Frequently Asked Questions

We offer transfer, restoration, and conversion services for various video formats, including VHS, SVHS, VHS-C, HI8, MiniDV, Video 8, Digital 8, MicroMV, and Betamax tapes. We also handle 8mm, Super 8mm, 16mm, and 35mm film reels, as well as digital sources such as camcorders, SD cards, flash drives, and DVD/CD videos. To learn more about each format and the services we provide, visit our Home Page for a complete list of services.

We use advanced archival camera scanning techniques to provide the highest quality scans of images, slides, and film negatives, offering several advantages over traditional flatbed photo scanners. Our services include photo scanning, slides scanning, film negatives scanning, and historical photo scanning. Archival camera scanning ensures high-resolution digital images that preserve the original details and colors, providing the highest possible quality and accuracy. If you have any specific requests or require additional information, please contact us.

Begin by scheduling a drop-off appointment or mailing your film reels, video tapes, and photos to us. Once we receive your media, we will log it into our system, inspect it for any damage, perform repairs if necessary, and add it to our digitization queue. The turnaround time varies depending on the size and complexity of your project, but the average time is 1-2 weeks. We will provide an estimate of the completion time when you drop off or mail your media to us.

Yes, we can repair damaged film reels and video tapes separately. For film reels, we inspect them for damage and add head and tail leaders to ensure a full scan. For video tapes, we fix common issues such as broken tapes, twisted tape, and other damages. We strongly advise against attempting repairs yourself, as it can lead to further damage. However, we do have a guide dedicated to repairing analog tapes if you're interested.

We use cutting-edge equipment and techniques for all our services, including high-resolution scanning for film reels, photos, negatives, and slides. For film reels, we use a RetroScan Universal 2K Mark-II Movie Scanner System with LED lights, no image area contact, and no sprockets or claws that can damage already old and fragile film. For analog tapes, we use studio-grade video editing decks, recording full frames to an IDDR Intelligent Digital Disk Recorder. For photos, negatives, and slides, we use camera scanning to ensure high-quality digitization.

For film reels, in our process we crop out the sprocket holes, remove dust and scratches, add grain for a natural look, and perform white balance correction. However, not all videos come out the same, as some may be severely degraded and barely viewable. In those cases, we do what we can, and most of the time, we won't charge for them, though we will still provide the footage. For video tapes, we typically only need to crop and perform white balance correction.

All videos will be converted to H.264, MP4 format, while images will be scanned at 600 dpi. Slides and negatives will be scanned at 4000 dpi to ensure the highest possible quality. We upload the digitized media to Google Enterprise Drive with advanced security, giving you unrestricted access to preview, download, and share your files. Projects with an order of greater than $250 receive a free USB drive, and you have the option to purchase more or buy a hard drive for larger projects.

Ensuring the safety and integrity of your original media is our top priority during the digitization process. We take several precautions to protect your media and minimize the risk of damage:

Professional handling: Our skilled technicians handle your media with utmost care and use industry-standard practices to prevent any damage.

Climate-controlled environment: We store and process your media in a climate-controlled environment, which helps maintain the condition of your original material and prevent deterioration due to fluctuations in temperature and humidity.

Proper equipment: We utilize state-of-the-art equipment specifically designed for handling delicate and aging media. For example, our RetroScan Universal 2K Mark-II Movie Scanner System features LED lights, no image area contact, and no sprockets or claws that could potentially damage fragile film reels.

Inspection and repairs: Before digitization, we inspect your media for any signs of damage and perform necessary repairs, such as fixing broken tapes or adding head and tail leaders to film reels, to ensure a smooth and safe transfer process.

Tracking and organization: We carefully log and track your media throughout the entire process, ensuring that it is well-organized and secure at all times.

By adhering to these precautions, we strive to preserve your original media's condition while delivering high-quality digital copies for you to enjoy and share.

Yes, we do offer video transfer to DVDs. However, it's important to consider certain drawbacks of using DVDs. While they provide a physical copy, DVDs are vulnerable to damage and deterioration over time, potentially risking the loss of your content. They also have limited storage capacity and are increasingly less compatible with modern playback devices. In contrast, digital formats like H.264 MP4 offer improved video quality, more efficient storage, and greater ease in sharing and accessing your videos. We recommend using cloud storage or USB drives as these methods ensure long-term accessibility and compatibility with a wide range of current and future devices.

Kevin Sean Studios, headquartered in Mooresville, NC, offers specialized media conversion and video transfer services to a diverse clientele. Our primary service areas include the local community of Mooresville, the bustling city of Charlotte, NC, and surrounding regions. We have a strong presence throughout North Carolina, catering to both individual and professional needs with precision and care. Additionally, our expertise extends across South Carolina, ensuring clients in this region also have access to our high-quality services. Beyond these areas, we're proud to serve customers across the entire United States, offering convenient shipping options for those outside our immediate locale. Whether you're nearby in the Carolinas or located elsewhere in the country, Kevin Sean Studios is dedicated to preserving your precious memories with the utmost professionalism and excellence.

