Tape-to-Drive Solutions

 

 

Are you?

hoping to "re-purpose" your various format videotapes for your current production?
hoping to "digitize" your tapes for video streaming on the web?

in need of converting current video material into ready-to-edit files to edit on your computer?

Why now?

 The trend is increasingly toward "files."  We are in a new landscape generally called the "digital domain"  and enthusiasm and mandates abound to integrate "previously recorded" invaluable material into this domain.  What makes the migration feasible? The prices of media storage are dropping in seeming proportion to the rise in capacity. Off-the-shelf video editing programs now include features to output for a variety of access needs including video streaming.  Having proved the concept within the high definition film-to-hard drive workflow in our technical initiatives division Bonolabs, we are now ready to offer the tape-to-drive option for our NTSC video clients.
It does not take a keen observer to be aware of the wealth of moving image material that has been recorded onto an incredible number of videotape formats over the years. Videotape has been a medium of choice for its "instant playback"  and re-record capacities, its portability (in recent years),  and for its perceived budget savings. However, there have been about 100 videotape formats since the birth of videotape. In many cases it is no longer desirable to duplicate content to yet another videotape format. Although we do not offer conversions from all video formats, we provide our tape-to-drive services for the current popular professional and consumer formats as well as the obsolete formats listed below. Please do not send tapes with formats other than those listed below. NTSC only, please.

How does the service work?
Current Digital Formats Current Analog Formats Obsolete Analog Formats

1. Send us your tapes along with the order form (PDF)
  • Digital Betacam
  • DV Cam
  • Mini DV
  • Betacam SP
  • Betacam
  • Hi 8
  • VHS
  • SVHS
  • Betamax
  • 1-inch
  • 3/4-inch (U-matic)
  • 1/2-inch open reel helical scan
  • 2-inch QUAD (download pricelist)

2. We convert & transfer the files to external Bono hard drives or client SATA drives (must be new from the manufacturer). Theses are 8-bit uncompressed PC AVI or  MAC QuickTime files with Black Magic codec.
  • $3.75 per runtime minute for current digital and analog tape formats and 3/4-inch and Betamax obsolete formats
  • $150 per hour for 1-inch transfers
  • $175 for 1/2-inch open reel transfers
  • $345 for one hour 2-inch QUAD transfers
  • 30-minute minimum for each format
  • $20 "obsolete" machine fee is charged for each 3 client vintage tapes due to head clogging tendencies for 1-inch, Betamax and 3/4-inch machines
  • $52 lab labor for 1/2-inch open reel and 2-inch QUAD machines for head cleaning and machine adjustments. One hour minimum.
3. We send you the appropriate size drive for your material. (1.5 gigabytes = one minute)
  • Client pays for transport "to and fro," handling, and insurance for external drive
  • Client pays a refundable drive deposit
  • Client offloads files to hard drive
  • Client sends Bono drive back (3 days allowed for offload from time of receipt)
4. We return your original video material
  • Client pays for return shipment of original video material
  • Fee includes shipping costs, handling, and level of insurance chosen by client

Notes:
  • Client is expected to meet the minimum systems requirements, including sufficient RAM, storage, and appropriate video NLE application for file input and manipulation.
  • Client is responsible for understanding his or her video application. Our staff cannot provide tech support for specific applications.
  • If you would be interested in this service if the files were provided in NTFS, please complete the short survey on NTFS.
  • Additional services for obsolete formats, such as baking tapes and formal archival tape inspections, are available
  • Please be realistic when sending vintage or often played tapes; we will do our best to capture your material, but we cannot correct for bad focus, major tracking/recording errors, poor lighting conditions, dropouts

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Revised 3 April 2007