Digitization Services

Vtape runs the most complete video duplication and tape restoration facility in Canada. Our organization has spent almost three decades examining the preservation-related issues and challenges facing the media arts community, identifying the preservation needs of artists and setting standards for the care and protection of our collective media arts heritage. We provide affordable dubbing services, as well as specialized services in the restoration of works produced on obsolete formats, and digital archiving of video works.

Tech facility (machines only)

Restoration and Digitization Services

Our restoration process includes physical inspection and careful cleaning of each video object to ensure the best possible transfer every time. Our digital captures are the highest quality, fully uncompressed 10 bit Quicktime. We can also transfer your materials to contemporary broadcast tapes like Digital Betacam, archive on LTO data tape or make preview copies on DVD. Quality inspection, remastering, cleaning and recovery services are also available by special arrangement. Our restoration and digitization services include the following formats:

  • 1/2 inch Open Reel Video
  • 1 inch Open Reel Video
  • 3/4 inch Umatic Cassette Tape
  • VHS and SVHS
  • 8 mm, Hi-8 and Digital 8 Tape
  • Betamax
  • Laser Disk
  • 1/4 Open Reel Audio
  • C30-C120 Audio Casette Tape

Dubbing Services

Vtape has an extensive history of working with artists, galleries, museums and schools across Canada and internationally to produce the highest quality exhibition materials. Dubbing services refers to the production of contemporary video formats including:

  • HDCAM
  • Digital Betacam
  • Blu-ray
  • DVD
  • Betacam SP
  • HDV / DVCAM / Mini-DV

Archival Services

Lossless Tape Open (LTO) data tape has emerged as the new standard in media preservation. A Single LTO cartridge can hold over twenty hours of uncompressed video and has an estimated shelf life of over thirty years.

  • LTO Generation 6 Cassettes

Vtape’s LTO archive service begins at $300: which includes an LTO-6 data tape cartridge and up to 1-Terabyte (TB = 1,000 GB) of data migration.  After the initial TB of data has been migrated, each additional Gigabyte transferred is $0.15/GB.

LTO cassette recovery service: Flat rate $225 / LTO cassette

For more information or to discuss special needs, please contact
Vtape Technical Services at tech@vtape.org.