Video Tape and Audio Tape Digitization
Archival-Grade Transfers Accessible to Everyone
Why Your Tapes Can't Wait
Your tapes are degrading. Every year, the magnetic oxide on your videotapes breaks down a little more, and the memories stored on them fade with it. At Archival Works, we only have one quality level: the best. We transfer your tapes using the same methods and standards trusted by museums and archives, then deliver files you can actually watch, share, and keep forever. Whether you're in the Minneapolis area or shipping from across the country, we'll make sure your tapes get the care they deserve.
How we Transfer Your Tapes
Every tape we receive is inspected before it goes anywhere near a deck. We check for mold, sticky shed, mechanical damage, and other issues that could harm both the tape and our equipment. If a tape needs cleaning or repair before it can be safely played, we handle that before we press play.
We play each tape in real time on professional-grade decks chosen specifically for each format. VHS and S-VHS tapes are played on broadcast-quality Panasonic decks with built-in time base correctors. 8mm and Hi8 tapes are played on dedicated Sony equipment designed for those formats. We never use consumer or cheap USB capture devices. Our signal chain runs through a TBC and a professional AJA capture card into a lossless 10-bit recording. This means your digital file captures everything the tape has on it, with nothing lost or compressed during the transfer itself.
From that lossless capture, we create your delivery files. The result is a clean, stable MP4 that plays on any computer, phone, or TV. If you need archival preservation masters, we provide those in lossless FFV1 or ProRes, created to Library of Congress specifications.
Formats We Transfer
Any Tape Format, Home or Professional
We transfer nearly every consumer and professional tape format ever made. This includes VHS, S-VHS, and VHS-C; Video8, Hi8, and Digital8; MiniDV and HDV; Betamax; and all major professional formats including Betacam, Betacam SP, DigiBeta, DVCAM, HDCAM, 3/4-inch U-matic, and 1-inch Type C. If you have a format not listed here, get in touch. Chances are we can handle it.
Color Correction
Your Videos Have Never Looked Better
Tapes that have been stored for decades often look dull, overly green, or washed out on playback. This is normal, and in many cases we can bring the color and contrast back to something much closer to how the original recording looked.
Our color correction service is available as an add-on to any package. We work through your footage manually, adjusting color balance, brightness, and contrast on a per-scene basis. This is especially valuable for tapes with sentimental or historical importance where visual quality really matters.
Your Files, Your Way
Solutions for Any Need
Every transfer includes high quality MP4 files delivered on a flash drive or via digital download. These files play on virtually any device, from laptops to phones to smart TVs, and they're easy to share with family or upload to cloud storage.
For clients who need long-term preservation, we offer lossless archival masters in FFV1 or ProRes, along with full technical metadata. These files are created to the same specifications used by the Library of Congress and major archives worldwide. Whether you need quick access files or a full preservation package, we have options to fit your project.
Find the Perfect Tape Digitizing Solution For You
With three packages to choose from, we have options for every tape digitization project.
Access Package
Starting at $19.95 per tape, price increases with tape length*
High quality transfer to MP4
Tapes are assigned a number that corresponds with file numbers
Access Plus Package
Starting at $24.95 per tape, price increases with tape length*
Our most popular package
Everything listed for The Access Package
File naming based on original tape title, notes, or documentation
Contact sheets for rapidly searching through many tapes at once
Archive Package
Starting at $34.95 per tape, price increases with tape length**
Everything listed for The Access Plus Package
Archival master files in lossless FFV1, ProRes, or another codec of your choosing
High resolution scans of any cassettes, labels, or boxes that contain notes or writing
Technical metadata for advanced cataloging needs
Spectrogram images for rapid audio analysis
*For tapes over 15 minutes, add an additional $5. For tapes over 60 minutes, add an additional $10 for each hour, with partial hours rounded up.
**For tapes over 15 minutes, add an additional $5. For tapes over 60 minutes, add an additional $15 for each hour, with partial hours rounded up.
We understand that a pre-made package is not suitable for everyone. If you have special requirements, or just are not sure what package is the best fit for you, please feel free to contact us.
In addition to these packages, we can include extra flash drives for $14.95 each, DVDs for $4.95 each, or color correction and audio clean-up for $75/hr of labor.
Ready to Get Started?
Getting started is easy. If you're in the Minneapolis/Twin Cities area, you can schedule a curbside hand-off. If you're anywhere else in the US, we'll send you a free prepaid USPS shipping label so you can mail your tapes to us at no cost. Most projects are completed in two to three weeks, but that can vary based on project size. Questions? Call us at 651-366-0906 or use our online estimate tool to get a quick price for your project.