HANLEY AWARDS 2021

Clearwater, Florida

Every year, since 2012, I've attended the Home Video Studio annual Getaway. We have a week full of training, teaching, learning, socializing with other Studio owners and wrapping it up with the annual Hanley Awards for Video Excellence. This year was so special with our achievements and time well spent with those I love the most.

At the 2021 Hanley Awards with
Blair Williams, Deborah Williams and Gavin Williams.

The National Award Categories we won were:

Best Event Video

- DHHS Halftime Show

Best Long Form Video

- Don't Stop Dreamin'

"Dr. Strangelove" Award for Wierdest Video

- Bang Bang! 2020

www.homevideostudio.com/erl #hvsflorence

Facts about Video Tapes

Family Memories are locked away on VHS, VHS-C, Video8, Hi-8, Beta and MiniDV tapes. If you haven't had them professionally transferred yet, you might want to do it soon!

Here are some reasons why:

1. Video quality deteriorates each time you watch.
2. Video quality will begin to deteriorate after 10 years, even if you do not watch them.
3. Your VCR can destroy your tape when the deck malfunctions.
4. Analog videotape (from the 20th century), like VHS tapes, will not last as long as digital
tape.
5. Digital tape is better, but it has an expected useful life of only 20 years if stored under ideal conditions.

We professionally encode and author your tapes to:
- Archival DVDs
- DIgital video files for a Thumb Drive or Hard Drive
- Digital Video Archive (DVA), where you can conveniently watch your home movies anytime, anywhere, using your phone, tablet, computer or Smart TV. This is by far the most current and safest media for transfer.

Ask us about our services,  and preserve your Family Memories from video tape.

Quick tips for watching, sharing and uploading videos using DVA.

Inviting Someone to View Your DVAs (videos)

It’s easy to invite someone. Here are some quick tips and procedures on inviting friends and family, choosing DVAs to share, and uploading new video content. It's easy to add a Viewer to your Digital Video Archive account. NOTE: Do not share your Digital Video Account User ID or password with anyone. Use the following procedure to invite your friends and family. 

From your Browser on a Mac or PC:

1. In the TOOLS window, select and click MANAGE & SHARE DVAs. 

2. In VIEWERS column on the far right, select TOOLS (in the upper right hand corner) and then select ADD NEW VIEWER. 

3. Enter the first and last name of the person you want to invite to be a viewer, and then enter their email address. Double check the email address is correct and then click APPLY. 

The person you invited will get an email from Digital Video Archive with instructions on how to log in to their own free account and watch the videos you shared (or will be sharing). Note: It’s a good idea to contact the persons you invite and let them know that Digital Video Archive has sent them an invite via email. 

IMPORTANT: You have one more step and that is to select the video you want to share and to "check" the CHECKBOX beside the name of your viewer. Follow the steps in the next section. Sharing Video. 

From your Smartphone/I Pad/Tablet:

1. Select MANAGE and then MANAGE VIEWERS. 

2. Select OPTIONS and then select ADD VIEWER.

3. Enter the first and last name of the person you want to invite to be a viewer, and their email address. Double check the email address is correct and then click SUBMIT. 

Remember after you have added Viewers, select an Archive (videos) to share.

From your Browser on a Mac or PC: 

1. Go to TOOLS. Click MANAGE & SHARE DVAs. Go to the Archive Column (on far left) - Select the Archive you want to share by clicking the pencil to the right of the Archive.

2. In the middle column, select the DVAs (videos) you wish to share by checking the box to the left of each DVA. 

3. In the third column (far right) select the Viewers with whom you want to share with by checking the box to the left of their name. 

Select SAVE (at the top) when you are finished. 

From your Smartphone/IPAD/TABLET:

1. Choose the Archive you want to share and then select EDIT. The Edit Archive window will appear and populate.

2. Under ASSIGNED DVAs, choose the DVAs you wish to be viewable in the Archive by clicking SELECT on the right side. When you select a DVA, a red X will appear. 

3. Scroll down to MANAGE VIEWERS. Choose the Viewers you wish to view the Archive by clicking ADD on the right side. Note: When you select a Viewer, the word ADD will change to REMOVE. 

4. Click SUBMIT at the bottom right. You will get a success message. 

Watching your DVAs on your Smart TV. 

Watching on your Smart TV

Watching your old home movies and your new smartphone videos on your smart TV is a wonderful experience! If you have Amazon Fire tv stick, Samsung or an LG Smart TV you can download the Digital Video Archive App and watch your videos on your Smart TV! It is a great way to watch both your legacy DVAs (from old home movies and videotapes, etc.) and also the videos that you upload from your Smartphone!

