Frequently Asked Questions - YesDVD Transfer Service

Home videotapes are not ideal for preserving memories, because they begin to degrade immediately and can fade away in 10-15 years. Videotaped memories are also difficult to enjoy, with all the rewinding and fast-forwarding to find favorite scenes.

Setting up an old, bulky film projector (if you even have one) is not convenient. It is not easy to watch and share reels of old home movies.

Having your slides and photo prints transferred to DVD is a great way to archive and organize your collection. The slides and prints are converted to digital files, which are easy to share with email and on the web.

When you transfer to DVD, your videos and images are easy to watch and share on your DVD player. DVDs are organized into menus and chapters that make it easy to find favorite scenes.

YesVideo's goal is to make the transfer experience convenient and easy for people who don't have much technical expertise, equipment or time to make their own DVDs.

YesVideo's technology creates complete DVDs with "Hollywood-style" features that are ready to be enjoyed.

If you want the complete "no-hassle" experience, then give YesVideo a try. If you require a lot of customization and editing, or just want a simple transfer of raw footage for your own video project, then you might be more satisfied with your own work.

PAL tapes (the most common format in Europe) in VHS, VHS-C, S-VHS and 8mm videotape can be transferred to a YesDVD in NTSC (North American format). PAL DVDs can be created for an extra charge.

No, this service is not available.

Yes, this service is available but is generally $10 more than a YesDVD. We can duplicate a YesDVD down to a VHS at a “copy” price.

No, this service is not available.

Note that MiniDVD discs are not the same as camcorder MiniDV tapes, which can be transferred to YesDVD.

Yes, this is possible at the “standard price” price and the “non-standard scan” price, depending on the size of your negatives and how they are grouped.

A YesDVD disc will play in almost all standalone DVD players in use today. If your DVD player was purchased after 2001 and can read DVD-R discs, it is very likely that your DVD player is compatible with YesDVDs.

If your Macintosh computer has a DVD-ROM drive and can play regular Hollywood DVDs, it is very likely that the YesDVDs will play on the Macintosh.

Digital Scrapbook PC software, which is included in every YesDVD, will not run on a Macintosh computer.

- DVD chapter menus with choice of DVD theme - DVD case with chapter picture index - DVD title, up to 35 characters - 3 Music Video highlight reels (one minute each) - Digital Scrapbook PC software, built into the DVD - 80 JPEG still image files taken from my footage

Yes. For a nominal charge, YesVideo will repair tapes and replace tape cases for tapes that were broken or damaged prior to shipment. Videotape repair services are available only with transfers and cannot be ordered separately.

- colour enhancements - Reduction in scratches, dust, dirt and lint - Cleaning, splicing and repair - DVD chapter menus with choice of DVD theme - Your choice of background music or original audio - DVD case with chapter picture index - DVD title, up to 35 characters - 3 Music Video highlight reels (one minute each) - Digital Scrapbook PC software, built into the DVD - 80 JPEG still image files taken from my footage

- DVD chapter menus with choice of DVD theme - Slideshow of your images with your choice of background music. Each image will appear for about 5 seconds. - DVD case with chapter picture index - DVD title, up to 35 characters - 3 Music Video highlight reels (one minute each) - Digital Scrapbook PC software, built into the DVD - 4-megapixel JPEG image files, ready to print or email

Absolutely! The media and reels or containers will be returned with the completed order.

Note: Movie film will be cleaned and spliced onto new 400 ft. reels, supplied by YesVideo. Your original empty reels will be returned.

For video to DVD orders, the service is strictly a transfer service. Footage will not be enhanced.

For film to DVD, slides to DVD and prints to DVD orders, the footage and images will be enhanced, showing more vibrant colours and reduced scratches, dust and lint on the film surface.

No, you may not add your own music to a YesDVD. DVDs from film, slides and prints include your choice of instrumental background music. Listen to the music samples.

