What
transfer method do you use?
Our exclusive Phoenix 2k system uses innovative technology to gently guide the film over the scanner, where digital images are made of each and every cell of your film. You may have heard this referred to as a 'frame scanning'. There is no screen involved so no loss of quality or blurriness is possible. This is a clear, sharp scan of every single cell of your film.
These images are then built up to form a movie. Once on the computer, the film is cleaned up manually by our expert team of graphic artists.
then through the software, with careful editing to remove
unwanted sections such as leader-tape. Finally, your editor will watch each section of film and apply colour correction
filters to restore the natural colours and remove many of the horrible
tints caused over time.
Tell me about "TV Cropping"
TV Cropping is something that differs greatly between makes of Television set. It affects the amount of picture you see on screen when playing a DVD or Blu-ray. We have further information about this on our support page.
My film is damaged - can it still be transferred?
Yes. We specialise in very old, damaged film at Alive Studios so we have no problem handling it.
We do not generally charge any more money for film that is in a poor state, but if we do feel it requires additional time we would always tell you as soon as we saw it so you have no worry about your price increasing.
Where splices break, we repair them without charge. If a film is temperamental and doesn't want to go through we will always try it in several machines to make sure it's had it's best shot at a transfer. Where sprocket holes are punctured or torn, we will still transfer the film, often with no visible problems. However, some sprocket damage prevents a steady image from being obtained, in which case we transfer the whole film, then edit out any sections which 'jump' or drag because of the damage. This way we keep as much film as possible, and with careful editing you don't even notice any is missing.
What
is the best way to archive my footage?
Alive Studios strongly
recommend customers to order an archive copy
of their transfer on DV or HDV tapes.
This
highly versatile, high quality, long-lasting
format allows you to easily edit your films
at a later date, and the nature of the tape
is very durable and far harder to damage than
a DVD. Whilst many customers order AVI files
for editing,
you will find a miniDV or HDV (hi-Def) tape a
better permanent storage format.
If you want to safely store this important film for generations to come, then
this is a great option.
(for commercial use, we also offer DV Cam and ProRes)
Do
you edit out the leader tape?
Yes. We take out as much unused film as possible
including the leader tape at the start and end of
each reel.
Whilst we cannot remove everything without
charging for a full edit, we do endeavor to remove
as much unused
film as possible.
Media format times
How much film will fit on each DVD/Blu-ray or tape?
1h 20mins for
DVD - 2h for Blu-ray - 1h for miniDV or HDV - 18mins for AVI & QuickTime Discs - 184mins for DVCam
Do
you keep a backup?
Yes. we retain a backup of the DVD's
we produce for 30 days You
can request extra copies on DVD within 30 days for just £15. (This allows upto 6 hours of film. If you have more than 6 hours, then you will be charged £15 for every 6 hours). (we do not make backups of Blu-ray discs, mini DV tapes or uncompressed formats).
Can
you transfer film with sound?
Yes. There is a charge of £40 per half hour of sound
What
are DVD/Blu-ray Menus?
Imagine the Index page of a book - A list
of chapters allowing you to quickly jump to any part
of the story with ease.
DVD/Blu-ray chapters are just the same. You have a main Index
screen which lists all the chapters. Using your DVD/Blu-ray remote
you can select the chapter you want to view and hey presto
you're there! No more fast-forwarding to your favourite
part, it's all at the touch of a button. DVD/Blu-ray Menus are
also great for recording important information about
each piece of film for your future generations - Who,
When and Where...
How
long will my order take?
Our normal turn-around is 2-3 weeks, but please
allow longer for busy periods such as Christmas. If
your order is needed for a particular date please call
the Studio and ask for a current lead-time, then clearly
indicate your desired date when ordering. We can sometimes
turn-around orders in a matter of days on special request
so if you've left it a little late for that important
anniversary do give us a call - it's worth asking!
Can
I post my order to you?
Yes. We operate a world-wide service so accept
orders from anywhere in the UK and abroad. When posting your reels please carefully wrap them in
bubble-wrap or other appropriate protective packaging,
then send using Special Delivery or a courier such as
TNT. If you want your reels returning by post please add £10
to your order.
Limited time only - Orders OVER £300 can request this collection service COMPLETELY FREE!!!
Call 01623 827643 to arrange your collection now.
We can also send our courier to your house or business to collect your parcel for you.
This costs £20 per box (up to 20kg). Call 01623 827643 to book. Collections can usually be made same-day if you phone us by midday.
Please note that cine films cannot be insured due to
their age and indeterminate value, so any insurance you
take out when posting will not be valid in the event
of a lost parcel. The most important thing is to make
sure you label the package as 'Fragile' and use a service
that is traceable such as special delivery or a courier.
Will
my DVD Play in the USA?
Our DVDs are region-free.
So as long as the TV can play PAL
then that's all you need to know.
If you
require a version in NTSC (USA Version) instead please specify this
with your order.
Do
you charge for mixed film?
No. You can mix any type of film in your order
for no extra charge.
Do you charge for film breaks?
No. Part of our service is putting together
broken splices.
What
are your terms and conditions?
Click
here to read them.
Can
I edit my DVD myself?
For full information about editing on your computer, please visit our support page
Do
you copy-protect the DVD's? or Blu-rays
No. You are free to make your own copies.
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