Frequently Asked Questions about 8mm and 16mm film to video transfers.

How do I know what "gauge" my film is?

16mm film is 16mm wide, it typically has two sets of sprocket holes - one on either side of the strip - and the frames run down the middle. Occasionally the film will have only one set of sprocket holes - usually but not always to make room for an optical sound track.

8mm (regular 8) film is 8mm wide and has wide sprocket holes down one side. The sprocket holes take up almost one quarter of the film's width.

Super 8mm film is also 8mm wide and has one set of sprocket holes along one side - but the holes are smaller, taking up roughly one eighth of the film's width.

How do I know if my film has sound?

A Super 8mm strip of film with stereo sound. For "mono" films, the stripe is only on the side opposite the sprockets.	A 16mm strip of film with stereo sound. Older or "mono" sound will only have the one "wiggly" stripe. Note there is only one set of sprocket holes.

Regular 8mm film won't have sound.

Super 8mm film will have a stripe of coppery or sometimes silvery metal along the edge opposite the sprocket holes. If it's stereo, there will be a similar, thinner stripe one the same edge as the sprocket holes.

16mm film with sound is "optical". There will be a stripe opposite the sprocket holes, varying in width. The stripe is transparent. Stereo 16mm will have a pair of these stripes.

What do I get when I use your service?

A typical order includes:

• One "Virgin Master" MiniDV - this is the core of the transfer. A color corrected, image enhanced "re-shoot" of your film in digital video form.
• One MiniDV backup of the master - because your film has survived the danger of being unique long enough.
• One "Confirmation" DVD made from your master MiniDV. This is sent to you before your MiniDV master so you can preview our work and get us to do any corrections they may need doing before we finalize the work.
• Four DVD copies from your master MiniDV.

For every hour (one "volume") of film you send to be transferred.
We are happy to provide options such as:

• Replacing the MiniDV backup with a Digital8 backup.
• Reducing the number of DVD copies included.
• Leaving the DVD "silent" (no music).

What's on the media is your home movies, effectively re-shot by producers who know their art. They adjust the color balance, black-to-white contrast, and make sure the film is as sharp and clear as it can be made.

Why so many DVDs?

Few of the projects we do for folks are for just one person or one family. The DVDs will be passed to others, and we think you should give them two DVDs. They will inevitably show a more distant family member who will recognize someone in the film, and ask "Can I borrow that so my nephew's son's boss's daughter's boyfriend can make a copy of that?" which puts your family member in the unenviable position of saying "yes" and not seeing the DVD for another 6 years, or saying "no" and having the asking family member angry at them for 6 years. If they have a second copy to loan out, they don't have to make the choice.

Do I get my film back?

Yes you do - the film will have been gently cleaned (unless cleaning it risks damaging the film) and, in the case of small spools, collected on to larger reels.

How do I narfle the garthok?

For the best (and only effective) method, please see the film "Coneheads".

Can I copy the DVDs and MiniDVs you send us?

Yes! Nothing we send you is copy-protected in any way - because the memories belong to you and your family.

Can I edit out parts I don't want to keep?

Yes! The format of the MiniDV master and backup tapes happens to be well suited to editing - and is in fact a preferred format for small productions.

What format is the "virgin master" in?

The "virgin master" is a MiniDV tape. The format used is the DV standard - used by all MiniDV camcorders and editing decks. If you're planning on editing your transfer on your computer, you will find that your editing software naturally knows how to use the DV format.

How about slides?

We don't do slides.