First, you'll need your Smart TV Code. On your Mac or PC go to PROFILE (lower right) and then select GENERATE SMART TV CODE. (You only have to do this once). On your mobile device, go to PROFILE in the upper right and select SMART TV ACCESS CODE. Once you have done this, follow these steps: 

For Amazon fire tv stick:

1. Select the Magnifying Glass at the top of the screen and then press the microphone button on the Amazon fire tv remote, keep it pressed and say: Digital Video Archive. You will then see two selections for Digital Video Archive appear on the screen. Select the top one and download the Digital Video Archive App.

2. Open the app and enter your Digital Video Archive Smart code (see step one from above). This will take you into your Digital Video Archive app and you will have access to your videos. Congratulations!

For LG Smart TVs:

3. On an LG Smart TV, go to the LG Store Icon and select DVA. Download the app. 

4. You will need to enter in your Smart TV DVA Access code. Enter this code into your Smart TV Digital Video Archive app when prompted. When you open up your LG TV and go to the menu strip at the bottom of your screen the next time, you will see the DVA icon. 

For Samsung Smart TVs.

1. On a Samsung Smart TV, go to the Lifestyle section and select DVA. 

2. Download the app. Enter the access code into your Smart TV Digital Video Archive app when prompted. 

Note that there are many different versions of LG and Samsung TVs and operating systems. Menus may appear differently on various models. Make sure your Smart TV is connected to your internet.

Uploading Video From Your Smartphone

1. On your smartphone open your browser & go https://app.digitalvideoarchive.com/portal/

Choose the Archive you want to upload video into and then select EDIT. The Edit Archive window will appear and populate.

2. Scroll down to UPLOAD, click UPLOAD and then click CHOOSE. A popup window will appear. Choose to shoot a new video or choose a video from your library. Once you make a selection, the video will be encoded. 

3. Select a name for the video and a description (if you wish). Make sure to click in the middle of the name field when entering the name. When you are finished, click SUBMIT in the lower right hand corner. Your video will be uploaded into your Digital Video Account. You will receive a Success message. 

Uploading Video From Your Computer

1. On your computer browser & go https://app.digitalvideoarchive.com/portal/ and log in.

Go to the Tools Window in the lower right of your interface. Select Upload Video. A window will pop up.

2. Select Add. Then select your video file. Note: Media files allowed are .mp4, .mov, .flv, .f4v, and mp3, but all media files will be automatically converted to MP4 files for use in the system. The video will appear in the window. Click under Archive and select the archive you wish to upload into. 

3. Select Upload. 

Contacting Digital Video Archive.

If you get stuck or need help with anything please give our customer service department a call at 800-469-1976 or email help@digitalvideoarchive.com.

Thanks for using DVA!

Digital Video Archive and Fire Stick. Cutting the cord with the cutting-edge in video!

Imagine a world where you can view all your precious video memories in one place on your TV, just like you’ve come to watch your favorite programs. Just think…no extra machines, no cords, no connections, no extra remotes… In fact, all you do is say “Digital Video Archive” and your entire video library appears on your screen! Thanks to Digital Video Archive’s App on the Amazon Fire TV stick that world has arrived, and it’s so simple and such a bargain that it’s almost unbelievable!

How can you hold this power in your hands? Just a few easy steps:

1. “Get onto our cloud” - Transfer your legacy DVAs (your old home movies and videotapes, etc.) and upload your current videos from your Smartphone or computer into your personal Digital Video Archive account! Call us for details on transferring. 
2. Get the Amazon Fire Stick - What is a Fire Stick you may ask? It’s an amazing little device (a little bigger than a thumb drive) that connects to your TV and streams your favorite programs through your Wi-Fi. You can watch your subscription channels like Netflix and Hulu, as well as free programming and games, and, most important, your DVA videos. Setting up your Fire Stick is simple and takes just a few minutes. 
3. Download the Digital Video Archive App – This is amazingly simple and quick as well. Don’t have an Amazon account? No worries or expense as there is no charge to have an Amazon account. When installed your DVA app will be there right alongside your other apps. 
4. Open your DVA app - Once you have set up your Amazon Fire tv stick you can access all your videos at the touch of a button. Fire Stick’s remote has Alexa Voice built in, meaning you can launch your DVAs simply by pushing a button and saying, “Digital Video Archive” (By the way, you can even order a pizza for a family fun night with the Fire Stick).
5. Enjoy! – Just think! One place for all your videos old and new - streamed so you can watch them the way you watch all your favorite programs – and always available literally at your command. What a time to live! 

And, as mentioned, the Fire Stick is very inexpensive – ranging from just under $40.00 to specials where they are as low as $24.95. 

All your precious memories in one place, at the sound of your voice! Call us today for details. 859-525-0305.

