Frequently Asked Questions

What makes The Reel House different from the rest?
How do you handle the transfer process ?
How do I order?
How many 8mm reels will fit on a DVD?
I have very specific needs for my menu, chapters, editing, etc., can you help?

Q: What makes The Reel House different from the rest?
A:

Our 8mm to DVD prices are simple to understand and very reasonable. Most others charge setup fees, splicing fees, per foot charges, and many other add-ons that make the whole process very confusing.
Our quality is impeccable. There are many methods for transferring 8mm and Super8 film. Many of these processes do not produce an accurate representation of what is on your film, and a couple of them produce similar results, but at 3 to 4 times the price. Our 8mm to DVD process, using patented equipment, yields a very high resolution picture, free of flicker, hotspots and halos, evenly lit across all regions of the screen and evenly focused. In addition, because we use a true "telecine" transfer, there is no screen texture, so you get very high resolution and accurate color reproduction.
We will archive all of your 8mm footage, and file it under your name if requested. This provides an extra layer of protection in case you lose or break your DVD, have a fire, etc. This also allows us to make additional copies of your 8mm to DVD transfer at a later date without having to send anything to us.
We have an extremely fast turnaround time (About 6 business days or less from the time we receive an order until we ship it back out).

Q: How do you handle the transfer process ?
A:
We would prefer not to be viewed as a "transfer process". We find that many customers have been disappointed by what most transfer services offer for the money they collect. We have packaged under one pricing structure, the features that result in providing an easy to use, memorable version of your home movies. We expect you to gather with your family and share memories of loved ones who may no longer be with us. Most transfer services feed your movies in one end of a machine and it spits out a VHS tape or DVD that includes all the defects that went into it. We will begin by cleaning your film, repairing any defects, then capturing it frame by frame into an editing computer; then removeing burns, defects, and the scenes that are too under or over-exposed to be viewed, including leaders, shots taken unintentionally while loading the camera, and even scenes of people places or things you don't care or need to remember. During the editing phase we add your titles per the information you provided with your movies. (Most often this is found hand-written on the reel itself, although some of our customers invest a significant amount of time in providing accurate family history we can build into the DVD). We will chat with you and guarantee the correct spelling of your family members, names, events and the accuracy of the dates you provide. Finally we are ready to author your DVD. Now we set up a simple to use menu system where you push a button labeled with the recognizable names of your movies. If you wish you may choose to start the movies as one stream with chapter points allowing you to skip forward or backward from movie to movie within the stream, or keep them separate and start them individually with separate labeled buttons, which often contain a picture from within the movie as the button background image. Then it all comes packaged in a custom labeled Jewel Case with the appropriate family name on it.

Q: How do I order?
A:

Our 8mm to DVD ordering process is very simple. First, print out our order form and fill it out. Next, put your reels in the order you want to see them on the DVD, and write a number series on the reels (1 through the end) with a Sharpie or other marker. If you want individual titles for each reel, either write them on the reel, or include a page showing each reel number and the title you want. Please limit reel titles to a total of 15 characters and spaces.

Next, package your 8mm reels and order form securely in a good box and send it to us. We highly recommend using UPS due to the security of your shipment, and the ability to track your shipment via the internet. Once we receive your shipment, we will complete your 8mm to DVD transfer within about 6 business days, and then ship both your DVD and your original reels back to you. We will charge your credit card account using the number you provide us on your order form. UPS will also send you an email confirming your order has been shipped, along with a tracking number.

Q: How many 8mm reels will fit on a DVD?
A:

To provide the highest possible video quality for our 8mm to DVD transfers, we use a 10-Mbps DVD data transfer rate, which means one hour of 8mm or Super8 footage will fit on a 4.7GB DVD. Depending on your format (8mm or Super8), you can get 15-20 three-inch reels, 4-5 full five-inch reels, 3-4 full six-inch reels or 2 full seven-inch reels. Once one DVD is full, we simply move on the next, and label everything appropriately ("disc 1 of 3", "disc 2 of 3", etc.). There is no additional charge if your order takes up more than one DVD.

Q: I have very specific needs for my menu, chapters, editing, etc., can you help?
A:

Absolutely! We are here to help you create a family history that accurately represents family members lives, and memorable events. We respect those customers who invest their time in offering the level of detail that promotes an accurate record. We will take the time to discuss your preferences, and work with you to give you what you imagined and expected.