what they provide, how their services differ, and how you can decide which one is the right one for you.