Transferring VHS to Digital in Bulk: How to Duplicate Your Video Library

Transferring VHS to Digital in Bulk: How to Duplicate Your Video Library

VHS video tapes were a fantastic invention and were incredibly popular in their prime. They allowed you to watch blockbuster movies in the comfort of your own home, capture your own home movie magic and create corporate and training videos that could be played over and over. Of course, you had to own the right equipment to do so, but just a couple of decades ago, almost all homes and many businesses boasted their own VCR.

Today, the required playback equipment is quickly becoming obsolete and this leaves a big problem for those who have extensive libraries of aging media, including VHS tapes, Hi8, Digital8, Betamax, 8mm tapes, MiniDV and other videocassettes. Whether you own home movies, Hollywood hits, or corporate content, the tapes themselves hold immense value. It is therefore important to preserve this content so that it can be viewed easily in the future. The good news is that there are services that can help with transferring videocassettes and VHS to digital in bulk and that can give you more freedom over sharing and viewing your content.

The Benefits of Transferring VHS to Digital in Bulk

There are many reasons why you might want to consider transferring your videocassette and VHS tapes to digital format. For one thing, large collections of VHS tapes can take up vast amounts of space. This is space that can be easily reclaimed when you convert your VHS content to digital. Once transferred to a digital format, you can choose to dispose of or archive your VHS tapes, confident in the knowledge that you have the content available in a more durable and versatile format. This also holds true for other forms of outdated interfaces.

Another major benefit of digitizing video content is that you make it instantly available to any device. Whether you need to watch content on your computer or you would like to view content on your mobile phone while on the move, digital formats allow you to do this with ease. By transferring to digital, you also make your content shareable. This is especially convenient for businesses looking to share training videos with other offices or for families looking to share magical memories with loved ones.

VHS can be transferred onto a variety of mediums, including DVD or digital file format. Both options allow you to transfer dated video content easily and can be duplicated as many times as you wish.

The Professional VHS Transfer Process

The process of transferring any videocassette format or VHS to digital in bulk is always best handled by a professional company with the right equipment. When you have a large collection of VHS tapes, you can save a great deal of time and effort by hiring a professional to take care of conversion for you.

The process is simple. Box up your video tapes and send them or take them in person to a professional transfer service. You can be sure that your precious tapes will be expertly cared for and painstakingly transferred to the medium of your choice. Using specialist equipment, your tapes will be converted to a digital format and preserved for future generations to enjoy over and over again. Whether you have a large collection of video tapes of family get-togethers or you have a vast collection of corporate tapes that tell your company story, all of your recorded memories will be converted into a durable, modern and versatile format that will preserve your stories for many years to come.

Bulk Transfers That Never Compromise on Quality

You may be concerned that having your video content transferred to digital in bulk will result in poor-quality duplication. When you use a professional transfer, these concerns can be set aside. Each individual tape will be converted using a proven and precise process. The result is an exact duplicate of the content on each tape and in many cases, the quality can be improved.

Once your VHS or videocassette content has been transferred, you will have all original tapes returned to you in the same condition in which they arrived, plus you’ll have all content available in a digital format. Once digitized, you can choose to view and share content on a huge range of devices and duplicate these copies further if you wish. DVD copies can be played on a range of devices, including computers, laptops and DVD players. Digital files can be played on computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets and any device that is compatible with digital file formats.

Relive Your Memories Over and Over

When you have professional VHS transfer services at your fingertips, there is no reason to lose your memories to the hands of time. Free those memories and gain storage space by having your VHS tapes transferred to a digital format in bulk. Once digitized, you’ll never have to hunt down an elusive video player again.

The possibilities are endless once converted to a more modern format and no matter where you are or how many times you want to view your content, you know you can do so on any device and without jeopardizing the quality. Whether you have hundreds of videos in your collection or a handful of treasured tapes that you would like digitized, using a professional service will always ensure the best results.

Call us today! 859.525.0305

How Long Do VHS Tapes Last?

Just like every other technology, video home system (VHS) recording tapes are being affected by technological change. Just as consumers become used to one form of home technology, a new and better technology comes along. Unfortunately, consumers have already recorded many precious moments on their VHS tapes and are increasingly finding that they do not have the same quality as the new technologies being offered today. In some cases, the tapes themselves are beginning to deteriorate. Generally, this deterioration takes place because of incorrect storage, but overall, it usually happens because the recording wears away the tape.

Going Digital

Like many other technologies, VHS tapes are becoming a victim of the digital conversion process. VHS tapes are analog recordings and, as such, will not last if the recording was from a video camera. Commercial movies will last quite a bit longer, but if they are home recordings, they will likely have a storage life of the order of one or two decades, depending on storage conditions.

What Can Be Done?

