Video to DVD FAQ
Is it best to convert my video tapes to MPEG 2 files or DVDs?
We highly recommend converting to video to MPEG files because it won't be long before DVDs become obsolete. None of the new computers have DVD drives now, and duplicated DVDs are unreliable. This is the reason we no longer convert to DVD. Another excellent reason is that MPEG can easily be played on smart televisions.
What is the audio & video quality of the transfers?
The quality of video conversion is really based on your original material. If your original is a VHS or 8mm tape, then you will get VHS or 8mm quality. If your original is from a HI-8 or Mini DV, you will get high resolution video & digital quality sound.
What size USB or portable hard drive would I need?
When sending us your video tapes include a USB or a hard drive to save the files to, as a rough guide you would need the following sizes:
1 to 2 three hour tapes send a 16 gig USB
3 to 4 three hour tapes sender 32 gig USB
For 5 or more tapes send a portable hard drive. As a guide each hour of video is about's 2.8 GBs.
If you do not have any of the above we can supply a 32 GB USB for $20 or a 1 TB portable hard drive for $98 which includes copying your files to the appropriate drive. PLEASE NOTE: We are PC-based so when sending drives to us please send us ones that are formatted for PC not MAC. MAC users can access PC formatted drives but PC users cannot access MAC formatted drives.
If I don't pick them up how much will the courier charge be to return my videos.
Auckland pack and courier charge is $12 to a business address. NZ Couriers charge a $3 surcharge to residential so cost is $15. Rest of New Zealand $25. We use tracked New Zealand Couriers for Auckland and tracked Courier Post for rest of New Zealand.
Can I view the MPEG file on my PC or smart TV?
Yes you can play the files directly from the USB or hard drive on either your computer or a smart TV. For safety's sake you should definitely back up your files just in case anything goes wrong with the USB or the portable hard drive.
Can I edit the MPEG 2 files on my computer?
Yes, MPEG 2 files are digital so if you have the appropriate software you can edit the files. Check out some editing software suggestions at the bottom of this page.
How long does it take to get to get the job done?
If the conversion is for a business and is urgently required we can usually do them the same day, otherwise they are usually done within a few days, although 10 or more may take a week or two.
What format can my video tape be?
We can transfer most common tape formats such as VHS tapes, Mini DV tapes, HI-8 tapes, Digital 8 tapes. etc.
Can you convert NTSC VHS tapes?
Yes we can convert both PAL and NTSC VHS video tapes.
Can you make transfers from a tape recorded at the slow speed?
Yes, however the faster the speed your tape was recorded at, the better the quality.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
What format is best for you to use for editing the video files that we supply you?
Today’s computer age gives most people the opportunity to edit their own video tapes using digital technologies. However, before they can do so the tapes have to be converted to a digital format. There are many video file formats available, each with different features and benefits. The three most popular video file formats are AVI, MP4 and MPEG, also called "container formats.
Containers are a collections of files containing all the components of a video such as video, audio, subtitles and chapter information. Each container format supports different video and audio formats and compression types giving each format benefits and disadvantages.
The following is a brief description of each of these formats:
AVI
Microsoft's AVI format is an uncompressed video format, which retains the original quality of the video, however, because there is no compression of file size of the AVI format can be extremely large. The AVI file format supports a wide range of video and audio formats in variable frame and bit rates. This makes it an ideal format for storing and editing video, but because the size it is not suitable for distributing the video via the Internet or even on physical media.
MP4
Also known as MPEG-4 was developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group. MP4 supports compression, subtitles, multiple data types and streaming. Due to the trade-off between video quality and having a much smaller file size, MP4s our frequently used to distribute video via the Internet. It is supported by most video editors and allows the use of lossless compression codecs, so the entire workflow can be managed in MP4 format.
MPEG
The MPEG video file format uses MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 compression. It is commonly used to distribute video on DVDs.etc. Adam Design converts videos to be MPEG 2 format. MPEG2 produces impeccable quality that is superior to MPEG-4. MPEG-2 is the industry standard and capable of handling video streams from local sources like DVDs and broadcast applications. So it is best to edit the MPEG-2 files we supply you with in suitable editing software. After you have edited your files you can play them on a smart TV or computer. If you want to send the files to friends via the Internet or to save them to YouTube or use them for streaming then you should convert the finished MPEG digital file to the MP4 format as they are much smaller files an MPEG 2.
Here are some suitable editing software ideas:
Avidemux Free Video Editor (We have had feedback from clients saying that this software was quite good)
VSDC Free Video Editor
Windows Movie Maker (Free trial available here)
Lightworks (A fee applies)
Adobe Premiere (A professional software package, expensive)
We highly recommend converting to video to MPEG files because it won't be long before DVDs become obsolete. None of the new computers have DVD drives now, and duplicated DVDs are unreliable. This is the reason we no longer convert to DVD. Another excellent reason is that MPEG can easily be played on smart televisions.
