Frequently Asked Questions
Presently, I can handle a number of types of video for conversion to DVD. If your tape media is any of the following types I can convert those memories to DVD --
| Tape Type | Logo | Photo of Tape for Reference |
| VHS (Video Home System) |  |
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| VHS-C (Video Home System - Compact) |  |
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| 8mm cassette |  |
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| Hi8mm cassette |  |
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| DVC (Digitial Video Cassette)/ miniDV |  |
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| 8mm film | N/A |
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| Super-8mm | N/A |
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| 35mm slides | N/A |
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| Photos | N/A |
Any size up to 8"x10" can be scanned |
As for photos, if you don't send your photos to me via mail for scanning and transfer to DVD you may submit photos in a variety of ways. The easiest way for digitized photos is to e-mail them to me in jpg format (gif and bmp formats are also acceptable, but take up appreciably more space and must be sent via e-mail in smaller packets to avoid exceeding mailbox storage limitations).
Well, unless you want everything contained on the tapes to be transferred, you need to do some time-consuming homework. Specifically, you would need to view your tapes and choose what portions of each tape will be converted. For example, the instruction "Tape # 1, transfer everything from 00:05:30 (hh:mm:ss) to 01:32:00" will save you money (because it saves me time) in converting your memories. If you want the entire contents transferred, just state "Tape 1, all."
Next, make absolutely sure that you write-protect your tapes so that they cannot be accidentally overwritten in a tape player. There are a number of ways to do this, depending upon which type of tape you have.
Identify each tape on the tape itself, preferably on a label (it doesn't help to only label the tape cover/box, because once a tape is out of its box, the likelihood of it becoming confused with another is greater). You needn't use a fancy labeling scheme or even create a new label so long as each tape has a unique label and you refer to this labeling in your instructions. For example, writing "On the 'Grandma's 80th Birthday' tape I want everything from 00:32:00 to the end of the tape included on the DVD" makes perfect sense if I am holding a tape that is labeled "Grandma's 80th Birthday." Of course, if your tapes are unlabeled, feel free to label them "Tape 1," "Tape 2," etc. so long as you refer to them that way.
Pack your tapes in a sturdy cardboard box with padding to prevent damage due to shipping, address the box and include a return address. Make sure you include a detailed instruction sheet of what you want done. Include what "level" package (Basic, Advanced, Deluxe) you want for your project. If you are sending more than one project and need different levels for each project, include this information in your instruction sheet. Most importantly, include your phone number in case questions arise. Mark the outer package "Caution -- Magnetic Recording Media."
Ship the box via USPS, UPS, FedEx or however you desire but please make sure you arrange for "delivery confirmation" or "return receipt requested" so that you receive proof that I received your package. I will do the same when I mail your your completed package and return your tapes to you.
Your price is determined by how much video (in hours) I load into my system initially. A great deal of time and resources is expended in the task of playing your videos and inputting the signal directly into the computer. An hour of video takes (one) 1 hour to input into the computer, two (2) hours to compile into a digital presentation and then another one (1) hour to burn to the DVD. This does not include any type of editing that might need to be done once the image is input into the computer. Add to this the time it takes to preview the finished product in real-time and the time it takes to generate artwork for your project and you can see that $15 for a one-hour Basic Package project is more than reasonable.
This is why it is important for you, if you are picking and choosing scenes across a number of video tapes, to preview your tapes with a time-counter running and list exactly how much video and at what times you want loaded and then compiled. A customer who has me load ten (10) hours of video and then whittles it down to a one-hour DVD is charged for ten (10) hours, not one (1)! That same customer, when they tell me where to find that one hour of video across their tape(s), is charged for one (1) hour.
Unfortunately nothing in life is absolutely certain, and although a rarity, mail shipments are from time to time lost or damaged in transit. Shipments made from me to you include delivery confirmation (giving me assurance that you or an authorized recipient received the shipment). My shipments are also insured for the price you paid for the service I rendered. If my shipment to you is lost or damaged, all that can be recovered is the purchase price of my services.
You can prevent this rare occurrence from robbing you of your valued memories -- make a copy of your tapes before you send them to me. This is easily accomplished by joining two VHS players (or your video camera to your VHS [or vice versa]). Copying occurs unattended and you ensure that you will not be without your memories should disaster befall your shipment.
I do keep a backup of your video transfers for a period of thirty days from the time I ship. If your original tapes are lost in transit, they can be rebuilt from the digital files I have here.
You can also purchase an extended backup service in which I maintain a copy of your DVDs just in case you should ever require a replacement. The fee is $3 per DVD.
I have plans to soon include on my website hyperlinks to a status page which will keep you informed on the status of your project. Depending upon the complexity and the length of your project, work here can take anywhere from one (1) day to several weeks! This does not include shipping; but shipping from me to you is generally done by media mail (unless you desire and pay for an alternate means of shipping). I acknowledge receipt of your videos by e-mail.
In the Basic Package, customer input is limited to what you want your DVD entitled. This title will appear on the Main Menu of the DVD (when played) and on the generic DVD label art and generic DVD case art.
In the Advanced Package, customer input is greater. In addition the input listed above, the customer can choose what they wish to see in the way of photos and/or text on the Main Menu of the DVD (when played) and on the custom DVD label art and custom DVD case art. In addition, I work with the customer by phone and/or by e-mail to place chapter points for the DVD at desired locations and entitle each chapter as the customer desires.
In the Deluxe Package, customer input is greatest. In addition the input listed in the two packages above, the customer can direct what they wish to see in the insert booklet that accompanies the DVD project. They also can elect to rearrange scenes should they see fit.
The bottom line is, you are the customer, and we will make every effort to accommodate your desires within the limits of time that the project warrants.
Please feel free to drop me an e-mail at daniel@easydvdmemories.com or by calling 704-875-9487.
I do not convert copyrited material to DVDs. For example, I will not take a VHS tape of a major motion picture and transfer it to DVD, even if you own the tape. I do not transfer tapes containing pornographic material.
Of course. There is no other way to assure the quality of your transfer. I do not, per se, watch your videos for content, but I do scan through scenes quickly to assure that the transfer is successful.