Family Tree Digital Memories; FAQ's

FAQ's

Why edit the tapes?
How long does it take to do my production?
How long should my video be?
What equipment should I use to show my video?
What if I have material that I want to use that is copyrighted?

Film Transfer FAQs

What if I just want my films transferred?
What size film do I have?

Technical FAQs

What type of DVD do you use?
What do DVD-R and DVD+R mean?
What time length limitations do your DVDs have?

Video Production FAQ's

Why edit the tapes?
When you made your films and videos you probably filmed an entire event just so you wouldn’t miss an exciting moment. While 15 to 30 seconds of Johnny getting a hit at the baseball game is exciting, the entire two hours of a non-eventful game is not. We try to keep your Family Tree Music Video exciting by using just the highlights of your films and videos. Since you keep the original transfer copies also, you can always go back and view the entire event if you want.

How long does it take to do my production?
Generally, 1-2 weeks, depending upon the amount of the order received. Sometimes it is possible to complete small orders right away. When your production date is arranged in advance this guarantees that you’ll have enough time for previewing any changes so it is completed for your special event.

How long should my video be?
If the video is for your personal use it can be any length. If it is for a group and requires their complete attention it should be under 15 minutes in length. If it is for a large group with passive viewing it can be any length.

What equipment should I use to show my video?
If you are showing your video to a large group you should use video projection equipment for the best effect. A 6-foot diagonal or 8-foot screen is best, depending on the size of the audience. Also, make arrangements to output the video’s sound to the public address system in the room. If desired, we provide a projection service. This way the proper equipment will be set up to show your production and you can sit back and enjoy the show. Let us worry about the details.

What if I have material that I want to use that is copyrighted?
Duplicating anything bearing a USA copyright is illegal.

Film Transfer FAQs

What if I just want my films transferred?
We can do just a straight transfer for you if you really want us to, but you will be missing out on a lot of great memories by not doing a full Family Tree Digital Memories video. 8mm films only cover about 50 years of history and most families don’t cover more than 10 or 15 years with films. Photographs have been around for 150 years and family painting and drawings even longer. We can put together a full A&E style documentary production using all your various materials and media.

What size film do I have?
Compare your film to the following images.

Technical FAQs

What type of DVD do you use?
FTDM transfers your video tapes onto DVD-R. Make sure your DVD player can read DVD-R discs. If not, then we will use a DVD+R format.

What do DVD-R and DVD+R mean?
DVD -R and DVD +R mean Digital Video/Versatile Disk, Recordable. Most modern and future DVD players will accept these, just like the mass produced stamped-out DVDs. Some older players may balk at playing them. If you are not sure, we can loan you a sample DVD-R disk and DVD +R disk for you to try. If it will play one of the samples, we will know which format to use.

What time length limitations do your DVDs have?
The DVD-R recorder we use has a fixed amount of real estate but we can use a variable bit rate to fit the video time to the space. A full VHS tape often will have 2 hr. and 2 or 3 minutes. We can accommodate these extra minutes but you must let us know ahead of time or we will set the time for 2 hours.