Transfers & Archivals

We provide comprehensive media transfer and archival services ranging from simple conversions to large-scale digital asset mangagement (DAM) for a variety of private clients and companies.

 

Film

Film stock consists of transparent celluloid, acetate, or polyester base which is coated with an emulsion containing light-sensitive chemicals. Even though cellulose nitrate, which was first used to record motion pictures, is no longer used, the technology is by no means meant to last for the future.

In order to preserve your material and avoid costly and sometimes even terminal conditions like vinegar syndrome it is recommended to transfer any materials into digital formats. We can process 8mm (N8), Super 8mm (S8), 16mm and 35mm film.

 

Film

Example: 16mm film, 1950s Venice/Italy. For best performance, load entire clip before watching.

 

Film - Vinegar Syndrome

First reported by the Government of India in 1948, the issue of "cellulose triacetate degradation" was a result of high temperature and high humidity storage. The components of the film break and eventually lead to a characteristic smell of vinegar. At a later stage, the film becomes brittle and easily breaks or physically shrinks. Pink or blue dots can occur on the film.

Studies conducted by the Image Permanence Institute have shown that fresh acetate film stored at a temperature of 65°F (18°C) and 50% relative humidity will last approximately 50 years. Some of our film transfers have been from reels dating back to the 1940s and have provided good quality films, almost 70 years later.

 

Video

Magnetic tape of any kind is vulnerable and does not have a long life expectancy, particularly when stored outside of controlled environments.

Dropouts and physical tape problems are likely to render the material irreparable. Any footage on tape, particularly testimony and other important material is safer once converterd to digital format.

Some of the formats we transfer include:

• VHS, S-VHS, C-VHS, D-VHS
• 8mm/Video8
• Hi8
• Digital8
• Sony MV
• Betamax and Superbeta
• DV/DVCAM, DVC/DVCPro
• HDV/HDTV (720p, 1080i, 1080p)
• Umatic LB, HB
• Betacam SP, Betacam SX, Digibeta, Beta IMX
• Digital-S/D-9, D-3, D-2
• Video 2000 2x4 / 4x8
• Sony & Philips VCR (Helical Scan/Open Reel)
• VCR HS/LS, CVC, 1"B, 1"C, Laservision CVR, HDVS
• CDI, DVD
• Laserdisc

 

Audio

Almost 150 years ago, the first audio recording ever was made. Without the help of modern forensic technology, it would have been impossible to digitize these treasures.

Depending on the material, recording and storage conditions in combination with a number of other factors the quality of audio recordings can make them unusable for future archival. Uncommon or antique formats or poor quality can, but should not make a recording worthless.

• 24 track 2" (Lyrec)
• 16 track 2" (Studer) & 16 track 1" (Otari)
•   8 track ½" (Otari)
•   4 track ¼" (Docorder)
•   2 track ¼" (Fostex and Sony)
•   1 track ¼" (Uher)


• 24 track DASH Sony, ADAT, TASCAM, AKAI ADAM
•   8 track YAMAHA MOD, STUDER MOD
•   4 track AKAI MOD


• DAT, Mini Disc
• DCC, MC, Microcassette, Minicassette
• PAG (SP / LP Vinyl)

 

Microfilm & Mircofiche

With its roots dating back over 170 years ago, Microfilm and Microfiche media stores documents that have been micro-photographed by a planetary camera which mounted with the vertical axis above a copy that is stationary during exposure. The copy is moved through the camera to expose film which moves with the reduced image.

Contact us today for your microfilm and microfiche transfer assignments.

 

Photographic Media

Boehm & Boehm provides a broad range of imaging services for documents, photographs and other photograpic material. We use a variety of different scanners and cameras to capture any type of photographic media, including x-rays and other media.