Over 100 Hours of Deep Ocean Dive Videotapes Digitized to HD mp4

National Scientific Research Organization’s MiniDV Archive Converted to Digital mp4 with HD upres

A national scientific research agency recently entrusted AV Workshop with the task of digitally archiving over a hundred hours of local deep dive ocean MiniDV tapes. The research agency not only wanted to archive and preserve this content for the future, but they also wanted the best possible quality so they could analyze the Northern California seafloor. AV Workshop’s Video to mp4 File Transfer with HD Upres was the perfect solution. Maximum quality and resolution of these tapes was crucial – as the agency hopes to utilize them to further observe and study sea life at the ocean’s depths.

Converting MiniDV Tapes to Digital mp4 Files:

1) Lossless Digital Capture
AV Workshop captures all Digital tapes the same way. We capture MiniDV, DV, HDV, DVCAM and DVCPro through a lossless Firewire connection directly into the Video Editing System.

2) Audio / Video Quality Control

Since there are so many different types of Digital Video Tapes, recording speeds, etc… AV Workshop carefully analyzes each and every video tape to digital conversion. We verify that each video transfer looks sharp and sounds clear. For instance, if you try to capture a Mini DV tape that was recorded in the LP mode from a Pro Sony DVCAM Deck, it will have video dropout and the audio will be disturbed. There are lots of things too look out for when performing a Video to Digital conversion even if the tapes are Digital (MiniDV).

3) Video Editing
We trim the beginning and end of every video removing unwanted dead air. Thus, you only see the recorded portion of your tapes.

4) HD upres 720 60p
The native format of these MiniDV tapes were Standard Definition 720x480i (interlaced 30fps). Interlaced video was meant to be played back on an old tube TV where each frame actually contains 2 fields (odd and even) that blend through each other. However, we no longer have interlaced TV screens or monitors. As a result, by having AV Workshop upres the videos to 1280×720 we can make each field a frame. Thus, the new mp4 files are now 60p where each and every odd and even field is a separate frame! Moreover, 720 60p is a standard HD format that will play everywhere including Smart TVs, MAC and Windows computers, can be uploaded and played at 720 60p in Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, etc…

5) Labeling / Organization / USB Device
Every MiniDV tape became a separate mp4 file and was labelled by number. As a result, the videos are now in order by date / number and all reside on 1 USB Hard Drive. The USB Hard Drive can be plugged into pretty much anything that has a USB port and a screen including a Smart TV, MAC or Windows Computer. The video files appear like a Netflix menu and can be played, shared or edited!