There are about 2,500 stores where you can place your order. Use our Store Locator to find the ones closest to you.

You will drop off your materials and pick up your finished order at the store's photo counter.

The prices for YesDVD transfer service varies per retail store.

YesVideo values all of its retail partners and will not recommend one store over another. However, we will help you find the drop-off stores that are closest to you.

Most orders will be sent for processing at YesVideo's headquarters in Santa Clara, CA.

Stores that are equipped with the YesDVD Generator minilab system process videotape to DVD orders in-store. An additional charge might apply for in-store services.

Yes, you can, but be aware that we are not a retail store and do not accept credit or debit cards.

YesVideo has been handling our customers' memories since 1999. We understand that our customers send us their most treasured memories and we handle each order with very special care.

Each order is assigned a unique bar code, so that it can be easily tracked during every step in processing.

If you have any questions or concerns with your order, our Customer Care team, available by phone and email, is happy to help.

There are about 2,500 stores where you can place your order. Use our Store Locator to find the ones closest to you.

You will drop off your materials and pick up your finished order at the store's photo counter.

No, you must place your order at the store's photo counter.

The transfer service takes about 3 weeks.

During the Christmas season and other holidays, we typically experience heavier order volume, which can result in longer service time. If you are ordering a YesDVD for a Holiday gift, we recommend that you allow extra time.
Service times are estimates and while we try our best to complete the orders in a timely fashion, neither YesVideo nor the store can make promises or guarantees regarding service time.

While we strive to educate the stores about the service, there is a chance that not every employee of all 2,500 participating stores will be trained to accept DVD transfer orders properly.

For a smooth ordering experience, follow the instructions on the Preparing Your Order page and carefully go through each item on the YesDVD Transfer Order Checklist.

To report issues with ordering at a particular store, contact YesVideo Customer Care at 888.655.9702. We will be happy to work with that store, to ensure a more comfortable ordering experience.

Many of our store drop-off locations use a special order form or order bag for DVD orders. Order bags have a form that is printed directly on the bag and can be filled out using a regular ink pen.

You can print out an order form from this website. Find your nearest drop-off location using YesVideo's store locator. From the list of results, select a store by clicking on the "Details and Special Offer" button. On that page you can view and print and order form to fill out and submit to the store.

If you have a wedding video or similar video recorded by a professional, you must obtain their permission for YesVideo to transfer the footage to YesDVD. Submit a signed copyright waiver form with the order.

Note that orders containing copyrighted materials, not accompanied with a signed copyright waiver form, will be returned unprocessed.

Click here to download and print the copyright waiver form.

No, we will not process copyrighted TV footage.

Yes, but the film will be cleaned, spliced and combined onto new 400 ft. reels supplied by YesVideo. Your empty reels will be returned.

Use this chart to help you calculate your footage:

Yes! You may include a title, up to 35 characters

This is an easy way to share your memories and a YesDVD copy makes a great gift. It is also a good idea to keep one copy of your video memories in a safe deposit box.

You can order copies after receiving the finished YesDVD, but it will be priced as a new order. We recommend ordering your extra copies when you place your order.

No, we can only transfer one media type per YesDVD. For example, slides and tapes cannot be transferred to the same YesDVD. If you have more than one media type, place each order separately and fill out a separate form for each order.

Yes, different videotape types (i.e. VHS, miniDV) may be combined in the same order. Different movie reel formats (i.e. 8mm, Super 8) may also be combined in the same order, but like reels of like formats must be grouped together in viewing order.

2 hours total will fit on a YesDVD. You can either have up to four tapes combined on each YesDVD,
but their total cannot exceed 2 hours.

For 8mm or Super 8 reels, 1600 feet of film will fit on one YesDVD. For 16mm reels, 3200 feet of film will fit on one YesDVD.

Up to 1,000 slides or prints (not combined) may be transferred onto one YesDVD.