What is the audio & video quality of the transfers?
The quality of video conversion is really based on your original material. If your original is a VHS or 8mm tape, then you will get VHS or 8mm quality. If your original is from a HI-8 or Mini DV, you will get high resolution video & digital quality sound.
What size USB or portable hard drive would I need?
When sending us your video tapes include a USB or a hard drive to save the files to, as a rough guide you would need the following sizes:
1 to 2 three hour tapes send a 16 gig USB
3 to 4 three hour tapes sender 32 gig USB
For 5 or more tapes send a portable hard drive. As a guide each hour of video is about's 2.8 GBs.
If you do not have any of the above we can supply a 32 GB USB for $20 or a 1 TB portable hard drive for $98 which includes copying your files to the appropriate drive. PLEASE NOTE: We are PC-based so when sending drives to us please send us ones that are formatted for PC not MAC. MAC users can access PC formatted drives but PC users cannot access MAC formatted drives.
If I don't pick them up how much will the courier charge be to return my videos.
Auckland pack and courier charge is $12 to a business address. NZ Couriers charge a $3 surcharge to residential so cost is $15. Rest of New Zealand $25. We use tracked New Zealand Couriers for Auckland and tracked Courier Post for rest of New Zealand.
Can I view the MPEG file on my PC or smart TV?
Yes you can play the files directly from the USB or hard drive on either your computer or a smart TV. For safety's sake you should definitely back up your files just in case anything goes wrong with the USB or the portable hard drive.
Can I edit the MPEG 2 files on my computer?
Yes, MPEG 2 files are digital so if you have the appropriate software you can edit the files. Check out some editing software suggestions at the bottom of this page.
How long does it take to get to get the job done?
If the conversion is for a business and is urgently required we can usually do them the same day, otherwise they are usually done within a few days, although 10 or more may take a week or two.
What format can my video tape be?
We can transfer most common tape formats such as VHS tapes, Mini DV tapes, HI-8 tapes, Digital 8 tapes. etc.
Can you convert NTSC VHS tapes?
Yes we can convert both PAL and NTSC VHS video tapes.
Can you make transfers from a tape recorded at the slow speed?
Yes, however the faster the speed your tape was recorded at, the better the quality.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
What format is best for you to use for editing the video files that we supply you?
Today’s computer age gives most people the opportunity to edit their own video tapes using digital technologies. However, before they can do so the tapes have to be converted to a digital format. There are many video file formats available, each with different features and benefits. The three most popular video file formats are AVI, MP4 and MPEG, also called "container formats.
Containers are a collections of files containing all the components of a video such as video, audio, subtitles and chapter information. Each container format supports different video and audio formats and compression types giving each format benefits and disadvantages.
The following is a brief description of each of these formats:
AVI
Microsoft's AVI format is an uncompressed video format, which retains the original quality of the video, however, because there is no compression of file size of the AVI format can be extremely large. The AVI file format supports a wide range of video and audio formats in variable frame and bit rates. This makes it an ideal format for storing and editing video, but because the size it is not suitable for distributing the video via the Internet or even on physical media.
MP4
Also known as MPEG-4 was developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group. MP4 supports compression, subtitles, multiple data types and streaming. Due to the trade-off between video quality and having a much smaller file size, MP4s our frequently used to distribute video via the Internet. It is supported by most video editors and allows the use of lossless compression codecs, so the entire workflow can be managed in MP4 format.
MPEG
The MPEG video file format uses MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 compression. It is commonly used to distribute video on DVDs.etc. Adam Design converts videos to be MPEG 2 format. MPEG2 produces impeccable quality that is superior to MPEG-4. MPEG-2 is the industry standard and capable of handling video streams from local sources like DVDs and broadcast applications. So it is best to edit the MPEG-2 files we supply you with in suitable editing software. After you have edited your files you can play them on a smart TV or computer. If you want to send the files to friends via the Internet or to save them to YouTube or use them for streaming then you should convert the finished MPEG digital file to the MP4 format as they are much smaller files an MPEG 2.
Here are some suitable editing software ideas:
Avidemux Free Video Editor (We have had feedback from clients saying that this software was quite good)
VSDC Free Video Editor
Windows Movie Maker (Free trial available here)
Lightworks (A fee applies)
Adobe Premiere (A professional software package, expensive)
Adam Design and Video Conversion Auckland, 33 Vinistra Road, Huapai, Kumeu, West Auckland 0810.
Phone 09 412 2314
Phone 09 412 2314