AFT-L FAQ Maintainer
2004-04-11 23:08:43 UTC
For those who have any Original Retail Boxed Tapes, and have been viewing them for quite awhile, remember, unless you have
any of the newly made Canadian or Foreign releases, your videos are degrading!!
Here are a few facts about VHS versus DVD, and again our transfer fee for up to 2 hours is only $25.00!!
As you read this, your video tapes are slowly deteriorating. It is a sad fact, but magnetic tapes do not last. They start to
degrade after only a couple of years, and after a few more years, you will begin to see a noticeable difference in the video
quality. You may notice that your video is not as sharp as it used to be, or there is some intermittent snow in the video, color
distortion, or even missing parts on the tape. Soon you will not even be able to play your video at all! So what can you do to
preserve your precious videos??
Let us professionally transfer your video tapes to high-quality DVD with Dolby Digital sound! Your video will last beyond a
lifetime, and your video will be preserved for generations to come!
DVD's offer many advantages such as:
- No rewinding!
- There is no magnetic coating that can wear away with each use, which is the case with tapes
- Menus and chapter points (bookmarks) allow you to skip to certain scenes instantly
- Quick forward/backward scanning and searching
- DVDs take up less space than VHS tapes
- Since a DVD is digital, any copies are exactly the same as the original with no loss of quality!
- A DVD can be put into a computer so that you can capture still scenes for printing photos.
- Zoom-in features (if your DVD player supports it)
- If handled properly (like a CD), a DVD can last over 100 years!
For the reasons above and many more, DVDs are becoming the mainstream, and VHS is becoming obsolete.
At ORTMAN Enterprises, we use a high-end digital transfer system to accurately duplicate your video to the highest quality possible
before burning to a high-quality DVD with Dolby Digital sound.
DVD & Transfer Questions:
What is a chapter point?
Think of a chapter point as a bookmark. Your DVD will contain chapter points at each major scene change. These allow you to
instantly access scenes from the menu, and skip forward or backwards from chapter to chapter using your remote.
Will my DVD have menus for navigation?
Yes, absolutely! Unless you specify that you do not want any menus, all of our DVD transfers include menus.
How long will my DVD last?
If handled properly (like a CD), a DVD can be expected to last for over 100 years (possibly much longer)! Also, because playing it
won't wear it out, your DVD will have the same high quality in the future as it does today. Your memories will be preserved for
generations to come!
Why do VHS (or other format tapes) lose quality?
In as little as a couple of years, the magnetic particles that make up the picture and sound on your videotapes begin wear off of
the plastic tape. Some of the tape is rubbed off every time you play it. Stray magnetic fields in your environment also cause signal
loss on the tape, even when it is not being played. In addition, if you copy your tape, the copy will be of lesser quality. So
copies of a tape are even further degraded in quality from the original. None of these things can happen with a DVD! Transferring
your video to a digital DVD eliminates the threat of losing any more of your video's quality. In addition, your DVD can be copied
without any quality loss at all. By the way, since your original master tape has the least quality loss, it is recommended that you
send that to us for transferring!
How much video will fit onto my DVD?
We can transfer up to 2 hours of high quality video from your tape. If your tape contains only 1 hour or less, we will be able to
take advantage of even higher encoding bit rates to produce a super-high quality DVD.
Can't you squeeze more than 2 hours on a DVD?
While it is technically possible to transfer more than 2 hours onto a DVD, it greatly reduces the quality of the DVD. In order to
do this, you need to lower the bit rate and quality of the video and audio. We do not do this because we use only a high-quality
true DVD transfer process. Therefore, we will to transfer up to a maximum of 2 hours onto a DVD. If your video is longer than that,
additional DVDs should be ordered.
How long does it take to create my DVD?
This depends on the complexity of your order. Highly customized orders sometimes take longer. We will send you a confirmation
e-mail as soon as we receive your tape(s). Our turnaround time is usually less than a week, but you should allow 5-10 days for
processing.
What tape formats do you transfer?
Formats we accept are: VHS, VHS-C, SVHS, SVHS-C, Beta, Super Beta tapes. We also transfer NTSC, PAL, and SECAM Formats.
My VHS tape has already begun to degrade, and there is some color distortion and flickery video. Will converting it to DVD fix
these problems??
