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Historic Basketball Coach Frederick Snowden U-matic Tape Archives Preserved to Digital

AV Workshop recently converted a historic archive of 3/4″ U-matic college basketball videotapes to High Definition mp4 Files. These videotapes feature Frederick Snowden, also known as ‘The Fox’, the first black head coach at a major college in the United States. The 3/4″ U-matic tapes documented various games Snowden coached, some of his inspirational locker room speeches, the creation of his game plan strategies, and even sit down interviews.

AV started by running the tapes through our high-end professional grade tape decks. We used each tape only once as a playback source and captured the footage directly into our editing suite. Once the tapes were captured, we enhanced the audio by raising the gain to about -6 db and applying noise reduction.

After this process, we rendered the movies to HD mp4 Files using the H.264 Codec (the max bitrate) and increased the resolution to 1280 x 720 60p. This smooths the motion of the videos and creates sharp detail without jagged edges.

Finally, we dragged the new HD mp4 Files onto a single USB Hard Drive. Now, the movies can be shared, played, edited, and uploaded almost anywhere (Windows, Smart TVs, MAC, etc…)!
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Al Capone’s Miami Mansion 16mm Film Enhanced and Converted to Digital mp4 Files

AV Workshop recently worked with The Mob Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada to digitize Al Capone’s 16mm film. This reel was filmed almost 100 years ago in 1929 at his mansion in Miami, Florida. We scanned every frame of this reel 2048 x 1536 resolution and then output it to an HD mp4 File that can be shared, edited, and uploaded.

At AV Workshop we transfer all film to digital in-house. Our scanners have an enlarged gate – which means we can scan the entire film frame and nothing gets cut out. We also use a bright and cool LED light source so we get rich, vibrant color with no risk of burning the film.

We export your films as High Definition mp4 Files (1920 x 1080p, 50 mb/s) and organize them onto a flash drive. These files can be edited, shared, and played almost anywhere! Con’t Reading…

Coach Fred Snowden Basketball Archives Preserved to Digital

Al Capone 16mm Film Transferred to Digital mp4

Koko the Gorilla MiniDV Archive Preserved to High Definition mp4 Files

AV Workshop recently digitized a MiniDV archive to HD mp4 Files for a Northern California gorilla preservation foundation. These tapes documented Koko – a gorilla known primarily for her ability to use and understand sign language.

The Gorilla Foundation not only wanted to preserve these precious tapes, but they also wanted the videos converted to a high quality and editable format so they could be used for future projects.

AV Workshop captured each tape directly into our editing suite using a lossless firewire connector. Then we applied our HD Upres service to output each MiniDV into a separate HD mp4 File (1280×720 60p). As a result, The Gorilla Foundation now has their MiniDV collection preserved as digital files that can be edited, shared, and easily viewed with modern day technology (Smart TV, Laptop, Computer, etc…)! Con’t Reading…

New Service!
Convert your CDs to mp3 and WAVE Files

Audio Video Workshop is now offering a new CD to Digital Conversion Service! At AV, we can convert your audio CDs to mp3 and WAVE files. You will receive your files on a USB Flash Drive – which will have all your discs organized by album. All you have to do is click whichever album you’d like and you’ll see all the tracks and their info right there!

CD Ripping is the process of extracting raw audio files from CDs and converting them to a digital file format (such as WAVE or mp3 files). There are many benefits of converting your audio CD library to a digital library. These include preservation of your CDs (digital files can’t get scratched, broken, or damaged), a much more compact way to store all of your CDs, and the ability to share or upload individual tracks. In short, CD Ripping is the transfer of your CDs to digital files in a digital library.

Once we convert your CDs to Digital, you will receive your original media back along with your flash drive containing your new digital library! Learn more about this service / Get an estimate

Koko the Gorilla MiniDV Archive Converted to Digital Files

1940’s 16mm WWII Film Scanned and Enhanced to Digital Files

AV Workshop recently preserved and enhanced 16mm Film from the D-Day Invasion of Normandy. The customer who dropped off these films informed us that they were from his grandfather who was a pilot during World War II. Usually, 1940’s film is rare for us to see due to the war era. These movies specifically featured the Naval Air Transport Service (NATS) – a branch of the United States Navy which existed from 1941 to 1948.

We used our RetroScan Film Scanners to capture each frame of the films at 2048 x 1536 resolution. We then analyzed the frame rate of each reel and set it to match the original. Next, we brought these films into Adobe Premiere Pro where we digitally attached them. We balanced the color, contrast / brightness, saturation, and shadow detail scene-by-scene.

The newly enhanced files were output to HD mp4 Files (1920 x 1080, 50 mb/s) and placed onto a single USB Flash Drive. AV Workshop was honored to help transfer these rare 16mm reels so they can now be preserved and shared forever! Con’t Reading…

100 Hours of Betacam SP, 3/4″ U-matic, and S-VHS Tapes Transferred to Digital Files

AV Workshop recently digitized almost 100 Hours of Betacam SP, 3/4″ U-matic, and S-VHS videotapes to HD mp4 Files for a local bay area political action committee. The Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC) brought AV Workshop broadcast videotapes from a 1980’s monthly public access TV Show which served as a platform for the creative voices in the LGBTQ+ community.

AV used professional grade videotape decks to capture the U-matic, Betacam SP, and S-VHS tapes directly into our editing system. These decks have a built in TBC and video stabilizer to help the tapes transfer as smoothly as possible. AV then raised the audio, applied noise reduction, and trimmed the extra TV snow from the beginning and end of each tape.

We applied our HD Upres service to these tapes, which increased the resolution to 1280 x 720 60p. 60p helps smooth the motion of the video and reduce any jagged edges. AV Workshop was happy to help convert and preserve these videotapes so they can now be played, shared, edited, and uploaded just about anywhere! Con’t Reading…

World War II 16mm Film Transfer Transferred to HD mp4 Files

Betacam SP, 3/4″ U-matic, and S-VHS Broadcast Videotapes Converted to HD mp4 Files

More Shop News →

AV Workshop is conveniently located on Woodside Rd. in Redwood City of the San Francisco Bay Area

We accept walk-ins as well as shipments. All online orders over $200 qualify for FREE round trip shipping! To learn more Click Here.

You can get an Estimate or Order online by clicking on any service page above.

Note: If you prefer to speak with someone in person, call us during store hours at 650-369-4366

New Store Hours:

Mon. thru Fri. 11am - 5:30pm

Contactless Storefront / Front porch transaction using 6ft distance