Frequently Asked Questions

We’re open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. We remain open throughout the day and do not close for lunch.

We are closed on select holidays. Any holiday closures will be announced on our website, our Yelp and Google Business pages, and on signs posted in our lobby.

No appointment is needed. Please visit anytime during our regular business hours.

Yes. We accept mail-in projects from customers throughout the United States. You can ship your tapes, film, photos, audio recordings, and other media directly to our Pasadena location for transfer.

Before sending your materials, we recommend using our Custom Estimate tool to outline the media and services included in your project. This helps us understand what you are sending and provides you with an estimated project cost before your materials arrive.

When packing your media, please make sure everything is securely protected during shipping and include your contact information and any relevant project instructions inside the package. For larger or more complex collections, we encourage you to contact us before shipping so we can help you determine the best way to organize and send your materials.

Once your project is complete, we can return your original media along with any requested storage devices or other deliverables. Return shipping costs will be included with your final project charges.

Our address is 1785 Locust Street, Suite 1, Pasadena, CA. We are located at the intersection of Locust Street and Allen Avenue, about a block south of the 210 Freeway.

We have free parking in our lot. Enter through the green gate and use any open, unmarked space. Disabled spaces require the appropriate placard or license plate. Please do not park in front of warehouse doors marked “No Parking.”

The residential section of street parking on Locust Street is by permit only.

Directions

• From 210 East: Take the Hill Avenue exit, turn right onto Allen Avenue, turn right onto Locust Street, then make an immediate right through the green gate into our parking lot.
• From 210 West: Take the Allen Avenue exit, turn left onto Allen Avenue, turn right onto Locust Street, then make an immediate right through the green gate into our parking lot.

The cost of a transfer depends on the type and quantity of media in your project, as well as the work required to transfer it properly. Pricing can vary based on factors such as the format, length of the recording, condition of the media, availability of specialized playback equipment, and the amount of
preparation or hands-on work involved.

Our custom online estimate tool makes it easy to build an estimate based on the specific media in your collection and the services you would like us to provide. You can select your formats, quantities, transfer options, and other project requirements to get a better idea of the expected cost before bringing or sending
your materials to us.?

For larger collections, the estimate tool can also help you compare options and plan a project around your budget—whether you want to transfer everything at once or complete the work in stages.

We offer volume discounts on many Video, Audio, and Photo transfer services. To get a detailed quote based on the media you have, check out our Custom Estimate tool to begin pricing your project.

We accept cash, checks, Zelle, and all major credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Zelle payments may be sent to zelle@lavideotransfer.com. Please include your invoice or ticket number when submitting payment.

For approved projects valued at more than $500, a 50% deposit is required before work begins. For all other projects, payment is due when the final invoice is issued.

Completed projects cannot be released, shipped, or delivered until payment has been received in full.

When you log into our Order Status gateway, your connection is secure. Payments and other actions completed through the gateway are encrypted.

We can return your transferred media in several ways depending on the type of project and how you plan to use the finished files.

Digital files can be saved to a USB flash drive or external hard drive. You are welcome to provide your own compatible storage device, or you can purchase a flash drive or external hard drive directly from us. We can also provide files through a downloadable link for a small additional fee.

For projects that require optical media, we can provide DVDs for standard-definition video and Blu-ray discs for high-definition video. Audio projects may also be delivered on CD when requested.

Your original media will be returned with the completed project. If your order is being shipped, we can return your original materials together with any storage devices or physical deliverables included with the project.

A storage device is the USB flash drive or external hard drive where we save your transferred digital files.The amount of storage needed depends on the number and length of your recordings and the digital file format or codec selected for your project.

You are welcome to bring your own storage device or purchase one from us. To help protect unrelated files, we recommend providing a blank drive or one that does not contain important files. Please make sure anything already on the device has been backed up, because the drive may need to be reformatted before use.

If you do not have a storage device or would prefer not to provide one, we can also deliver your files through a downloadable link for a small additional fee. Our team can help you choose the storage option and capacity that best fits your project.

The amount of storage your project requires depends on several factors, including the type and quantity of media being transferred, the length of the recordings, the resolution of the transfer, and the digital file format or codec selected.

Projects intended primarily for viewing and sharing generally require less storage than projects delivered in higher-quality editing, production, or archival formats. Film scans, high-definition video, and uncompressed or lightly compressed files can require significantly more space than standard viewing files.

You are welcome to provide your own USB flash drive or external hard drive, or you can purchase an appropriately sized storage device from us. Our team can review your project and recommend the amount of storage you are likely to need based on the transfer options you select.

If your project grows beyond the capacity of the original storage device, we can work with you to determine the best way to accommodate the additional files.

