What formats of tape do you accept for conversion to DVD?

Preserve-Your-Memories currently accepts the following format tapes (all NTSC): VHS, S-VHS, VHS-C, 8mm, Hi8, MiniDV and Digital8.

Do you currently convert film to DVD?

No, we do not currently convert film to DVD or video tape.

How much video can you put on one DVD?

The generally accepted answer is that 2 hours will fit on one DVD and still provide the quality necessary for viewing. If you are placing a large order or order with tapes that contain more than two hours, we will determine whether more than two hours can fit and still meet our quality standards – if so, we will try to save you from having to pay for additional DVDs.

Do you watch my videos while they are being processed?

No, we don't. However, segments of the video are checked as part of our quality assurance process, and especially for older tapes which require restoration.

Is there any material which you don’t accept?

Yes – we will not accept any indecent materials (please don’t submit them), and cannot accept any copyrighted materials which you do not have permission to copy. Making a single copy of commercially produced video tapes for your own private, non-commercial use is generally accepted as “fair use” and can be submitted with your order. Copying a television program which you recorded yourself for later viewing (“time-shifting”) is also generally accepted as “fair use” and these materials can be submitted as well as long as they are for your own, private, non-commercial use. In these circumstances, PYM will only make single copies of your submitted order. PYM reserves the right to reject any orders which we believe are not compliant with these policies.

What if a tape is damaged during processing?

We will treat your tapes as if they were our own. However, due to many circumstances, tape damage is always a possibility. We recommend if possible that you make a backup copy of your tape prior to submitting the tape to us. The Customer Agreement, which outlines our responsibilities, must be signed prior to our processing your materials.

What are chapter marks?

Chapter marks (up to 99 on a DVD per the DVD specifications) ) are what enables “scene selection” on a commercial DVD. These are reference points on your DVD which allow you to jump directly to a particular point on the DVD (among many of the benefits of having your material on DVD). Depending on the package you select, Chapter Marks are added to your materials to provide another method for navigating your DVD.

Will your DVD play in my DVD player?

If your DVD player is reasonably current (past several years), chances are very good that it will. Preserve-Your-Memories creates fully DVD specification compliant DVDs in the DVD-R format (or +R as necessary). We suggest that you provide the make and model of your DVD player with your order (or email it in advance of your order) and we will confirm the compatibility of your DVD player with the DVDs.

I have several orders to submit at the same time – how do I do this?

You may submit as many orders at the same time as you like. However, we ask that you submit each project as it’s own order to help avoid any confusion or miscommunication.

How long will it take to get my order back?

You should expect a 2-3 week turnaround (special projects may take longer). Generally, we process orders on a first-come, first-served basis. However, if you have special needs please make them known in advance of or on your order. We will do our best to accommodate you, and will return your order as quickly as possible.

How long after I receive my order back will you maintain a copy of my project?

Generally speaking, we will maintain your project for 30 days after you receive your order so that we can answer questions and provide you additional copies if you desire (bulk conversions excluded).

What if I am not satisfied with the results?

We want you to be satisfied with everything we do. Preserve-Your-Memories provides a 30 day warranty for all workmanship and materials (see Customer Agreement on Order Form for details). In addition, for complex projects, we will work with you to review a draft of your project before it is made final. If you do have any problems with your order, we want to know and will work with you to rectify them – our objective is to have satisfied customers!

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept personal checks and all major credit cards. Your credit card will be billed under “Preserve-Your-Memories”.

How long will the DVD’s last?

Based on testing by DVD manufacturers, DVD’s are believed to have an 80-100 year lifespan, but have not been around long enough to prove that out. However, it is strongly believed that DVD’s should last much longer than video tapes, which are only expected to last 10-15 years by many estimates. The DVD’s are not subject to the same factors which cause video tapes to become unusable and are superior in many other ways. All of our own videos at PYM have been transferred to DVD for safe keeping!