There is no limit to the number of items you can submit, as we can handle projects of all sizes, from small personal collections to extensive archives. Our team of skilled technicians and state-of-the-art equipment ensure that we can efficiently and accurately digitize and restore your precious memories, regardless of the project's scale. Contact Us for more information.

At Kevin Sean Studios, we recognize that each project is distinct and often encompasses a variety of media types and combinations. While we provide an à la carte pricing structure, our preference is to offer customized estimates for every project, factoring in the specific requirements and scope of work involved. We strive to deliver the best value for your investment by extending discounts for projects that combine multiple media types. To request a personalized estimate tailored to your project, kindly Contact Us through our website and our professional team will be delighted to assist you.

No need to worry! When you bring or send your media to us, our experienced team will carefully sort, organize, and count everything for you. We will categorize your media by type (film reels, video tapes, photos, slides, negatives, etc.) and assess the condition of each item. Based on our findings, we will then provide a detailed estimate, which includes a breakdown of the types of media you have, the quantity of each, and the cost for digitizing and restoring them. This allows you to have a clear understanding of your collection and the services required for your project. Once you receive the estimate, you can decide how to proceed with the project, whether you'd like to proceed with the entire collection or prioritize specific media items.

At Kevin Sean Studios, we offer a variety of secure payment options to cater to our clients' preferences. You can choose to pay using cash, check, debit/credit cards, PayPal, or other online payment services. We kindly request payment after the completion of your project, but before the return of your original materials, whether they are to be picked up in person or mailed back to you.

Our commitment to client satisfaction sets us apart from others, as we are the only service in the industry with this unique policy of trust. We believe in the integrity of our clients and provide access to their digitized media on the cloud, even before receiving payment. To date, we have not encountered any issues with clients making payments after viewing their media online, and we strive to maintain this level of trust and mutual respect in all our transactions.

At Kevin Sean Studios, we understand the importance of keeping you informed about the progress of your media digitization and restoration project. To ensure a seamless communication process, we have established a reliable system for providing timely updates.

Upon receiving your media, our team will promptly send an email and place a phone call to confirm its arrival. During the digitization and restoration process, we will send you periodic email updates, keeping you informed of the project's progress at key milestones.

Once your project is completed, we will send you a final email notification and give you a call to inform you that your digitized media is ready. At this point, you can either arrange to pick up your original materials and digital files in person or have them mailed back to you.

Our commitment to transparency and open communication ensures that you remain well-informed throughout the entire process, providing you with the confidence and peace of mind you deserve.

At Kevin Sean Studios, we prioritize fairness and transparency in our pricing while providing high-quality digitization and restoration services. In the case of blank or unusable film reels or video tapes, rest assured that you will not be charged for their digitization.

During the digitization process, our team carefully examines the content of each film reel and video tape. If we discover that a reel or tape is completely blank or contains copyrighted material, such as commercial movies, we will exclude these items from the charges.

Our primary goal is to preserve and restore your personal memories and valuable footage. By ensuring that you only pay for the meaningful content we successfully digitize and restore, we maintain our commitment to providing exceptional service and value for our clients.

Yes, we specialize in transferring and restoring film reels that have suffered damage due to fire, water, or other natural causes. What many clients do not realize, is that many home insurance policies will cover the cost in repairing, restoring, and transferring your damaged media. Our Film Repair and Restoration Service is designed to handle various types of damage, and we utilize advanced techniques to bring life back to brittle or deteriorated film. However, please be aware that the nature and extent of the damage can affect the success of the restoration process. We recommend reaching out to our team with specific details about your film's condition for a more accurate assessment.

No, we cannot transfer commercial movies to digital, as it is against copyright laws. Copying or distributing copyrighted material without permission is illegal, and we strictly adhere to these regulations to protect the intellectual property rights of artists and creators. Our services are designed to help you preserve and enjoy your personal memories and experiences, not to facilitate the infringement of copyrighted works.

At Kevin Sean Studios, our home-based studio allows us to focus on providing top-tier digitization and restoration services while maintaining a personalized approach. Our dedicated home office is equipped with state-of-the-art professional equipment, ensuring that we deliver high-quality results for your media preservation projects.

Being a home-based business offers several advantages, such as lower overhead costs, which we pass on to our clients in the form of competitive pricing. This cost-effective model does not compromise the quality or professionalism of our services.. In fact, our home-based environment allows us to give individual attention to each project, ensuring that we meet and exceed our clients' expectations.

As part of our commitment to providing exceptional customer service, we are actively planning to open a brick and mortar storefront in the near future. This expansion will offer our clients the convenience of walk-in services without the need for an appointment, further enhancing our ability to meet their media preservation needs.

Our team at Kevin Sean Studios is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of quality, care, and professionalism. We prioritize clear communication and transparency throughout the entire digitization process, keeping clients informed every step of the way. By combining the benefits of a home-based business with a strong focus on customer satisfaction and plans for future growth, we provide exceptional media preservation services that stand out in the industry.