These are our most commonly asked questions regarding the
services we provide:
DVD VIDEO TRANSFERRING Questions
Questions regarding TABLE TOP DVD's
Technical questions about DVD's
Our MOST frequently asked questions:
DVD Video Transferring Questions:
Q: What types of video does Table Top DVD's transfer to DVD?
A: At this time, we currently convert VHS and Mini-DV and will be upgrading to more formats in the near future. We do not transfer any reel-to-reel film such as Super8, and we do not transfer professional tape formats, such as DVCam.
Q: What is the maximum length of video a DVD disc can hold?
A: Each DVD disc may hold up to 2 hours of video footage, and that is straight from video to DVD disc. If effects and music are added, this decreases the amount of video on the DVD.
Q: There are two types of packages, the DELUXE and the STANDARD, what is the difference between the two?
A: It's very easy, the Deluxe Video Transfer includes a Main Menu, Chapter selections, scene editing (cutting out unwanted scenes, etc.), Music, and for more features, see our description page of the Deluxe Video Transfer. The Standard Video Transfer is a straight transfer from video to DVD disc that contains a Main Menu, but no chapters. It functions just like it would on the camcorder, but you can fast forward or rewind it just like a DVD could.
Q: I don't want my whole tape converted to DVD, just certain parts. Can you do this?
A: Yes, that is one of the services we offer. Just mark the start and stop times so that we know exactly how to edit the film.
Q: Can I have as many segments as I want on a DVD?
A: Yes, but after 5 segments (meaning sections of tape that have been selected by you) have been edited and cut out of the full length movie (s), an extra fee per segment will take effect.
Q: If I only have 1 hour of video to transfer to DVD, is it cheaper?
A: No, our prices are the same for any amount of video up to 2 hours.
Q: My video tape is already degrading, will transferring it to DVD fix any problems that I am having with the tape?
A: No, not necessarily. We do try and sharpen and restore the video as much as we can, but there is no guarantee that the movie transferred to DVD will turn out perfect.
Q: Will the finished DVD transfer of my video look better than the original?
A: We use some of the best software and try to increase quality as much as possible, but the simple fact is that the DVD will only look as good as the original tape.
Q: How long does it take for my DVD to be made?
A: Now this depends on how many scenes you want cut out of the main film and edited (effects, etc.). Usually we give a straight transfer to DVD about 1 week and if there are special effects added and special requests, you can usually expect your DVD to arrive about 2-3 weeks after we receive the footage.
DVD Photo Slideshow Questions:
Q: When you say "Photo Slideshow", do you actually mean slides?
A: We define "Photo Slideshow" as a type of presentation that is viewed on a TV screen with background music, etc. The presentation is a movie of your photos which transition from one photo to the next like a slideshow.
Q: How long can each photo stay on the screen?
A: There is no set amount of time. Typically, people usually request 9 seconds for the picture to remain on the screen, other times there are people that have pictures of something they would like to remain on the screen for people to read. So any amount of time specified will be applied to the selected photos.
Q: How do I add music to my photo slideshow?
A: Since music is copyrighted, we request that you supply music to us from your CD collection. After 2 songs, each additional song will have an extra charge because of the time it takes to convert the .WAV file to .MP3.
Q: How long should my slideshow be?
A: Typically, most slideshows tend to be 10-35 minutes, depending on how many pictures and how long they appear on screen.
Q: How long does it take to make my photo slideshow?
A: Depends on how many pictures there are and what types of effects are being added to the DVD. We usually e-mail you with a specific turnaround time for your DVD.
Questions regarding Table Top DVD's:
Q: Where is your company located? Do you work through the mail service?
A: We are located in Scottsdale, AZ. We work with all local customers and will hopefully accept nationwide clients in the future. Our mailing routes do cover the greater Phoenix area, Scottsdale, and Cave Creek. We ship DVD's and materials securely via a secure carrier, i.e. FedEx or UPS.
Q: I cannot seem to figure out how to price my project, can I request personal quotes from you?
A: Absolutely, feel free to e-mail us with questions regarding your order and pricing information.
Q: Are there sample discs available to view?
A: Yes, at special requests, we have sample discs that we charge $3.00 for, and that charge is fully refundable if sent back to us or credited to the project price if you decide to have a project done by us.
Q: Will my tape and/or photos be returned to me?
A: Yes, we have no interest in keeping those, and we use a secure carrier to return the materials to you.
Q: Will the material on my film/photos be confidential?
A: Yes, the only people who view the films/photos are the ones who monitor the transfer process and edit.
Q: How do I pay for my DVD?
A: We prefer checks, money orders, and in the near future we will except credit cards. Please make checks payable to Table Top DVD's. You can find our mailing address on our order page.
Q: Do you provide refunds?
A: No. Unless technical problems arise, then we will do our best to address the problem.
Technical Questions About DVD's:
Q: How do I know if the new DVD will play in my machine?
A: Now, this is important to address. We offer 2 sample discs, which are basically two different formats. DVD-R and DVD+R are the two types of formats that DVD players either read one but not the other or they read both. We have both DVD-R and DVD+R sample discs so that you are able to find out which disc your player reads.
Q: If I indicated the type of disc and player, why won't it play the DVD still?
A: If you indicated which disc that worked well on your player, then a glitch with the DVD player might be possible. You should not have a problem playing back the DVD if you followed the steps correctly when ordering your package. If so, then you may send it to us for repair so we can see if the problem originated from us or it is something that happened during the transferring process. If it is something technical that we had done, we will redo the disc for you at no charge.