We label digital files in a clear, consistent way so they are easy to identify, organize, and match with the original media.

Whenever possible, file names are based on information already provided on the tape, disc, reel, photo container, album, sleeve, or project paperwork. We also use numbered or serialized labels to connect digital files or folders with the corresponding physical items.

For larger or more detailed projects, we can work with you to create a custom naming and folder structure based on dates, subjects, events, departments, or other information that is meaningful to your collection. Our goal is to return files in an organized structure that is easy to browse and use.

Yes. If your organization already uses an inventory, numbering, labeling, or file-naming system, we can work within that structure whenever possible.

Before beginning the project, we’ll review the information already associated with your media—such as asset numbers, tape labels, reel numbers, dates, departments, event names, or other identifiers—and use that information to help organize the transferred files.

We can also maintain the relationship between physical media and digital files by using corresponding labels, filenames, and folder structures. For larger or more detailed collections, we can work with you to establish a customized naming convention that fits your existing archive or internal workflow.

Our goal is to return your files in a structure that is organized, consistent, and easy to match back to the original materials.

Yes. For projects that require both long-term preservation and convenient everyday access, we can provide more than one version of the transferred media.

A preservation master can be created using a higher-quality file format intended to retain as much information from the original transfer as practical for archiving, editing, or future use. We can then create separate access or viewing copies in more convenient formats that are easier to play, share, or distribute.

The specific formats will depend on the source media and your project requirements. For example, a project may include a high-quality master file along with a smaller MP4 viewing copy, or an archival-quality image file along with JPEG access copies.

For organizational, institutional, or archival projects, we can work with you to determine the appropriate combination of preservation and access files based on how the collection will be stored, managed, and used.

Yes. We work with businesses, organizations, institutions, and other clients that have larger collections requiring more structure than a typical individual transfer project.

For these projects, we can help organize media by format, container, department, event, date, asset number, or another system that fits the collection. We can also use serialized labels, customized file names, and folder structures to help maintain a clear relationship between the original physical media and the completed digital files.

Depending on the project, we can also provide multiple deliverables, such as preservation-quality master files and separate viewing or access copies, and work within an existing inventory or naming system when one is already in place.

For larger collections, we recommend discussing the project with us before work begins so we can review the media, organization requirements, desired file formats, storage needs, and overall workflow. This allows us to build a transfer process that is appropriate for the size and complexity of the collection.

Every transfer project is a little different, so turnaround times can vary. Factors such as the condition of your media, the format being transferred, the size of your project, and our current workload can all affect how long the process takes. Tapes with mold, damage, or playback issues may also need extra time for cleaning, evaluation, or reconditioning before we can safely transfer them.

Tape transfers happen in real time. A two-hour tape takes at least two hours to capture, and some recordings may require additional passes if portions do not transfer clearly the first time.

Most projects are completed in about one week, although timing cannot always be guaranteed. Feel free to call us or stop by and we can review your project and provide a better idea of the expected turnaround time.

We can transfer your tapes to digital video files, optical discs such as DVD or Blu-ray, or a combination of formats, depending on how you would like to watch, store, edit, and share your recordings.

Digital files can be saved to a USB flash drive or external hard drive. You are welcome to bring your own compatible storage device or purchase one from us. We can also provide files through a downloadable link for a small additional fee.

We offer several digital file formats and codecs based on your needs, including options for easy viewing and sharing, editing, professional post-production, or long-term archiving. If you prefer an optical disc, the type of disc depends on the resolution of the original recording. Standard-definition video can be authored to DVD, while high-definition video is better suited to Blu-ray, which supports HD resolution and greater storage capacity. Our team can help you choose the delivery format that best matches your source material and how you plan to use the finished transfer.

Our goal is to create the best possible transfer from your original media while remaining faithful to the format, resolution, and character of the recording. We take great care during playback and capture to preserve the original picture and sound quality as accurately as possible.

When appropriate, we make minor technical adjustments to help the transferred video display properly on modern televisions, computers, and other devices. Depending on the selected file format and delivery requirements, final files may also be optimized for today’s digital environments without unnecessarily altering the original recording.

In many cases, tapes are more resilient than they appear. Even media that is old, dusty, damaged, or no longer plays properly on home equipment may still contain recordings that can be recovered.

Our team has experience working with a wide range of tape formats and media conditions. We carefully inspect each tape and, when necessary, may clean, repair, recondition, or make multiple playback attempts to achieve the best possible transfer.

Severe damage, mold, deterioration, or a lack of recorded content may limit what can be recovered. However, a tape should not be considered untransferable until it has been properly evaluated. We can assess its condition and explain the available options before moving forward.

