I don’t know about you, but I have a huge box of old videotapes that I would LOVE to have converted to DVD.

Some are old home movies, some are professional video stories and documentaries I produced twenty and thirty years ago. I actually have footage of me as a newborn baby! The rest of the box contains the next 50 years of my life.

Yup, there I am competing in AAU swimming and graduating from high school. (Well…actually it’s Steven Burke graduating from high school. My dad was a bit distracted and just filmed the first person he saw with long blond hair.)

I have old u-Matic 3/4 inch video, 1 inch video reel-to-reel video, 8mm film, VHS and Professional Beta. Problem is, I can’t LOOK at any of it because I do not have the right equipment to view it on.

The solution is to find a place that does have all the proper equipment and pay them to convert it all to DVD.

It’s on my to-do list.

Lucky for me, I just met a guy who might actually help me cross it off that infinitely huge list.

Tom Pryor worked for years as a professional film editor in the L.A. area. He now owns a website offering old file format conversion.  They do both video and audio files.

In addition to conversion, Tom and his team can edit your stuff to add some pizazz.  So if those ancient 8mm movies of me winning the 50 meter freestyle at the AAU open back when I was ten look green, he can apply color correction.  He could also add music, sound effects, titles and special effects.  As a former Hollywood film editor, Tom could take my life and turn it into an actually-fun-to-watch video extravaganza.

Maybe he could even put my head on Steven Burke accepting his diploma.  (It’s OK Dad, I know graduation ceremonies are boring.)

Tom wrote a brief article for Video Production Tips readers explaining everything they do.    Here it is.

AzCopyCats offers conversions for 45, 33 & 1/3, 78 and audio cassette to CD.  These conversions are done in house by myself or my partner Peter.  All audio conversions are labeled with either a scan from the album cover or the side one label from the record.  If there are no covers we use an appropriate generic label.  The audio tracks are separated and run through de-click programs which will remove 90% to 95% of the clicks and pops inherent with older records.

The video side of AzCopyCats is the area that both Pete and I really love. We convert VHS, BETA and Mini 8 tapes to DVD.  These can be straight conversions to DVD or fully edited versions with as much input as the client chooses to add to the process.  We cast off  the shackles of home video and create a true movie experience through the use of professional editing.  Titles, blowups, move ins, color correction and music are just a few of the tools that we use in this process.

There are many services that know how to operate editing software, but very few that know how to edit.  AzCopyCats is the only service that allows you to have your video edited by an A.C.E. (American Cinema Editors) editor with 30 years experience. Whether you want us to edit your video on our own or if you want full input as the cut progresses is totally up to you.

We can send out your 8mm and 16mm film for conversion but we actually recommend that you do that so that you know what you have before we begin the editing process. Most film houses do one lite conversions (the entire film reel is set to one exposure), so to get the best quality the brightness must be adjusted for the black and white reels and the color corrected on the color reels for maximum viewing quality.  With professional video editing, scene transitions, titles and music you can change awkward silent home movies into an adventure back in time!

AzCopyCats also converts slides and photos to  CD slide shows. For this format we offer straight conversions and a fully edited, color enhanced version with your choice of music and titles.

AzCopyCats offers a full range of services from straight conversion to the ultimate experience for the discriminating client who wants a unique listening or viewing experience that is matched by none in the industry.

We look forward to preserving and bringing life to your memories.

Thomas M. Pryor A.C.E.

Thanks Tom.  In the not-too-distant future, expect a BIG box from me!

Thanks for reading Video Production Tips

Lorraine Grula

Internet Video Gal