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

Now is the Time to Start Spring Video Projects

Now is the time to begin planning your spring and early summer video projects! May brings Mother’s Day and Graduations, and June is the time of weddings, anniversaries, and Father’s Day. And they are closer than you think. Call us today. You need to get started!

There is nothing more touching than a perfectly crafted video retrospective, but craftsmanship takes time. Remember what your mother always said: A) Do it now; B) Rome wasn’t built in a day; C) What you put into it is what you’ll get out of it; D) All of the above.

It’s important that you get busy because you need time:

• Time to dream – You can’t muscle creativity like a jackhammer. Ideas are more subtle. The muse may strike while your peeling potatoes or on the treadmill. Give yourself time to live in that space.
• Time to locate content – All of a sudden you may remember a photo or video clip that would be perfect! There’s one problem. The last time you saw it was at Aunt Bertha’s in Saginaw and she’s on a Caribbean Cruise for two weeks. If you start now you’ll have time to get what you want.
• Time to assemble, edit and revise – OK. Time for a little secret (in case you didn’t know). There’s a reason they call your first endeavor at a creative enterprise a first draft, a mock-up, or a host of other terms. They all mean the same thing: You had to start somewhere and there will be improvements for the better.

Are you on board? Good! Here are some ideas for these fast approaching days.

Mother's day – You could say this is the Mother of All Tributes. Mom always made us feel special and loved. Now you can do the same! Images, home movies, and video combined with music, titles and whatever else you can imagine into a masterpiece that will last a lifetime. What about narration? What about the voices of people from her past? How elaborate do you want to be? Do you see why we’re telling you get busy?

Graduation - "Birth to Graduation" never fails to please! Imagine combining photos, videos, certificates, first grade projects, Harvard acceptance letters, favorite music through the years....you name it. What better way to say "I am so proud of you"? And remember, long after the ceremony your gift will be enjoyed over and over again.

Anniversaries – Was your wedding in June? It’s a funny thing that your anniversary keeps popping up in June as well. Anniversaries are yet another great occasion for a PhotoVideo Keepsake. How moving would a tribute to your beloved be as your years together are captured through images, video and music?

Father's day - Dad will be just as moved and just as thrilled as Mom will be with a unique PhotoVideo Keepsake.

We love this time of year because we get to help you create a masterpiece for the most precious people in your life on their special day. Call us today!

HVS Top 5 Autumn Movies

Fall usually takes a starring role in movies set in that season. With nature’s beautiful scenery as a backdrop a mood is created that is perfect for cinema. Here’s our top 5 for the fall.

Rudy 
O.K. First things first. Fall means football. This story of a never-say-die kid who wants to play football at Notre Dame is based on a true story and is truly an inspiration. Plus the campus is georgous.

Scent of a Woman
 A kid from the other side of the tracks is wrongly accused of a prank that could get him booted from a prestigious prep school. He finds an unlikely ally in a tired, cantankerous, blind, retired military man.

Dead Poets Society
One of Robin Williams’ best roles and another campus movie. Williams’ character teaches his students to look beyond the surface of dull academia and live by “Seizing the Day”.

Autumn in New York
The perfect melodrama of handsome guy and beautiful girl in the autumn of the year and the autumn of her young life. And there is no lovelier city than New York in autumn.

St. Elmo’s Fire
The brat pack’s sophomore effort was a hit in the 80’s. And fall was the perfect time.

Back to School is Photo and Video Time

 Back to school time has its own special flavor. The wistfulness of a warm summer ending dovetails into the excitement of new friends, new teachers and new adventures. Each new grade level marks how quickly time passes. Yes, this time of year has become a sentimental favorite and the perfect setting for family video projects of all kinds. That’s why many back to school traditions have become popular.

What school day memories are you making that you can document with your still camera or your video camera to be enjoyed in the years to come? Here are a few suggestions for back to school traditions:

Photos & video – Taking photos and/or video is, of course, a classic tradition for back to school. But rather than just randomly shooting why not think creatively about what will make a good PhotoVideo Keepsake? Have your child hold a chalkboard with his/her new grade on it. Or think of another prop that serves as a visual time stamp. Another clever idea is to have your child pose in the very same spot every year. Imagine the fun of seeing them grow for twelve years (or more) sitting on the same swing? Or standing by the same tree? And don’t forget that friends are a big part of school. Take yearly photos and videos at the bus stop.
Family Movie Night – Before the hustle and bustle of the school year pulls everyone in different directions have a family backyard movie night. Set up lawn chairs or have the kids make cars out of cardboard boxes for a drive-in feel. Set up a big screen and enjoy the old memories of your family. Whether you have old tape formats or old 8mm movies we specialize in Video to DVD transfer and 8mm and 16mm film transfer to DVD. This is sure to become a favorite back to school tradition.
 School Year’s Eve – Mark the “out with the old grade” and “in with the new grade” with a School Year’s Eve party. Invite friends, put up decorations, have plenty of treats, maybe even have a DJ. Be sure to take lots of video, and when it’s over let us make a FamilyTime Video™ complete with titles, effects, or most anything you can imagine. Think of the joy of watching “School Year’s Eve – 2014” as your child goes off to college in 2023!
First Day of School Interview – The world changes so quickly. Children grow so quickly. Why not interview your child on their first day of school. Ask them about their classes and teachers. Ask about their friends. What did they learn about the world around them? What do they think about some current events? Then bring them to us for some light editing. Let us put all of your children’s interviews together. Or let us compile the years together.
If there’s ever an occasion to document the kids it's during back to school time. Call us today!