Yes. Some older video tapes can develop age-related deterioration that makes them difficult or unsafe to play. In certain cases, the tape’s recording surface may become unstable and begin shedding material during playback. When appropriate, we can carefully “bake” or thermally recondition the tape to temporarily stabilize the media and improve the chances of a successful transfer.

Not every video tape requires—or is suitable for—this process. Before attempting playback, our team can evaluate the condition of the tape and determine whether baking, cleaning, repair, or another type of preparation is appropriate. Because the benefits of thermal reconditioning may only be temporary, tapes that require this treatment should be digitized as soon as they are ready for safe playback.

We use a frame-by-frame FilmFabriek scanner with a sprocketless capstan transport system. Each film frame is captured individually rather than being projected in real time. The film is backlit by LED during scanning, and the captured frames can be assembled into the final motion-picture file or delivered as an image sequence when requested.

Before scanning, we inspect the film for stability and signs of damage. The sprocketless transport moves the film without relying on the sprocket holes, which is especially helpful with older film that may have weakened, damaged, or shrunken sprocket areas. Film tension can also be adjusted based on the condition of the material.

We offer several scanning resolutions for 8mm, Super 8, and 16mm film, depending on the level of detail you need and how you plan to use the finished video.

HD Scan – 1440 x 1080
A cropped image sized for convenient viewing on modern televisions, computers, and other devices.

2K Overscan – 2048 x 1080
Captures a wider area of the film frame, including more information near the edges, providing additional flexibility for editing, reframing, stabilization, and archival use.

4K Cropped UHD – 2880 x 2160
Captures the film at a higher resolution while presenting a clean, cropped image intended for modern 4K viewing environments.

4K DCI Overscan – 4096 x 2160
Captures a larger area around the original film frame at DCI 4K resolution and is suited to projects requiring greater image detail, professional editing, restoration, or archival preservation.

Full Sensor Scan – 5320 x 4600
Provides the complete area recorded by the scanner, giving editors and preservation professionals maximum flexibility for cropping, repositioning, stabilization, and restoration.

Our team can help you select the best resolution based on your film format, budget, and plans for the finished files.

We can provide film transfers in several formats depending on how you plan to watch, edit, share, or preserve them.

MP4 files are our most common option because they are easy to play on computers, televisions, and mobile devices and are convenient for sharing.

For editing, restoration, or professional production, we can provide high-quality QuickTime ProRes 422 HQ files. We can also deliver film as a TIFF image sequence or DPX files for projects that require frame-by- frame image files and greater post-production flexibility.

For customers who prefer physical media, film transfers can also be provided on DVD or Blu-ray.

Your film is handled with great care throughout the transfer process. Before scanning, we inspect each reel for damaged splices, torn sprocket holes, shrinkage, warping, brittleness, and other signs of deterioration that could affect safe handling.

Our FilmFabriek frame-by-frame scanner uses a sprocketless capstan transport system. Unlike projectors and some older transfer machines that pull film through by its sprocket holes, this system gently moves the film without relying on those holes for transport. The scanner also allows film tension to be adjusted based
on the condition of the material.

When necessary, we can repair damaged splices or recommend additional preparation before scanning. Although severely deteriorated film may carry some risk because of its existing condition, we take reasonable precautions to protect your originals and will discuss significant concerns before proceeding.

Yes, we can transfer film with most common types of sound. Keep in mind that not every reel was originally recorded with an audio track.

When sound is present, we can transfer magnetic edge-track and optical audio from both 8mm and 16mm film. At this time, we are not able to transfer 16mm film with a full-coat magnetic soundtrack.

We’ll inspect your film, identify the type of audio it contains, and let you know what transfer options are available before we begin.

Our frame-by-frame scanning process captures each film frame individually, providing greater detail and more accurate color reproduction than traditional telecine transfer methods.

Our goal is to preserve the original look and character of your film while presenting it as clearly and naturally as possible on modern televisions and monitors. As part of our standard process, we make light overall adjustments to color, brightness, and contrast to help restore faded material and optimize the finished transfer for digital viewing. This is often referred to as a “best light” scan.

Comprehensive scene-by-scene color correction is not included with our standard film-transfer service. If your project requires more customized correction or special handling, please let us know and we can discuss the available options.

We offer a range of scanning resolutions based on your original material and how you plan to use the finished images. Our scanning options begin at 600 DPI and can go up to 5,000 DPI for projects that require greater detail, enlargement, restoration, or archival-quality files.

Our team can recommend the most appropriate resolution for your photos, negatives, or slides based on your project goals.

JPEG and TIFF are two common file types used for digitized photos, slides, negatives, and transparencies. JPEG files are compressed, which makes them smaller and easier to store, view, email, share, and post online. They are a good choice for most everyday photo projects.

