Cine to DVD – achieving the best conversions

We’ve been getting more cine to DVD enquiries lately – as well as tons of VHS and videotape to DVD conversions.  There still seems to be reels and reels of cine film out there just waiting to be loved again so I thought I’d better update my conversion process to match the interest.

Cine to DVD
Cine to DVD conversions – time to update your memories

I’ve always tried to retain as much of the original film quality as possible during the transfer process.  I don’t claim to do a piles and piles of cine to DVD each year but the stuff I do carry out is done with tender loving care.  The final result makes the whole family archive viewing process much more enjoyable… just pop the DVD in your player and you’re off.  No more family arguments as everyone struggles to set up a screen, projector and then feed in sprocket-chewed cine film.  More often than not these days the client simply doesn’t have a working projector so those precious memories never see the light of day.

I don’t have the throughput to justify the highly automated frame-scanner converters but believe I still turn out a pretty reasonable job using the much-used projector and video camera system.  Basically, the film image is projected through a mirror set at 45-degrees and then on to rear side of an opaque screen – which is then filmed from its front side with a video camera.

I use a Canon DSLR as my capture camera which gives me a full HD video which is then edited, tweaked, cropped, compiled and then output to a standard definition DVD.  Capturing at full HD does give me the option of supplying it to the client in Blu-Ray format too – but the vast majority end up on DVD.

The results from this method can vary quite considerably depending on how the system is set up and the quality of the mirror/screen combination.  There are also some modifications to the standard projector that can be made to squeeze a little bit more out of the film stock.

Cine to DVD Projector Modifications

The vast majority of cine films that I convert are either Standard 8mm or Super 8mm (I can convert any gauge though).  The sprocket and frame size differ on these formats but a dual-gate projector can play both back happily.  Switching the projector between formats engages the correct sprocket gearing and alters the gate size within the projector so that the projected image has a nice and clean frame edge.  This is great for projection but the process also masks off part of the exposed image on the film.

Filing out these gate frames enables me to capture more of the original film content.  I can then crop the video files and re-frame the image in post production to ensure every little corner of the film is on screen.

Another modification to the projector that helps is to alter the quality of light coming out of the projector lamp.  These lamps tend to produce a very focussed source of light which is great for projection but not so good for cine to DVD conversions.  Diffusing this light source helps smooth out any hot spots and helps create a more evenly exposed image.

Projector
Converting a Eumig 502D for Cine to DVD – adding diffusion to the lamp

Projection Perfection

The really rudimentary method of cine to DVD conversion is to simply project your film image on a wall or screen and then film that with your video camera.  This has one major disadvantage as your projector will have to have a slightly different angle of approach to the wall/screen than your video camera (they can’t both be in exactly the same position).  The image will therefore never be truly square and your focus will vary slightly from one side of the image to the other.  You’ll also have to do this in darkness as your room lights will need to be turned off in order to get a clear image on the wall/screen.  It works, but it’s not brilliant.

You can of course buy a purpose made cine to DVD conversion screen – and they will help you to get a better conversion than the method above.  However, the cheap conversion screens have a fundamental flaw in that the mirrors are generally standard back-coated.  Light passing through the mirror will split when it hits the front surface of this glass – part of which passes through the mirror and back out to the rear side of the opaque screen and part reflected directly off the mirror front surface.  This causes a slight double-image to be projected on to the opaque screen and a conversion that isn’t as sharp as it could be.

Good quality cine to DVD conversion screens overcome this problem by using front surface mirrors.  All of the light from the projector therefore bounces through the light path as one image – giving a much sharper conversion.

Cine to DVD Black Box

Excluding light from the projected image is important too to help you capture the widest possible contrast.  Some of the basic converters have no light exclusion at all, whilst others acknowledge the problem but only provide minimal hooding over the front surface of the opaque screen.  A simple rule – the more light excluded from the front surface the better.

To get the very best quality conversions I’ve built my own cine to DVD black box unit as there didn’t seem to be an off the shelf solution that solved all the problems.  This includes a porthole suitable for most projectors, made to measure front surface mirror and opaque rear projection screen – all housed in a light exclusion matt black box with enough hooding to enable me to operate it in a fully lit room.