In many respects the VCR tape has gone the way of the cassette tape. There were plenty of uses for the basic function of the VCR tape, like recording TV shows, but the focus has completely shifted to digital recording devices. The tapes themselves may be around for a while longer, but the machines to play them are pretty much gone. Transferring the VHS images to a digital form becomes the only recourse if you wish to save precious events like an important soccer game, wedding or a birthday party.

Will Technological Innovation Ever End?

It is unlikely that it will ever become unnecessary to transfer recordings from one technology to another. Technology just does not stay still. Right now, you need to transfer your VHS tape data to a digital form of a certain format. Five to ten years down the road you will likely be doing the same thing all over again. In a way, it is sort of like death, taxes, and data transfer! Fortunately, there are businesses like HOME VIDEO STUDIO in Florence that will be happy to do the transferring for you.

Transferring VHS data

Home Video Studio ® in Florence specializes in VHS to a Digital format transfers!

Bring us your old home movies and video tapes - we'll transfer them to Digital format for you. VHS, VHS-C, BETA, 8mm video, Mini DV, and of course, your old 8mm and 16mm movies. Here is more information about our Video to Digital Format Transfer services. We call it HVS DVA Deluxe. The Home Video Studio DVA Deluxe system includes:

• If you choose DVD, we'll put your video onto a Platinum Archival DVD.
• Every DVD has scene selection "smart chapter markers". Our proprietary DVD Deluxe system detects where your video camera stopped and started or the scene changed. Chapter markers are placed at these points so you can easily skip through your finished DVD.
• We have many themes to choose from so if this is your wedding from six years ago or your baby's birth from six months ago, we will choose the appropriate theme.
• Ask about an upgrade to our album case with custom insert and thumbnail photos of your video on the outside.
• Ask about the best choice of transferring, Digital Video Archive! DVA for short!

While we still transfer video to Platinum Archival DVDs, more and more of our customers are opting for DVA. It's safe, secure, private, and ultra-convenient. You can edit and privately share online through your Digital Video Archive account. It's easy to see why the DVA is rapidly replacing DVD as the media of choice for our customers.

Here's how it works: Once we have transferred your content to your new DVAs you'll receive an email explaining how to quickly set up your new Digital Video Archive account. 

With your new DVA account, you can manage, edit, modify and view your movies and videos. You'll want to invite your friends and family to set up their own (free) DVA accounts. This will give them access to the DVAs you would like for them to see and enjoy. Every DVA has smart chapter markers with thumbnail images, just like the old DVDs, so you and your viewers will be able to fully experience each of your videos.

Please note that your Digital Video Archive account will be $7.95 monthly (like your Netflix bill) based on the number of tapes you transfer. Digital Video Archive also has a FREE level of account that will hold about three two-hour tapes. So if you only have a few tapes, you won't have a monthly bill. This is a great way to start.

Also, with your new Digital Video Archive account you can immediately begin uploading your own personal videos and smartphone video. You'll be able share these videos with your friends and family as well. Plus, your friends and family will receive their own Digital Video Archive account when you invite them. They will want to upload their videos too. Soon you'll have new DVAs from them to watch as well!

Home Video Studio ® in Florence  is a Digital Video Archive Authorized Representative. Our DVA Deluxe transfer system uses professional encoding which ensures maximum quality and a great viewing experience whether you are viewing on your smartphone or your huge home theatre screen.

Remember with DVA you will not need to spend money on copies for friends and family!

Home Video Studio, Erlanger wins International "Hanley" Award - 8/1/15

Debbie Williams of Home Video Studio - Erlanger was awarded the Best Long Form Video Prize at the franchise's annual award show held in Orlando from July 29-August 1. Williams was nominated for a total of five Hanley Awards, including Best Sports Video and the Dr. Strangelove Award, and took home the Best Long Form Video prize with her entry “Narcissist.”  

The Hanley Awards, Home Video Studio's version of the Oscars, are open to international competitors and are presented to winners at the culmination of the annual Home Video Studio (HVS) Getaway in Orlando. Home Video Studio is the world’s largest international video production services franchise with studios located in the United States, Canada and Sweden.

“I am delighted to be recognized from among such a talented and dedicated group of peers,” says Williams. “To me the best part about competition is that it challenges me to be my best, and that means my customers get my best as well.”

Williams attended several days of intense coursework in video production and marketing in addition to being an honored guest at the Hanley Awards ceremony.

HVS studio owners provide at least 27 different types of professional video services, including video to cloud and DVD transfers, photo/video montage keepsakes, home movie transfers, videotape duplication, video editing, legal video services, and sports or music scholarship videos.

http://rcnky.com/articles/2015/08/27/erlanger-businesswoman-wins-hanley-award-video-entry