TIFF files are uncompressed and much larger because they preserve more image information. They are often preferred for long-term archiving, restoration, professional editing, or projects where maintaining the highest possible image quality is important.

Our team can help you choose the file type that best fits how you plan to use and preserve your images.

We organize scans to reflect the way your original materials were provided. Depending on the project, files may be grouped by slide carousel or container, storage sleeve or folder, photo album, or another structure that makes sense for your collection.

We also assign identifying numbers to containers and corresponding digital folders, making it easier to match the physical materials with the completed files. Whenever possible, scans are returned in the same order as the originals.

Before we begin, we’ll work with you to understand how you would like your collection organized and delivered.

We include basic image correction with every photo-scanning project at no additional cost. Using a combination of hardware- and software-based tools, we can reduce dust and scratches and make light color adjustments to help improve photos that have faded or become discolored over time.

More extensive restoration is not part of our standard scanning service, but we may be able to assist with specific restoration needs on a customized, case-by-case basis. Depending on the condition of the photo and the type of work required, we can review the material and discuss what options may be available.

If you have a photo that needs additional restoration or special handling, please let us know so we can evaluate it with you.

We can transfer analog or digital audio media to several delivery formats. Our most common options are audio CDs and MP3 files, and we also frequently provide high-quality WAV files.

Other file formats are available depending on your needs, including Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC), AIFF, and Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC). Whether you want files that are easy to listen to and share or higher-quality files for archiving and editing, we can help you select the right format.

Most audio is transferred at 16-bit, 48 kHz. Some digital source formats may be preserved at their original sample rate when appropriate. Higher bit depths and other custom specifications are also available upon request.

Yes. Some audio cassettes and open-reel tapes develop age-related problems that prevent them from playing safely or transferring properly. When appropriate, we can carefully “bake” or thermally recondition the tape to temporarily stabilize the recording surface and make playback possible.

Not every tape requires—or is suitable for—this process. Our team will first evaluate the media and determine whether baking, cleaning, repair, or another type of preparation offers the best chance of a successful transfer. Because the improvement may only be temporary, we recommend digitizing reconditioned tapes as soon as they are ready for playback.

Our film scanning process sets us apart from the rest.

We don’t use typical methods to preserve your memories. We use a frame-by-frame scanner that captures each individual frame of your video. This allows us to scan in high definition, and offer 1080p resolution.

Here’s how it works:

• Your film is inspected for stability and then loaded into our special scanner.
• Once the scanner is started, a high-speed camera captures each frame of the film, which is backlit by LED.
• Each captured frame is sent to a computer and converted to an image file.
• The individual image files are then combined to create a “image sequence”
• Using this image sequence, we output your film to disc or file, per your request.

Because of this process, the end result is a high quality motion picture, without any of the skipping, flickering, or other bothersome problems of a projected film. The LED light on the scanner ensures that the film cannot be burned, even if the reels were to suddenly stop spinning for any reason. The reels are turned by motor, ensuring that they are consistently in sync, so that your film is never in danger of being torn or scratched by the process.

Unfortunately, photo damage is a very common occurrence. Heat, water, smoke, mold, and even fingerprints can irreparably scar your prints, slides, and negatives. LA Video Transfer loves to reconnect you to your cherished memories by correcting varying degrees of damage, from small cracks and tears to mold damage and missing pieces.

To begin the process, we’ll scan your item using our normal procedure for the format. This could be the high resolution flatbed scanner for printed images, or the slide or negative scanner. We scan at the highest resolution possible, with no auto-corrections, so that we can get the most true digital image to start with.

After the item is scanned, our restoration specialist begins the digital manipulation process in Photoshop. Using up-to-date techniques and processes, we correct colors, remove stains, fix fading, repair tears, and fill in missing pieces. The image may be cropped slightly if the edges are torn. The main subject will never be cropped from your image.

Once the restoration is completed, we can provide a digital file or a disc copy of your image. We’ll discuss these options during your consult call.

Damaged photos need extra special attention and care in order to avoid any additional issues. We only handle your items while wearing latex gloves. Our photo restoration specialist takes pride in giving you the best end result possible.

Have a photo you would like to be restored? Request an estimate today!

We know your precious memories are cherished possessions. That’s why we handle each order carefully, by hand. We never outsource or ship your items anywhere but back to you.

Each order is inventoried upon receipt. We then place all items into individual lidded containers to protect them. Your order is processed, from beginning to end, by one dedicated transfer technician. We take the utmost care in handling every item, using safety precautions such as latex gloves, to ensure that no damage is incurred while your items are in our possession.

If your item is damaged and needs any sort of repair work done, this will be reviewed and discussed with you in detail, either during the initial consult call or before we begin the transfer process. No matter what, we will return all items to you, usually in the same condition in which they were received.