Transferring Process
I wish I could say that I was making a bunch of money selling silent films! Unfortunately I can't It can be an expensive proecess and can take years to recoup the costs. I do it as a labor of love. I honestly love the silent era films. They were pioneers in a brand new medium. Now it takes months and months (sometimes a year or more) to bring a film to the screen. In the silent era it was days and weeks. As I stated on my home page the first film I had transferred was a 35mm nitrate print of A Moonshine Feud starring Texas Guinan. I Since then I have had 8mm, Super 8, 9.5mm and 16mm films transferred as well as some VHS tapes. Each type of film has its own challenges. And my methods have evolved over the years as I have become more adept at doing this.
Types of Transfer
Projector w/mirrors (not recommended)
Frame By Frame Standad Defintion
Frame by Frame High Definition
Rank Transfer (This is what Hollywood uses)
Easiest Method
There are a number of companies on Ebay who offer transferrings services for 8mm, Super 8 and 16mm films. I have used several and each has its plusses and minuses (no offence intended). Some use a projector and mirrors to project the film on a screen and then use a digital camera to record it. Others will use a "Frame By Frame" transfer process (which I definitely recommend). Of those offering the Frame By Frame you have a choice of Standard Defintion or a High Definition I currently use the High Def but see little difference in the quality tranfer on old films. Some will add a royalty free soundtrack, some won't. Some of the soundtracks are way out there. If you are wanting someone to add music to your transfer then I recommend Ken Atkinson of GrafXpress in Scotts Twp., PA. (He's on Ebay just type in Grafxpress and click the include description box). His transfer has always been top notch and he does a nice job of picking appropriate music. It costs about $80 for a "Standard Definition" Frame By Frame transfer a 400 foot reel. You can choose to have the film saved as a completed DVD or as an .AVI file (I usually get both for an extra $10). If you are just putting one film on a DVD get the completed format. You can still copy it as it is not protected. If you intend to combine films into a collection like I've done you will want the .AVI files to pull into a software program.
Next Step Up
If you're going to put several films on a DVD you will need a computer program. There are many programs out there ranging from $20 to $800+. I started with Nero 7 and Ulead Movie Factory 6. I wish Nero 7 would work on Windows 7 but it won't and I don't like the later versions. Sony Vegas is a nice program for about $100+/- (I currently use Sony Vegas Pro one of the $800 programs which allows some additional editing, and the Ulead (Only because I like the Menu Template and want to keep the collections looking the same )). Using one of these programs you can pull the .AVI files into the program with or without music, and combine several films onto one DVD. If you feel comfortable adding your own music selection these programs will allow you to do that. I currently use Jeff's Photo & Video Transfer from Tacoma, Wa. to do a Std Def Frame By Frame Transfer (also on Ebay for about $36 400' High Def is also available for slightly more) and then add my own music. His transfer is great, he'll add music but I've never had him do it so I don't know what his selection is like. There are a number of royalty free music choices out there. I use a combination of Sound Ideas, Stockmusic, and Incompetech. There are also some free midi sites (my favorite is James Pitt-Payne site http://www.pitt-payne.com/ He has wonderful selection of rag time music!) which you can convert to either .mp3 or .wav files to import into the computer program.
Ultimate
The ultimate would be the rank transfer system. This is the type of transfer Hollywood uses on film. It doesn't project the film rather it scans it. It's generally a little more expensive but gives a better transfer. I usually reserve this for my rarest films. The company I use is Debenham Media Group at http://www.mymovietransfer.com/index.html. They are also one of the few places that will transfer nitrate film.
Types of Transfer
Projector w/mirrors (not recommended)
Frame By Frame Standad Defintion
Frame by Frame High Definition
Rank Transfer (This is what Hollywood uses)
Easiest Method
There are a number of companies on Ebay who offer transferrings services for 8mm, Super 8 and 16mm films. I have used several and each has its plusses and minuses (no offence intended). Some use a projector and mirrors to project the film on a screen and then use a digital camera to record it. Others will use a "Frame By Frame" transfer process (which I definitely recommend). Of those offering the Frame By Frame you have a choice of Standard Defintion or a High Definition I currently use the High Def but see little difference in the quality tranfer on old films. Some will add a royalty free soundtrack, some won't. Some of the soundtracks are way out there. If you are wanting someone to add music to your transfer then I recommend Ken Atkinson of GrafXpress in Scotts Twp., PA. (He's on Ebay just type in Grafxpress and click the include description box). His transfer has always been top notch and he does a nice job of picking appropriate music. It costs about $80 for a "Standard Definition" Frame By Frame transfer a 400 foot reel. You can choose to have the film saved as a completed DVD or as an .AVI file (I usually get both for an extra $10). If you are just putting one film on a DVD get the completed format. You can still copy it as it is not protected. If you intend to combine films into a collection like I've done you will want the .AVI files to pull into a software program.
Next Step Up
If you're going to put several films on a DVD you will need a computer program. There are many programs out there ranging from $20 to $800+. I started with Nero 7 and Ulead Movie Factory 6. I wish Nero 7 would work on Windows 7 but it won't and I don't like the later versions. Sony Vegas is a nice program for about $100+/- (I currently use Sony Vegas Pro one of the $800 programs which allows some additional editing, and the Ulead (Only because I like the Menu Template and want to keep the collections looking the same )). Using one of these programs you can pull the .AVI files into the program with or without music, and combine several films onto one DVD. If you feel comfortable adding your own music selection these programs will allow you to do that. I currently use Jeff's Photo & Video Transfer from Tacoma, Wa. to do a Std Def Frame By Frame Transfer (also on Ebay for about $36 400' High Def is also available for slightly more) and then add my own music. His transfer is great, he'll add music but I've never had him do it so I don't know what his selection is like. There are a number of royalty free music choices out there. I use a combination of Sound Ideas, Stockmusic, and Incompetech. There are also some free midi sites (my favorite is James Pitt-Payne site http://www.pitt-payne.com/ He has wonderful selection of rag time music!) which you can convert to either .mp3 or .wav files to import into the computer program.
Ultimate
The ultimate would be the rank transfer system. This is the type of transfer Hollywood uses on film. It doesn't project the film rather it scans it. It's generally a little more expensive but gives a better transfer. I usually reserve this for my rarest films. The company I use is Debenham Media Group at http://www.mymovietransfer.com/index.html. They are also one of the few places that will transfer nitrate film.