Video Transfer to MPEG-4 and Alive Cloud

1-4 tapes = £65 per tape
5-9 tapes = £58 per tape
10-39 tapes = £55 per tape
40+ tapes = £52 per tape

1-4 tapes = £85 per tape
5-9 tapes = £76 per tape
10-39 tapes = £72 per tape
40+ tapes = £68 per tape

1-9 Disc = £45 per disc
10-39 Disc = £40 per disc
40+ Disc = £38 per disc

We accept any type of video file.

Clear form
Tape Guide
Step 1

How many tapes do you have?

Step 1

How many tapes do you have?

£65 each

£85 each

£45 each

£55hr

£65 each

£85 each

£45 each

£55hr

Step 2

Do you want HD or Ultra HD ?

Step 2

Do you want HD or Ultra HD ?

Transfer In HD £0.00

Videos will be provided at 1920 x 1080

SELECTED

Transfer In 4K UHD £0.00

Videos will be provided at 3840 x 2160. Inc free HD version

CHOOSE
Step 3

File Format

Step 3

File Format

MPEG-4 (Recommended) £0

CHOOSE

ProRes £0

CHOOSE

MPEG-4 + ProRes £5

SELECTED

MPEG-4 + ProRes + Raw £10

CHOOSE
Step 4

USB Stick/HDD (you need at least XXGb)

Step 4

USB Stick/HDD (you need XXGb)

Calculate hours to GB

USB Stick

USB Stick

16GB
32GB
64GB
128GB
256GB
512GB

USB Stick

I will send my own stick
Provide suitable stick and invoice me

Quantity: 

0

£0.00

Hard Drive

Hard Drive

1TB - £70
2TB - £90
5TB - £150

Hard Drive

I will send my own stick
Provide suitable drive and invoice me

Quantity: 

0

£0.00

Step 5

Other Services:

Step 5

Other Services:

35mm Slides £0.00

35mm Slide 95p each

Add

Slides

7 Day Express £0.00

Adds 30% to the total order

CHOOSE
Step 6

Free Collection & Delivery:

Step 6

Free Collection & Delivery:

Collection

How are you getting your films to us?

Delivery

How would you like them returned?

Job Title:

You can update this later in your account

Step 7

About you:

Step 8

About You:

Do you have an account?   Yes      

Privacy Policy

Promo code

Enter Code
Add

Order Summary

   £0.00

Order Total (Inc VAT)

Continue Order
Save as a quote
Betamax Tape
VHS Tape
Video 2000 Tape
Hi8 Tape
MiniDV Tape
MicroMV Tape

BETAMAX AND SUPERBETA TAPES
Tape lengths: L-125 32 min, L-250 43 min, L-500 130 min, L-750 195 min Cassette size: 15.6cm x 9cm

VHS AND SUPER VHS (SVHS) TAPES
Tape lengths: upto 4 Hours SP / 8 Hours LP Cassette size: 18.7cm x 10.2cm

VIDEO 2000 (V2000)
Tape lengths: upto 4 Hours per side Cassette size: 18.3cm x 10.1cm

VHS-C AND SVHS-C TAPES
Tape lengths: 30 or 45 minutes SP Cassette size: 9.2cm x 5.8cm

VIDEO 8/Hi8 AND DIGITAL8 TAPES
Tape lengths: upto 135 minutes in SP Cassette size: 9.5cm x 6.2cm

MINIDV AND HDV
Tape lengths: upto 60 minutes in SP Cassette size: 6.6cm x 4.89cm

MICRO MV
Tape lengths: upto 60 minutes Cassette size: 5cm x 3.8cm

U-Matic Tape
Betacam Tape
Digital Betacam Tape
Betacam SX Tape
HDCAM Tape
DVCam Tape

U-MATIC TAPE
Tape lengths: U-Matic (Lo-Band) 74 mins, U-Matic (Hi-Band) 60 mins Full-size cassettes 21.9cm x 13.7cm Small cassettes 18.5cm x 12cm

BETACAM AND BETACAM SP TAPE
Tape lengths: up to 194 minutes Full-size cassettes 25.4cm x 14.5cm Small cassettes 15.6cm x 9.6cm

DIGITAL BETACAM TAPE
Tape lengths: up to 124 minutes Full-size cassettes 25.4cm x 14.5cm Small cassettes 15.6cm x 9.6cm

BETACAM SX AND MPEG IMX TAPE
Tape lengths: Betacam SX up to 194 minutes, MPEG IMX up to 220 minutes Full-size cassettes 25.4cm x 14.5cm Small cassettes 15.6cm x 9.6cm

HDCAM TAPE
Tape lengths: up to 124 minutes Full-size cassettes 25.4cm x 14.5cm Small cassettes 15.6cm x 9.6cm

DVCAM TAPE
Tape lengths: up to 124 minutes Full-size cassettes 13cm x 8.5cm Small cassettes 6.6cm x 48.9cm

What can we transfer?