5 Ways Business Entrepreneurs Can Use Video

As Business Entrepreneurs, You Need To Be Different!

Starting a new business and managing it isn’t for everyone- but regardless of your profession, there is something to be stated for the “entrepreneurial spirit”. A little entrepreneurial zeal and creativeness can give you a distinct advantage in your career. For business entrepreneurs, you need something wowing, shocking and the “Ah”! Factor in your business to make it big. No doubt you are lifting the mantle of social media influence and gathering all the “likes” and “followers”, but have you got the moves to keep your customers intentness? Well, here are 5 ways you can use video to grow your business.

1.  Viral Video Marketing: It refers to those marketing techniques that use Internet technology and social networking services to try to increase product knowledge or to achieve other marketing goals. Business entrepreneurs use it to spread opinions and information about their products or services from person to person, that becomes popular especially through Internet sharing, including video sharing websites, email and social media. Your business can receive new orders through million views in few hours and you can still continue the buzz and help grow your business immensely.
2. To Create Brand Awareness: Creating brand recognition is indispensable part of a growing business- how familiar are your clients with your products and company is important. Quality, targeted videos of your mission, and your product will put you head and shoulders above the lot. You can utilize multimedia and design best videos to create buzz and awareness about your brand. The reason being videos are more appealing to the potential client, especially if they exhibit a product demonstration, offer original content and feature real people. Entrepreneurs can also present company executives through these videos, thereby allowing potential customers to become familiar with company representatives.
3. For Public Relations: You can create a video about something in your industry, something newsworthy or funny. YouTube can drive a lot of traffic to your site. But you must make sure it isn’t boring. People do not want to hear just about your business- they are searching for interesting, valuable and funny videos. And that is what is going to bring you traffic and also help you build good relationship with public.
4. Marketing: In the raise for customer eyeballs, online videos are a must have marketing tool. Entrepreneurs can have some professional videos made on their main website page. Since people want a more human connection nowadays, these videos can help businesses build something real and more authentic- just like a one-on-one conversation with everyone who visits their website. That is the kind of impact it should have and that is what will help in marketing your company and products.
5. To Introduce Yourself: People like to relate with people. Therefore as business entrepreneurs, you can introduce yourself by putting a name and face on your brand. Let the world meet the people behind your product. Who makes your gizmos and why do they like making them? Why did you begin making your gizmo and why do you wish to share it with everyone? Everyone loves a good story, therefore give them one.

Make video part of your summer plans

"Summertime is always the best of what might be." - Charles Bowden

Ahhh! Summer is here! And summer makes for great video. Bright outdoor shots. Lots of action and energy. Exotic locations. Yes, summer is the time for "doing stuff"! So make sure you're capturing all your "doings" on video and photos so you and your family can enjoy them for years to come.

Recently we asked some customers, representing all ages and from all parts of the country, "What stuff did you do in your ‘best summer ever'?" Here are some highlights:

Randi, 52, from Indiana: "That's easy. I backpacked through Europe, stayed in hostels and worked if I ran out of money. I was crazy."
Tim, 24, from Texas: "I was a camp counselor. We had no cellular service. We hiked and canoed every day and had campfires every night. I made incredible friendships."

Jenn, 32, from New York: "My best summer was right at home before I left for college. I cherished every day with my friends and family. It was more attitude than adventure."

Jim, 62, from Minnesota: "A few years ago I went to a baseball fantasy camp. I met the stars of my youth and got to hang out and even play a little ball with them."

 Now, what do you think all these people had in common? That's right! Oodles of photos and videos. And what did they do with them? The same thing you need to do as you plan your best summer ever. They called us to keep their memories safe and at hand for a lifetime of enjoyment.
What are you doing this summer?

Are you going on a dream vacation? Here's how we can help. Don't leave your adventures lying about on your cameras and devices. Bring them to life by telling a story with a PhotoVideo Keepsake. Where did you go? What did you eat? How big was that fish? Document it with titles. What were the top music hits? Nothing re-creates the time and place like your favorite music in the background.

Are you staying close to home with your family? Festivals, fireworks, beaches, barbeques and picnics. Your best memories are the simple ones surrounded by those you love. Why not add some flair with a short, edited FamilyTIME video of your summer highlights? You know all the jokes about home movies! It doesn't have to be that way. Let us help you make a snappy and interesting program that people will love!

Is your summer full of sports activities like baseball, tennis, or golf? We specialize in Sports Highlights videos. Let us take your videos and add some pizzazz with special effects, music, titles, narration…whatever you can imagine. Turn your kids' summer of Little League into Field of Dreams. Turn your Annual Charity Golf Tournament into The Masters.

Are your kids going to camp? Sports camp, music camps, church camp, cheer camp, dance camp…and they all have final performances and parent's day. Make sure it's all documented to enjoy for years to come with an Arts and Entertainment video.

Make sure you have precious family memories by preparing now to document the great summer that lies before you. Then call us to help you turn your creative ideas into reality. Call us today! 859-525-0305

www.homevideostudio.com/erl