Frequently asked questions
- Cine Film
- Video
- 35mm Slides
Do I get my films back?
Yes. We give you everything back cleaned and and ready for archiving.
Do you transfer to DVD or Blu-ray ?
No. Discs are becoming obsolete and are nowhere near as useful as having a full digital version. We provide you with the full HD files on either USB memory stick or portable hard-drive, depending on the size of the order.
What transfer method do you use?
New for 2023, our Phoenix 5K full frame scanner gives us our most significant camera system update ever, offering next-level image quality in a 16-megapixels frame scan. Our scanner takes individual photographs of each cell of your film from 8mm all the way up to 35mm film. You can have your film scanned in 2K, High Definition, or 4K Ultra High Definition. AI technology is then used to remove dust, remove harsh noise while recovering real detail, restore colours and create an artefact-free perfect 24fps movie.
My film is damaged – can it still be transferred?
Yes. We specialise in very old, damaged film at Alive Studios so we have no problem handling it. We do not generally charge any more money for film that is in a poor state, but if we do feel it requires additional time we would always tell you as soon as we saw it so you have no worry about your price increasing. Where splices break, we repair them without charge. If a film is temperamental and doesn’t want to go through we will always try it in several machines to make sure it’s had it’s best shot at a transfer. Where sprocket holes are punctured or torn, we will still transfer the film, often with no visible problems. However, some sprocket damage prevents a steady image from being obtained, in which case we transfer the whole film, then edit out any sections which ‘jump’ or drag because of the damage. This way we keep as much film as possible, and with careful editing you don’t even notice any is missing.
Can you scan Negative film?
Yes we do scan negative cine film
Can you transfer sound from cine film?
Yes we can transfer both optical and magnetic soundtracks from 8mm and 16mm film.
What format do you transfer to?
MPEG-4 (H.264) to a USB stick we also offer a backup copy in ProRes format to a Hard Drive
Media format times
MPEG HD: (2.3GB per 200ft)
MPEG 4K: (5.7GB per 200ft)
ProRes 422 HD: (18gb per 200ft)
ProRes 422 4K: (67gb per 200ft)
What about extra copies?
We will keep your film on our edit suite for 30 days to allow you time to order your extra USB sticks or hard-drives.
Where are you located?
Our studio is in Teignmouth, Devon which is in the South West of England.
How do I get my films to you?
We provide a FREE collection and delivery service from anywhere in the UK. We can also arrange collection/delivery from outside the UK for a small fee. You can also drop your films off in person just give us a call before setting off.
How long will my order take?
This is a tricky question. We receive orders from a single reel (takes a few days) to a room-full (could be months), so we’d need to know what you’re sending to give a lead-time. We find we are in high demand and always have lots of work already scheduled in, so if your order is needed in a hurry, just phone and tell us what you need 🙂
Do I get my tapes back?
Yes. We give you everything back cleaned and ready for archiving.
Do you transfer to DVD or Blu-ray ?
No. Discs are becoming obsolete and are nowhere near as useful as having a full digital version. We provide you with the full HD files on either USB memory stick or portable hard-drive, depending on the size of the order.
What format do you transfer to?
MPEG-4 (H.264) to a USB stick we also offer a backup copy in ProRes format to a Hard Drive
Media format times
MPEG HD: (9.1GB per 1hr)
MPEG 4K: (23GB per 1hr)
ProRes 422 HD: (57GB per 1hr)
ProRes 422 4K: (223GB per 1hr)
What about extra copies?
We will keep your film on our edit suite for 30 days to allow you time to order your extra USB sticks or hard-drives.
Where are you located?
Our studio is in Teignmouth, Devon which is in the South West of England.
How do I get my tapes to you?
We provide a FREE collection and delivery service from anywhere in the UK. We can also arrange collection/delivery from outside the UK for a small fee. You can also drop your films off in person just give us a call before setting off.
How long will my order take?
This is a tricky question. We receive orders from a single tape (takes a few days) to a room-full (could be months), so we’d need to know what you’re sending to give a lead-time. We find we are in high demand and always have lots of work already scheduled in, so if your order is needed in a hurry, just phone and tell us what you need 🙂
Do I get my 35mm slides back?
Yes. We give you everything back cleand and ready for archiving.
Do you transfer to DVD or Blu-ray ?
No. Discs are becoming obsolete and are nowhere near as useful as having a full digital version. We provide you with the full resolution 5300×3500 files on either USB memory stick or portable hard-drive, depending on the size of the order.
What file format do I get my slides back in
JPEG on a USB Stick
What about extra copies?
We will keep your slides on our edit suite for 30 days to allow you time to order your extra USB sticks or hard-drives.
Where are you located?
Our studio is in Teignmouth, Devon which is in the South West of England.
How do I get my 35mm slides to you?
We provide a FREE collection and delivery service from anywhere in the UK. We can also arrange collection/delivery from outside the UK for a small fee. You can also drop your films off in person just give us a call before setting off.
How long will my order take?
This is a tricky question. We receive orders from a 50 slide to a 5000, so we’d need to know what you’re sending to give a lead-time. We find we are in high demand and always have several weeks of work already scheduled in, so if your order is needed in a hurry, just phone and tell us what you need 🙂