Frequently Asked Questions

All the answers to your questions, so you can entrust your precious memories to my studio with complete peace of mind.

Your questions, my answers

Wondering how to best prepare your memories before handing them over to me? That is completely understandable! Your video cassettes contain unique and precious moments. To help you prepare your order with ease, I have gathered all the answers to the most frequently asked questions right here—covering my rates, digitization techniques, storage media, and drop-off or shipping logistics.Can’t find the answer to your specific question? Please feel free to contact me directly via the contact form or by phone. I will be happy to help you preserve your memories for the future!

Formats & Technical

I digitize the following formats: VHS, VHS-C, Video 8, Hi8, Digital 8, MiniDV, MiniHDV, and Mini DVD.

It all depends on the storage media you choose! For delivery on a USB flash drive or via a download link, I provide files in MPEG-4 (H.264), the ideal universal format for computers, TVs, and smartphones. If you choose a DVD, your videos will be burned in MPEG-2 format.
Yes, but prior cleaning is mandatory. For hygienic reasons and to avoid contaminating my machines, I cannot digitize a moldy cassette without treating it first. An additional fee of €15 per cassette is charged for this professional cleaning. Please note: although cleaning removes the mold, it does not guarantee that the underlying magnetic tape has remained undamaged.

If a cassette shows mold or has a physically torn tape inside the casing, manual repair or cleaning is essential to play it without risking damage to my machines. Should this situation arise, this repair service will be added to your final invoice only after your written approval, in accordance with my current rates. You maintain total control!

To ensure the highest quality, we first digitize your tapes uncompressed (lossless), which requires about 10 GB of data per hour. We then compress the video into a high-quality MP4 file (H.264 codec). The final file size is approximately 2 to 3 GB per hour. The exact size depends on several factors, such as the amount of movement and the analog noise on the original tape. We recommend keeping this in mind when choosing the storage capacity of your USB drive or hard drive.
I always strive to get the absolute best result out of your cassettes. However, please keep in mind that magnetic tapes can suffer permanent degradation over the years. My job is to extract the highest possible quality. If physical repairs are required (such as splicing a broken tape or mold treatment), I will always ask for your explicit approval beforehand before any extra costs are charged (see our pricing).
I always digitize your video tapes in their original, native resolution. For the European PAL standard (such as VHS, Video8, and MiniDV), this is exactly 720 x 576 pixels. By maintaining this native resolution, the footage remains authentic and sharp, without being artificially stretched or distorted.

Storage & Files

It all depends on the storage media you choose! For delivery on a USB flash drive or via a download link, I provide files in MPEG-4 (H.264), the ideal universal format for computers, TVs, and smartphones. If you choose a DVD, your videos will be burned in MPEG-2 format.
You don’t have to worry about a thing! I automatically determine the required capacity of the USB flash drive once your cassettes are digitized, and it will be invoiced afterward. As a guideline, one hour of video represents about 2 to 3 GB of data. However, this is not an exact science: the final file size highly depends on the image quality and the condition of your original tape.

No, as a cybersecurity measure, I cannot connect external media to my computers. The only exception applies to brand-new USB flash drives or hard drives that are still in their original, sealed packaging. In all other cases, I provide a secure storage medium myself.

To ensure the highest quality, we first digitize your tapes uncompressed (lossless), which requires about 10 GB of data per hour. We then compress the video into a high-quality MP4 file (H.264 codec). The final file size is approximately 2 to 3 GB per hour. The exact size depends on several factors, such as the amount of movement and the analog noise on the original tape. We recommend keeping this in mind when choosing the storage capacity of your USB drive or hard drive.
The download link remains valid for exactly 30 days after it is sent to you. We highly recommend downloading your videos within this period and saving them securely on your own computer, hard drive, or USB flash drive.
To guarantee high image quality without heavy compression, we ideally place a maximum of 1h30 to 2 hours of footage onto a single DVD. For longer video cassettes, multiple DVDs will be required to maintain a clear and crisp picture. If your collection requires this, we will of course discuss it with you beforehand.

Pricing & Payments

No, provided that your overall order also contains recorded cassettes. However, if all the cassettes dropped off turn out to be empty, a minimum flat rate of €20 will be applied to cover the time spent on the analysis
The price per cassette includes only the tape digitization work. The cost of the physical storage media (calculated based on the final size of your digital files and the required gigabytes) will be determined and added to your final invoice.

No, as a cybersecurity measure, I cannot connect external media to my computers. The only exception applies to brand-new USB flash drives or hard drives that are still in their original, sealed packaging. In all other cases, I provide a secure storage medium myself.

You pay the initial amount online. If, after analysis at my workshop, one or more cassettes turn out to be completely empty, this amount will be fully refunded or deducted from your options on the final invoice. Please note: in the exceptional case where all the cassettes sent are completely empty (no recoverable images across the entire batch), a fixed flat rate of €20.00 will be retained to cover the technical analysis work performed at my workshop. The rest of your payment will, of course, be refunded.

Yes, we calculate the price per cassette, not per length or duration of the recording. Whether your tape contains 5 minutes or 4 hours of footage, the rate per cassette remains the same.
Payment is only required after I have successfully completed the entire digitization process. Once everything is ready, you will receive the payment details. You can easily pay via bank transfer, or in cash if you choose to pick up your cassettes and new digital files in person at our studio in Ternat.
The price for a secure download link (cloud) is €2.50 per cassette for collections of up to 10 tapes. For 10 cassettes or more, the price is capped and remains fixed at a flat rate of just €25. For example, if you have 20 cassettes, you will not pay €50, but only €25 for all your digital downloads.

Drop-off & Shipping

The average turnaround time for the complete digitization of your cassettes is 1 to 2 weeks from the receipt of your package at my workshop. This period allows me to treat your memories with the utmost professional care and guarantee the best possible quality. As soon as your order is ready, you will receive an email to finalize the balance.
Yes, absolutely! We can always make an appointment so you can drop off your cassettes in person at our studio in Ternat. This is the safest way to hand over your precious memories and allows us to discuss any specific requests you might have.
Yes, you are welcome to send your cassettes to our address by mail. Please note that all shipping costs, including any return shipping fees, are entirely at your expense. Important: always choose a shipping method with Track & Trace or registered mail, and please remember to send us the tracking number so we can carefully monitor the delivery.
I strongly urge you to pack your cassettes extremely carefully and securely. Use a sturdy cardboard box (do not use a soft envelope) and completely fill any empty spaces with bubble wrap, newspaper, or packing peanuts. The cassettes must absolutely not slide around loose inside the box during transit. Since old cassettes are fragile, proper packaging is essential to protect your unique memories from shocks and damage along the way.
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