Domestic Tapes in PAL or NTSC: VHS, VHSC, Betamax, Video 2000, Video8, Hi8, Digital8, MiniDV, HDV, Micro MV

Professional Tapes in PAL or NTSC: U-Matic, Betacam, Digital Betacam, HDCAM, DVCAM, DVCPRO

DVD/Blu-ray: All types of discs including mini discs

Files:
We accept any type of video file, whether from a camcorder, USB stick, memory stick, SD card, or similar device. You can either physically post the material to us on a USB stick or hard drive, which will be returned to you in the same way, or send us a link to download the file via platforms like WeTransfer or Google Drive.

We can return your finished files as a downloadable link or on a USB stick via post, depending on your preference.

As part of our service, we will remaster and enhance your videos as much as possible, including upscaling from SD to HD or 4K.

We will remaster/improve as much as possible including upscale from SD to HD/4K. Finished file(s) will be sent back on a USB stick.

We charge by the total footage rounded up to the nearest hour. To work out how many hours you have, simply drop all the files into VLC media player playlist and you’ll see it tells you the total running time of the whole collection. (if you don’t have VLC, it’s a free download from videolan.org)

HD or 4K Transfer: which one is right for you?

The first thing to consider is whether your tape is an original recording or a copy of another tape. If it’s a copy, an HD transfer is often the better choice. However, if you have an original recording, a 4K transfer can deliver outstanding results.

When deciding between HD and 4K transfers, think about your TV and how you plan to watch your videos. A 4K transfer is ideal for 4K TVs, offering incredible detail and clarity. While most 4K TVs upscale HD content, the quality of this upscaling can vary. Our advanced 4K upscaling technology, powered by Stable Diffusion AI and Teranex 4K hardware, ensures superior results that go beyond standard TV capabilities.

As a bonus, we include a free HD version, making it easy to enjoy your videos on non-4K screens as well

VHS tape upscaled to 4K

If you typically watch on smaller screens—like a TV under 40 inches, a tablet, or a smartphone—the HD transfer is a good option. It provides excellent clarity and is perfectly suited for these devices.

Which file format is right for you?

For most users, MPEG-4 is the ideal choice. It is widely compatible with nearly all devices, including TVs, smartphones, tablets, and platforms like YouTube, making it a versatile and convenient option.

For video editors or professionals, we recommend ProRes. This high-quality master format captures additional details, perfect for editing and fine-tuning before exporting to a more viewer-friendly format like MPEG-4.

Both MPEG-4 and ProRes formats include full AI remastering for enhanced quality. For those who prefer the raw, unprocessed footage, we offer a Non-AI Raw Transfer option. This provides a direct capture from our tape deck, preserving the original format including interlacing, if present and unaltered sound. This option is ideal for those who want to future-proof their videos, allowing you to apply the latest AI remastering technology later without needing a new transfer.
(The non-AI Raw option is supplied in ProRes format).

video formats

Our Non-Ai Raw transfer preserves the tape’s native resolution and dimensions. For example, if the source is in SD PAL format, the resolution will be 720x576i.

USB Stick or Hard Drive?

Choosing between a USB stick and a portable hard drive depends on your storage needs and how you plan to watch your transferred video. A USB stick is a compact option, ideal for direct use with TVs, iPads, and other devices, especially with dual USB-C and USB-A connections for flexibility. The USB stick also come in a handy gift box.

A portable hard drive, on the other hand, can offer greater storage capacity and, in some cases, faster transfer speeds, making it a good choice for video editing.

USB or Hard Drive

You’re also welcome to send in your own USB stick or hard drive just make sure it’s USB 3.0 or above.

Calculate hours into GB

To work out what size storage device you need, just select the format you want, then enter the total hours for all your tapes. The calculator will show you the total file size in both HD and 4K.

MPEG
ProRes
MPEG + ProRes
MPEG + ProRes + non Ai
Hours

HD

0GB

4K

0GB

35mm Slides

We have a separate order form for 35mm slides, but you’re welcome to add them here if you’re sending them along with your films. Your slides will be returned on your USB stick or hard drive but will not be uploaded to Alive Cloud.

For 100 photos, we recommend around 2GB of storage.

7 Day Express

If you need your films quickly, our Express Service is available. We aim for a 7-day turnaround from receipt and often complete jobs within just a few days. This service includes a 30% surcharge, as we dedicate staff to work nights and weekends to ensure the fastest possible delivery.

Free Collection & Delivery!

Spend over £100 on any order and enjoy free collection! We arrange collection through Royal Mail or DHL, depending on your location and order size:

  • DHL: If we use DHL, you’ll receive an emailed label to print, and collections are available Monday to Friday.
  • Royal Mail: With Royal Mail, the postman brings the label, and Saturday collections are also available.


Place your order by 10pm to request a next-day collection; orders after 10pm qualify for collection the following day.

For orders under £100, collection is available for a £10 fee, or you’re welcome to post your films directly to us.

Return delivery is always free for all UK mainland addresses. For international orders, please post items to us, and we’ll charge the appropriate international shipping rate for the return.

Privacy Policy

Alive Studios is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected.

We will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties unless we have your permission or are required by law to do so.
Alive Studios may change this policy from time to time by updating this page.