The best way to prepare your slides is to number them in the preferred viewing order and separate them into bundles of 25-50 slides. Secure each bundle with rubber bands.

While we accept slides in carousels, binders, trays and sheets, receiving slides contained in these items slows down the process and requires extra work and shipping costs for us, so extra charges may apply if these items are submitted.

There are no hidden charges. Extra charges may apply to the following:

- Your footage or images exceeded the maximum allowed per DVD and had to be separated into multiple orders. - Your videotape required repairs or case replacement. - Your videotape was requested to be produced in PAL format. - Your slides were submitted in carousels, binders, trays or sheets.

Label your tapes, reels, slides or photo prints in viewing order. If they are not labeled, they will be processed in random order.

Great! Fill in our feedback survey and let us know what you liked. Tell your friends and family about your experience.

You can also submit a testimonial. You tell us your story in your own words and we would share this on our website and other promotional materials. We would show just your first initial and last name, city and province.

Absolutely. Just submit your finished YesDVD back to the store where you placed your order. We will duplicate the DVD, complete with chapter menus, title and DVD case.

It will cost the same as a new videotape to DVD order. The "Extra DVD copy" price is only good at time of original order.

Definitely contact our Customer Care team by phone or email. If it's a technical or quality issue, we can attempt to reprocess the order to your satisfaction. Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds.

If you had a problem at the store or photo counter, contact our Customer Care team by phone or email. Let us know the store location and we will work with them to resolve the issue.

Unprocessed orders may be due to one of these reasons:

- We found possible copyrighted material without permission to process. - We found illegal or obscene material and cannot process. - Your media was not an accepted format. - Your tape needed repair and we need your permission in order to proceed. - The quality of the tape or film was so poor that we could not process.

The unprocessed order should be accompanied by a note from the technician. If you have any questions about an unprocessed order, please contact our Customer Care team.

Contact our Customer Care team if you need help understanding the pricing of your order. If you feel that you have been charged incorrectly, we are happy to advise and explain, but keep in mind that you may have to work directly with your store to resolve the issue.

Digital Scrapbook is the easiest way to edit your YesDVD footage on your PC. You can trim video clips, capture still photos from your video and more.

Learn more about Digital Scrapbook.

If you ordered your YesDVD after June 2007, your YesDVD most likely includes Digital Scrapbook software.

Insert the YesDVD disc into the computer's DVD-ROM drive and open My Computer from the Start Menu. Your DVD drive should read YesVideo. Right-click on YesVideo and select AutoPlay. A launcher menu should appear. Click on Digital Scrapbook. Digital Scrapbook will launch with the photos or video clips pre-loaded into the Library.

A Windows©-based PC (Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista only) with a DVD-ROM drive is required. DVD playback software must also be installed on the PC.

PCs with DVD-ROM drives are likely to have DVD playback software installed. In case your PC does not have DVD playback software, you can download a trial or purchase one of these playback programs:

Cyberlink PowerDVD
interVideo WinDVD©
Nero Showtime

After you install the playback software, restart the computer and launch Digital Scrapbook again.

Yes! You can use Digital Scrapbook to prepare your video clips to share on YouTube. Follow these instructions.

Open My Computer and right-click on your DVD drive. Choose Explore. Double-click on the Pictures directory. Your JPEG files should appear in this directory.

While we prefer that you order extra YesDVD copies and enjoy the titled DVD label and DVD case with pictures, you are free to make copies of your DVD using your computer.

Your computer must be able to make DVDs and you must have DVD writing software. Because there are so many computer models and DVD writing software packages, we are unable to provide support regarding this matter.

While DVDs are durable and long-lasting by nature, proper handling and storage will maximize their longevity:

- Store them away from extreme heat, humid or cold temperatures. - Only touch them on the edges. - Keep them in their cases when not in use. This minimizes dust and scratches. - Store them vertically.

View the complete list of DVD care tips.

Fill in our feedback survey and let us know what ideas for improving the DVD transfer experienc.