Please keep in mind that the quality of your DVD is totally dependent on the quality of the source tape. Although we cannot
greatly improve the quality of your video or guarantee that we can eliminate all the degradation artifacts, we do use time-base
correction and digital noise reduction to remove extraneous picture noise and flickering that sometimes occur on older or poorly
reproduced tapes. However, if it is already too late, and your video is in fairly bad condition, unfortunately, transferring to a
DVD will not repair a degraded tape. The good news is that you discovered it, and are able to have your video transferred to DVD now
before it is gone forever!!
Do you transfer PAL format tapes?
Yes we convert PAL or SECAM video tapes to NTSC DVD
.
Is it true that I can play my DVD in my computer?
Yes, it's true. If your computer has a DVD-ROM drive, your video will be playable in it, provided you have DVD player software
installed (such as PowerDVD or WinDVD). Additionally, you will be able to capture frames from your video to print as photos or save
as screen backgrounds.
Do you use cheap stand-alone consumer grade DVD recorders?
Certainly not! Our state of the art, high-end digital transfer system ensures that your video is reproduced with at least the same
quality as your original, so there is no degradation introduced during the transfer process. Additionally, we use a time-base
corrector and digital noise reduction to eliminate any extraneous noise or flickers common on an older or poorly reproduced tape.
I've seen ads from some services that transfer DVDs onto CD-ROM discs using a CD burner. Do you produce these low-priced video
CDS on CD-ROM discs?
Absolutely not! First, the ads you've seen for those services are misleading. It is possible to heavily compress video onto a CD
that some DVD players can read, but these discs are NOT DVDs. They are called video CDs (VCDs), and are drastically inferior in
quality, plus they do not provide menus, chapter points, or the ability to fast-forward through them like a DVD. Secondly, VCD
video quality is worse than VHS in EP or SLP mode!
Do you produce inferior video CDs as some of your competitors do, placing video on a regular cheap CD-ROM?
No. Again, we use only true DVD specifications to produce high-quality genuine DVDs.
Do you use inferior MPEG-1 encoding?
We use only MPEG-2 video and high variable bit rates for true DVD quality encoding. In addition, the DVDs we produce are in Dolby
Digital sound.
Do you use lower bit rates, meaning you could end up with dropped frames or audio problems?
No. Your video will be encoded at the highest bit rate possible to maximize the quality of your DVD.
What if the DVD I receive is defective or damaged?
Each and every DVD we send out is inspected for any scratches or physical defects. We will not send out any visibly defective
discs - not even with a tiny scratch. All DVDs are also briefly scanned for video recording defects. However, if upon watching
your DVD, you discover any video recording defects that we may have missed (not physical defects) that are not evident on your
original source recording, please contact us and we will re-transfer your video free of charge after you return your DVD(s) and
tape(s) to us for inspection and after we have determined that the issue is not due to DVD player incompatibility. If your order
was damaged by the carrier during shipping, you should submit a claim to the carrier for any damage or losses.
Do you edit my video at all or take out blank footage?
Your video is transferred to DVD exactly as is. We do not edit your video or delete any dead footage unless you have ordered
custom editing. If you are interested in having any edits done, please contact us for an editing quote.
I experienced audio/video synchronization problems with another transfer service. Will the DVD you transfer have this problem?
Not at all! If your audio and video are in sync on your original tape, it will be in sync on your DVD. Because we use only
high-end equipment and processes, we can assure you that your audio and video will not be thrown out of sync.
Ordering & Shipping Questions:
How can I make sure my video reaches you safely?
You can always send your package with delivery confirmation, or even a signature request although it is not necessary. We have a
secure P.O. Box held by the U.S. Postal Service. This means that your priceless video(s) are not sitting outside all day in
someone's home mailbox in extreme temperatures, which can be detrimental to your video. Therefore, you are assured that your video
will reach us safely, and in the same quality as when you originally sent it.
Will my tape be returned to me?
Yes, you can rest assured that your tape(s) will be professionally handled and safely returned to you along with your finished
DVD(s).
What payment methods do you accept?
At the present time, we accept checks and money orders. Also for your convenience, we accept either instant bank account or
credit card payments via secure online payment systems.
Can I order copies of my DVD?
Yes, you can order additional copies of your DVD(s) with your order for less than half the cost of the original DVD. If you need
to order copies of other DVDs you already own (except for commercial or copyrighted material), just send your DVD in with your order
form.
Can I order copies of a commercial or copyrighted video?