You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are happy with any changes. This policy is effective from 1st February 2012.

We may periodically send promotional emails about new products, special offers or other information which we think you may find interesting using the email address which you have provided.

PHOENIX 5K

New for 2023, our Phoenix 5K full frame scanner gives us our most significant camera system update ever, offering next-level image quality in a 16-megapixels frame scan. Our scanner takes individual photographs of each cell of your film from 8mm all the way up to 35mm film. You can have your film scanned in 2K, High Definition, or 4K Ultra High Definition. AI technology is then used to remove dust, remove harsh noise while recovering real detail, restore colours and create an artefact-free perfect 24fps movie.

Alive Cloud
ALIVE CLOUD

Alive Studios AI Movie hosting is free for 14 days.
 Log in via your computer, or download the free APP to your phone or tablet so you can take your memories with you wherever you go. Automatic AI indexing of your videos, Search for words, car, dog, person and more.

Log in online to make changes to the titles of your movies, create multiple user logins for all your friends and family so they can share the experience too. from £24/year

Terms and conditions.

General
Alive Studios is a trading name of The Good Life Studios Ltd.

Leader tape
We edit out as much unused film as possible including the leadertape at the start of each reel. Whilst we cannot remove everything without charging for a full edit, we do endeavour to remove as much unused film as possible.

How long does it take?
This is a tricky question. We receive orders from a single video/reel to a room-full, so we’d need to know what you’re sending to give a lead-time. We find we are in high demand and always have seveal weeks of work already scheduled in, so if your order is needed in a hurry, just phone and tell us what you need :)

Damage, Loss, Post & Insurance
Orders are accepted on the basis that the liability of Alive Studios for any lost or damaged material shall be limited to the replacement with an equivalent amount of new blank stock. This is due to the unavailability of General Insurance cover for work of undefined value. When returning material to you we will use the post office services or a courier for larger items. We respectfully remind customers to retain a safety copy or take out Specialist Insurance Cover where appropriate.

Film Format
Our DVDs are region-free and play in PAL. DVD’s are normally DVD-R, but we may use DVD+R or Dual-layer discs where required.

Framing and TV Cropping
In standard definition, some film types do not fit modern TV formats, so we may re-size to fit for the best viewing pleasure. You should also note that some TV set apply their own cropping to a picture as well. By agreeing to these terms, you accept this information.

Damaged Film
Whilst we don’t generally charge extra for poor/damaged/dirty film, we reserve the right to do so if we feel it is required, but will always agree it with you before starting work.
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.
information.

Dust and Hairs
We employ a very good dry-cleaning system which catches most of the dust and hairs commonly found on cine film. It is inevitable however that there will still be dust and hairs present, as it’s impossible to remove them completely with a dry-clean system. It is also common for the dust/hairs to be imbedded into the emulsion making them impossible to ‘blow’ away, so you should expect a small amount to be visible in any transfer. The demos on our website give you a very realistic example of what you can expect.

Content of film
By signing our terms you are stating that you own or have permission to copy the material provided, and indemnify Alive Studios against any action including copyright infringement. If we feel the material to be of an indecent or illegal nature we reserve the right to refuse to continue and no refund will be offered.

Mistakes/Backups
We aim to keep your film footage on our editing suite for 30 days after completion to allow us to correct mistakes, after which time all footage is deleted. You must report any problem with your order within 14 days of receipt. We will retain a backup file of your DVD/Blu-ray for 60 days after completion to allow you to order extra copies. After 60 days, you would need to return your original disc if you wanted us to duplicate it for you. Due to the instability of data storage devices, this backup service is not guaranteed, and whilst every effort is made to retain your files for these periods, we cannot be held responsible for hard-drive failure resulting in us not being able to access your job. For very important projects, we suggest you order a digital copy on a hard-drive for your own security.

Delivery/Collections
We return orders via signed delivery with royal mail, or courier. This courier demands that items delivered damaged are reported within 24 hours of receipt, so it’s essential that you contact us immediately if your parcel is damaged.

Cancellation Policy
You can cancel your order by email any time up until we begin physical work on your job.
If no work has been started, we will refund you in full (less any costs we have incurred in taking your order shown below).

Cancellation fees
If we arranged a free courier collection, you will need to pay for this at £8.50.
If we processed a card payment, we will have incurred a handling fee which will be deducted from your refund. If we have to return your material to you, we will deduct £8.50 for the courier fee.
We will deduct £2.50 admin fee in handling the paperwork involved with a cancellation.

Refunds
Orders paid for by card will be refunded to the card.
Orders paid by cheque or bank transfer will be refunded by bank transfer.

Faults/Returns
You must notify us of any damage to your parcel or missing items within 24 hours of receipt.
You must notify us of any errors or faults with your transfer within 14 days of receipt.

Order Cancellation
In the unlikely event that you cancel your order, we reserve the right to charge a fee to cover admin/postage/bank fees we may incur.
Credit card payments are refunded subject to 1.197% charge.

Misc
We reserve the right to demonstrate our abilities by showing examples of work undertaken for our clients on our website, brochure, DVD and other advertising or promotional activities.