Cine Black Box
Cine to DVD Black Box – with roof taken off

The front surface mirror was specially made for me by Vacuum Coatings Ltd of Walthamstow who specialise in all kinds optical coatings and scientific mirrors (they provide the glass for Autocue too apparently).  They also hand-frosted the front projection screen for me too.  The box construction is MDF.

So now the system and process is all tested, tweaked and ready for the next cine to DVD job to come in.  I’m not the cheapest guy around for this service but I like to think I do a good job.  You can get it done a lot cheaper in fact, but I think those guys know their worth better than me so I won’t comment. ; )

For details on our cine to DVD pricing please click here.  If you are not sure how much film you’ve got please give us a call for a quote.

Video to DVD

For videotapes and cine films to USB or DVD visit our sister website Tapes2USB
Click on the image above to visit our sister website, Tapes2USB, for information on our videotape to USB or DVD Services

PLEASE VISIT WWW.TAPES2USB.CO.UK

Are you looking for a great local Video to DVD or MP4 Conversion service? 

Pricing – Video to DVD

Our video to DVD service is simple, fast and so cost effective.  We make a direct copy of your videotapes to a single-layer recordable DVD – which can be played back in either your DVD player or on your computer. Each tape will be recorded to its own DVD and compressed according to the duration on the tape. (for further information please read our blog article here)

Cost for each tape converted 
Up to 2-hours = £20.00
(additional copies = £4.00 ea)
Over 2-hours = £25.00
(additional copies = £6.00 ea)
BIG DISCOUNTS FOR BULK ORDERS – SO CALL FOR DETAILS

Pricing – Video to MP4 on USB stick

Our videotape to MP4 on USB stick service is a really neat way to preserve your memories. We will digitise your videotapes and convert them to MP4 at the most effective compression ratio to maintain the original quality, and then supply them on our branded 32GB USB stick/s.  Each USB stick can contain up to 24-hrs of video* – enabling you to store many tapes in a very compact medium.   (For more information on video to MP4 please read our blog article here)  *Duration of video depends on the original quality. The example given is typical of VHS, Betamax, 8mm, VHS-C and other standard definition videotape formats.  As a result High definition digital video formats will require more USB space.

Cost for each tape converted 
Up to 2-hours = £20.00
(additional copies = £10.00 ea)
Over 2-hours = £25.00
(additional copies = £10.00 ea)
BIG DISCOUNTS FOR BULK ORDERS – SO CALL FOR DETAILS

Contact us now!

Kevin Cook F.Inst.V. (Hon.)
Tel: +44 (0) 203 602 3356 Mobile: +44 (0) 777 153 5692
Email: kevin@video-artisan.com

Studio – Off Clays Lane, Loughton, Essex IG10 2SA – United Kingdom
Office – 174 Roding Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 3BS – United Kingdom
Connect…  Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn

Drop off & collection

During normal office hours you can drop off your Video to DVD orders to our Loughton Studios in Clays Lane (see map here).  You can also drop off evenings and weekends to 174 Roding Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 3BS.  Please call first to ensure we are not out filming – 020 3602 3356.

We are ideally situated to serve the Loughton, Debden, Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell, Epping, Woodford, Chingford and Theydon Bois communities.  We are also served by the Central Line and very close to junction 26 of the M25 – therefore allowing us to serve the Essex and East London and Central London customer.

Mail Order

If you would rather, we are also happy to carry work out by mail order.  Please contact us for more details – 020 3602 3356.


Videotape conversions carried out with care

Since VHS and other videotape players are disappearing fast, now is the perfect time to preserve your precious memories with our Video to DVD or MP4 conversion service. We can convert your videotapes to either DVD or MP4 quickly and at the highest quality to ensure your home videos and other important memories are digitally preserved for you and your family – and for generations to come. Common video transfer formats include VHS, VHS-C, 8mm, Hi8, Digital 8, DV, Betamax, MiniDV, DVCAM – and we can therefore pretty much any other format to another format of your choice.