We will not knowingly violate any copyright laws. Therefore we do not accept any type of copyright material unless either 1) it
is accompanied by a signed waiver giving permission from the copyright owner, or 2) it falls under the "fair use" exception to the
copyright laws, which entitles you to make one backup copy of a video that you own and will keep the original material, do not plan
to show publicly, will not distribute or sell, and (in the case of a videotaped television show), is not available for sale
commercially to the public.
Miscellaneous Questions:
Could you provide references?
Because our privacy policy does not permit us to disclose our customers' names or any personal information, we may not provide
reference information to you. However, we can assure you that we have had many customers (including corporate and government
clients) whose expectations we have not only met, but exceeded.
Do you fix broken videotapes?
Please do not send in broken video tapes, as we do not provide repair service. If we receive a broken videotape, we will either
return it to you or offer to repair it at a charge of $20 (assuming it is a basic repair that we are able to perform). However, if
a videotape becomes broken during transfer, we will perform a basic repair at no charge.
Will my video be kept confidential?
The contents of all your material is kept strictly confidential, and we respect your right to privacy. At no time will any
contents or material be disclosed to a third party. Also, since our transfer process is semi-automatic, we do not view customers'
videos (besides, it would impossible to watch all videos even if we wanted to!). Completed DVD projects are briefly scanned for
quality, and your video may be reviewed in the case of technical problems only. In addition, all information and data is wiped
from our equipment after you safely receive your discs. We do not hold any copies of your material, nor use it for any purpose
whatsoever without your direct written consent.
How do you keep your prices so reasonable compared to other video transfer services?
First of all, unlike some others offering a similar service, we are not a large corporation. We do not buy large racks of highly
expensive automated machines - that the customer is actually paying for. We use high-end state-of-the art digital transfer systems
that produce the same (or better) quality DVD as the more expensive automated systems. Secondly, we do not employ a large staff, but
a small expert staff to ensure your video receives individual attention. For these reasons, we are also able to provide better
"quality control", and your video will not get "lost" in a large company where it passes through dozens of hands before it is
finally finished. Finally, we do what we do, and we do it well - compared to other companies that only "dabble" in DVD transfer as
a side-business, while their main business or area of focus may be something entirely different such as consulting, photography, or
web site design.
any of the newly made Canadian or Foreign releases, your videos are degrading!!
Here are a few facts about VHS versus DVD, and again our transfer fee for up to 2 hours is only $25.00!!
As you read this, your video tapes are slowly deteriorating. It is a sad fact, but magnetic tapes do not last. They start to
degrade after only a couple of years, and after a few more years, you will begin to see a noticeable difference in the video
quality. You may notice that your video is not as sharp as it used to be, or there is some intermittent snow in the video, color
distortion, or even missing parts on the tape. Soon you will not even be able to play your video at all! So what can you do to
preserve your precious videos??
Let us professionally transfer your video tapes to high-quality DVD with Dolby Digital sound! Your video will last beyond a
lifetime, and your video will be preserved for generations to come!
DVD's offer many advantages such as:
- No rewinding!
- There is no magnetic coating that can wear away with each use, which is the case with tapes
- Menus and chapter points (bookmarks) allow you to skip to certain scenes instantly
- Quick forward/backward scanning and searching
- DVDs take up less space than VHS tapes
- Since a DVD is digital, any copies are exactly the same as the original with no loss of quality!
- A DVD can be put into a computer so that you can capture still scenes for printing photos.
- Zoom-in features (if your DVD player supports it)
- If handled properly (like a CD), a DVD can last over 100 years!
For the reasons above and many more, DVDs are becoming the mainstream, and VHS is becoming obsolete.
At ORTMAN Enterprises, we use a high-end digital transfer system to accurately duplicate your video to the highest quality possible
before burning to a high-quality DVD with Dolby Digital sound.
DVD & Transfer Questions:
What is a chapter point?
Think of a chapter point as a bookmark. Your DVD will contain chapter points at each major scene change. These allow you to
instantly access scenes from the menu, and skip forward or backwards from chapter to chapter using your remote.
Will my DVD have menus for navigation?
Yes, absolutely! Unless you specify that you do not want any menus, all of our DVD transfers include menus.
How long will my DVD last?
