Latest Insights in Media Digitization
8mm Film Transfer: After Home Movie Day, What to Do With the Reels You Found
Home Movie Day, held on October 17, is a lovely reason to bring family films out of storage and see what’s been waiting on those reels. For many households, the day also turns up a shoebox of 8mm or Super 8 film tucked away in a closet, attic, or cupboard. Finding...
Home Movie Day Is October 17: 5 Things You Should Know Before You Unbox Those Old Reels
Categories: Tips & Tricks, Preservation Saturday, October 17, 2026, is Home Movie Day. The annual occasion for families and communities to bring out the films and videos that have been tucked away for years. It’s a lovely reason to revisit the people, places, and...
Audio Cassette to Digital: The Homemade Mixtapes Worth Saving
Categories: Tips & Tricks, Preservation A homemade mixtape was never just a collection of songs. Someone chose each track, arranged the sequence, and often added a handwritten label or a personal message. A cassette could be a birthday gift, a soundtrack for a...
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Digitization Tips for Long Island Families
These are the digitization tips we find ourselves repeating on the counter every week — which formats are most at risk, what actually causes tape and film to fail, and how to decide what is worth transferring first.
Why we write them down
Most people only face this problem once. A parent downsizes, a relative passes, a basement floods, and suddenly there is a box of unfamiliar formats and no clear idea what to do. These digitization tips exist so you can make an informed decision before spending money — including the decision not to transfer something.
What you will find here
Practical guidance on VHS and camcorder tape, 8mm and Super 8 film, photographs, slides, negatives, audio cassettes and reel-to-reel. We cover storage conditions, warning signs of deterioration, realistic costs, and what to expect from a professional transfer versus a DIY attempt.
Start with your service
Ready to move from reading to doing? See video tape transfer, photo and slide scanning, 8mm film transfer or audio digitization, or contact us with a question about your own collection.
Further reading: the Library of Congress publishes free preservation guidance for home collections.
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