Video to DVD Conversion service
Read on for details on our quality Video to DVD conversion services
Videotape to MP4 on USB sticks
Videotape to MP4 on USB sticks

Our video to MP4 conversions are supplied on USB stick. These can be played back directly on either modern TV sets, on computers and tablets, via media servers or in games consoles. USB sticks can also be easily copied and backed up without any specialist software.  Furthermore our MP4 files are also ready to be uploaded to YouTube so you can share your memories with family and friends around the world.  For more details on the benefits of videotape to MP4 see our blog entry here – www.video-artisan.com/videotape-to-mp4/


Further information

If you’re not quite ready to get your tapes converted, please watch this public information film on how best to store your tapes until you are ready to get them digitized.


Other formats and cine film conversions

We can also convert many other video, film, photo and slide formats – so it’s probably always worth giving us a call for a quotation!

Terms & Conditions of VHS to DVD or MP4 Conversion Service

1. We assume that you have full copyright clearance to instruct us to copy any materials on your behalf. We do however reserve the right to decline offering you this service if we believe copyright clearance probably has not been obtained or the material is in violation of any laws or could expose us to any private or public litigation.

2. Unless otherwise agreed, payment for any of these video transfer services is upon delivery of the completed works.

3. Any liability for the damage or loss of materials which occurs during the video transfer process will be limited to the replacement of the blank media, howsoever caused. We do not accept any liability for the contents within the recording.

4. Once we have supplied your DVD we will immediately delete this from our system. In conclusion any additional copies will therefore be charged at the full conversion rates listed above.

5. These special terms are in addition to our general terms and conditions of business are outlined here.

Video Production Services on East London and Essex border

Are you looking forward to creating engaging video content for your business? So are we!

Video production services

Corporate Video and Promotional Company Video Production services

Based on the edge of Epping Forest in Loughton, Essex – Video Artisan is a creative corporate video production company with extensive experience in helping companies and organisations of all sizes take advantage of video.

Whether you are looking to harness the power of YouTube or website video to improve your search engine optimisation, or you want to develop a series of public information films – or create a one-off company film, Video Artisan has the skills, resources and creative talents to deliver an imaginative and cost-effective solution for your next company video.

Our location is perfect for servicing London, Essex, Harlow and South Eastern England with London Underground connections, the M25 and Stansted Airport very close to our studio edit facilities on the edge of Epping Forest.

Services, Facilities, Freelance Cameraman and Editing Assignments

We also offer a range of video conversion services.  This includes video to DVD, videotape to MP4 file, VHS to DVD, VHS-C to DVD, 8m to DVD, camcorder to DVD, Cine to DVD, standards conversions and DVD duplication.

So, Click here to see our section on how we can help convert your precious video tapes for you now.

In addition, we offer freelance camera operator and video editing services to client producers, agencies and other video production companies. With various cameras, lenses, camera mount systems, rails, sliders, dollies, lighting and sound kit we can cater for most video assignments.

Corporate video production services for all business applications

Video Artisan – the video production company of choice for your next business film or video media project. Plus edit studio facilities and videotape to DVD and USB conversions.

For more information, please call today on +44 (0) 20 3602 3356. Here are just some of the services we can offer…

Promotional Video – Corporate Video Production – Web & YouTube video – Training Films – Product launch Promos – Event filming – Multi & Single-camera Conference Coverage – Video Blogging – Video Search Engine Optimisation – Format Conversions and Duplication – Freelance Videography – Freelance Cameraman – Freelance Editor.

How much does a corporate video production cost?
See our useful article here!

Providing worldwide coverage from our studios in Loughton, Essex.
Only 30-minutes from Central London and Stansted Airport – 5-minutes from Britain’s Motorway Network – 1-minute from the beauty of Epping Forest.

Fully insured and compliant to H&S regulations – Full Member of the Guild of Television Cameramen

Full Member of the Guild of Television Cameramen

A bit about Kevin Cook

Video Artisan is the creation of Kevin Cook – an award-winning videographer, blogger, author and journalist. Kevin has been at the forefront of videography and marketing video production in the UK since 1985.

Furthermore, Kevin is also an avid beekeeper!

Please see the links above for details on how Video Artisan can help you to develop your company video strategy.

Click here to see our latest showreel and list of clients.