If handled properly (like a CD), a DVD can be expected to last for over 100 years (possibly much longer)! Also, because playing it
won't wear it out, your DVD will have the same high quality in the future as it does today. Your memories will be preserved for
generations to come!
Why do VHS (or other format tapes) lose quality?
In as little as a couple of years, the magnetic particles that make up the picture and sound on your videotapes begin wear off of
the plastic tape. Some of the tape is rubbed off every time you play it. Stray magnetic fields in your environment also cause signal
loss on the tape, even when it is not being played. In addition, if you copy your tape, the copy will be of lesser quality. So
copies of a tape are even further degraded in quality from the original. None of these things can happen with a DVD! Transferring
your video to a digital DVD eliminates the threat of losing any more of your video's quality. In addition, your DVD can be copied
without any quality loss at all. By the way, since your original master tape has the least quality loss, it is recommended that you
send that to us for transferring!
How much video will fit onto my DVD?
We can transfer up to 2 hours of high quality video from your tape. If your tape contains only 1 hour or less, we will be able to
take advantage of even higher encoding bit rates to produce a super-high quality DVD.
Can't you squeeze more than 2 hours on a DVD?
While it is technically possible to transfer more than 2 hours onto a DVD, it greatly reduces the quality of the DVD. In order to
do this, you need to lower the bit rate and quality of the video and audio. We do not do this because we use only a high-quality
true DVD transfer process. Therefore, we will to transfer up to a maximum of 2 hours onto a DVD. If your video is longer than that,
additional DVDs should be ordered.
How long does it take to create my DVD?
This depends on the complexity of your order. Highly customized orders sometimes take longer. We will send you a confirmation
e-mail as soon as we receive your tape(s). Our turnaround time is usually less than a week, but you should allow 5-10 days for
processing.
What tape formats do you transfer?
Formats we accept are: VHS, VHS-C, SVHS, SVHS-C, Beta, Super Beta tapes. We also transfer NTSC, PAL, and SECAM Formats.
My VHS tape has already begun to degrade, and there is some color distortion and flickery video. Will converting it to DVD fix
these problems??
Please keep in mind that the quality of your DVD is totally dependent on the quality of the source tape. Although we cannot
greatly improve the quality of your video or guarantee that we can eliminate all the degradation artifacts, we do use time-base
correction and digital noise reduction to remove extraneous picture noise and flickering that sometimes occur on older or poorly
reproduced tapes. However, if it is already too late, and your video is in fairly bad condition, unfortunately, transferring to a
DVD will not repair a degraded tape. The good news is that you discovered it, and are able to have your video transferred to DVD now
before it is gone forever!!
Do you transfer PAL format tapes?
Yes we convert PAL or SECAM video tapes to NTSC DVD
.
Is it true that I can play my DVD in my computer?
Yes, it's true. If your computer has a DVD-ROM drive, your video will be playable in it, provided you have DVD player software
installed (such as PowerDVD or WinDVD). Additionally, you will be able to capture frames from your video to print as photos or save
as screen backgrounds.
Do you use cheap stand-alone consumer grade DVD recorders?
Certainly not! Our state of the art, high-end digital transfer system ensures that your video is reproduced with at least the same
quality as your original, so there is no degradation introduced during the transfer process. Additionally, we use a time-base
corrector and digital noise reduction to eliminate any extraneous noise or flickers common on an older or poorly reproduced tape.
I've seen ads from some services that transfer DVDs onto CD-ROM discs using a CD burner. Do you produce these low-priced video
CDS on CD-ROM discs?
Absolutely not! First, the ads you've seen for those services are misleading. It is possible to heavily compress video onto a CD
that some DVD players can read, but these discs are NOT DVDs. They are called video CDs (VCDs), and are drastically inferior in
quality, plus they do not provide menus, chapter points, or the ability to fast-forward through them like a DVD. Secondly, VCD
video quality is worse than VHS in EP or SLP mode!
Do you produce inferior video CDs as some of your competitors do, placing video on a regular cheap CD-ROM?
No. Again, we use only true DVD specifications to produce high-quality genuine DVDs.
Do you use inferior MPEG-1 encoding?
We use only MPEG-2 video and high variable bit rates for true DVD quality encoding. In addition, the DVDs we produce are in Dolby
Digital sound.
Do you use lower bit rates, meaning you could end up with dropped frames or audio problems?
No. Your video will be encoded at the highest bit rate possible to maximize the quality of your DVD.
What if the DVD I receive is defective or damaged?
Each and every DVD we send out is inspected for any scratches or physical defects. We will not send out any visibly defective
discs - not even with a tiny scratch. All DVDs are also briefly scanned for video recording defects. However, if upon watching
your DVD, you discover any video recording defects that we may have missed (not physical defects) that are not evident on your
original source recording, please contact us and we will re-transfer your video free of charge after you return your DVD(s) and
tape(s) to us for inspection and after we have determined that the issue is not due to DVD player incompatibility. If your order
was damaged by the carrier during shipping, you should submit a claim to the carrier for any damage or losses.
Do you edit my video at all or take out blank footage?
Your video is transferred to DVD exactly as is. We do not edit your video or delete any dead footage unless you have ordered
custom editing. If you are interested in having any edits done, please contact us for an editing quote.
I experienced audio/video synchronization problems with another transfer service. Will the DVD you transfer have this problem?
Not at all! If your audio and video are in sync on your original tape, it will be in sync on your DVD. Because we use only
high-end equipment and processes, we can assure you that your audio and video will not be thrown out of sync.
Ordering & Shipping Questions:
How can I make sure my video reaches you safely?
You can always send your package with delivery confirmation, or even a signature request although it is not necessary. We have a
secure P.O. Box held by the U.S. Postal Service. This means that your priceless video(s) are not sitting outside all day in
someone's home mailbox in extreme temperatures, which can be detrimental to your video. Therefore, you are assured that your video
will reach us safely, and in the same quality as when you originally sent it.
Will my tape be returned to me?
Yes, you can rest assured that your tape(s) will be professionally handled and safely returned to you along with your finished
DVD(s).
What payment methods do you accept?
At the present time, we accept checks and money orders. Also for your convenience, we accept either instant bank account or
credit card payments via secure online payment systems.
Can I order copies of my DVD?
Yes, you can order additional copies of your DVD(s) with your order for less than half the cost of the original DVD. If you need
to order copies of other DVDs you already own (except for commercial or copyrighted material), just send your DVD in with your order
form.
Can I order copies of a commercial or copyrighted video?
We will not knowingly violate any copyright laws. Therefore we do not accept any type of copyright material unless either 1) it
is accompanied by a signed waiver giving permission from the copyright owner, or 2) it falls under the "fair use" exception to the
copyright laws, which entitles you to make one backup copy of a video that you own and will keep the original material, do not plan
to show publicly, will not distribute or sell, and (in the case of a videotaped television show), is not available for sale
commercially to the public.
Miscellaneous Questions:
Could you provide references?
Because our privacy policy does not permit us to disclose our customers' names or any personal information, we may not provide
reference information to you. However, we can assure you that we have had many customers (including corporate and government
clients) whose expectations we have not only met, but exceeded.
Do you fix broken videotapes?
Please do not send in broken video tapes, as we do not provide repair service. If we receive a broken videotape, we will either
return it to you or offer to repair it at a charge of $20 (assuming it is a basic repair that we are able to perform). However, if
a videotape becomes broken during transfer, we will perform a basic repair at no charge.
Will my video be kept confidential?
The contents of all your material is kept strictly confidential, and we respect your right to privacy. At no time will any
contents or material be disclosed to a third party. Also, since our transfer process is semi-automatic, we do not view customers'
videos (besides, it would impossible to watch all videos even if we wanted to!). Completed DVD projects are briefly scanned for
quality, and your video may be reviewed in the case of technical problems only. In addition, all information and data is wiped
from our equipment after you safely receive your discs. We do not hold any copies of your material, nor use it for any purpose
whatsoever without your direct written consent.
How do you keep your prices so reasonable compared to other video transfer services?
First of all, unlike some others offering a similar service, we are not a large corporation. We do not buy large racks of highly
expensive automated machines - that the customer is actually paying for. We use high-end state-of-the art digital transfer systems
that produce the same (or better) quality DVD as the more expensive automated systems. Secondly, we do not employ a large staff, but
a small expert staff to ensure your video receives individual attention. For these reasons, we are also able to provide better
"quality control", and your video will not get "lost" in a large company where it passes through dozens of hands before it is
finally finished. Finally, we do what we do, and we do it well - compared to other companies that only "dabble" in DVD transfer as
a side-business, while their main business or area of focus may be something entirely different such as consulting, photography, or
web site design.