DIGITISING & RESTORATION
We offer digitising and restoration services to individuals, organisations and communities with video tapes, audio tapes and film. Whether it’s personal footage, creative work or archival material, we use industry standard processes and modern technology to carefully digitise and restore content in accessible and long-term formats.
Digitising
Digitising is the process of converting analogue audio or video content from physical tapes (like VHS, cassette, or MiniDV) into digital files (like MP4, MP3). This allows for modern viewing, sharing, and preservation, protecting memories from tape degradation and outdated technology.
Pricing
To see our full price list click here:
For any further enquiries contact us at connect@dig.media
Tape Examples:
Process
1. Order Details
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Number of tapes
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Tape length. Please provide in hours/minutes.
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If you're sending us 15+ tapes, please give an approximate average length
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Guides to maximum tape length can usually be found on a tape's case or the tape itself (Please add pictures here.
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For cinereel only please provide the length in feet (cinereels will usually have the length in feet marked on the case).
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Tape age
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Tape condition. Please rate the tape condition from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent). Fill in the gaps in between.
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Other information and email it to connect@dig.media.
2. Send
We recommend using a tracked delivery service, such as Royal Mail Tracked 48 or 24 (UK Only).
If you prefer to drop off your tapes in person, please arrange an appointment in advance.
Customers outside the UK must complete a customs declaration form stating: “CUSTOMER’S OWN PROPERTY FOR REPAIR TO BE RETURNED AFTER REPAIR” to avoid customs charges.
3. Turnaround
Standard turnaround is 2 - 4 weeks depending on format, whether there are any issues with your tape(s) and number of tapes.
An express service is available on request, however an increased price may be charged for this. Please contact us to find out more if required.
4. Delivery Format
Files delivered, as standard, in .mp4 format. The digital file is of course included in the quote.
An additional fee can be added for creating the higher resolution master preservation output formats as well as producing the access output formats
We can also deliver physical copies of your tape(s), however this is on a portable drive only. We no longer provide CD / DVD copies. You can either purchase a drive, or we can purchase one on your behalf. The cost of this will be included in the invoice.
5. Return
Once digitisation is complete, we’ll return your tapes via Royal Mail tracked delivery service, unless agreed otherwise. We also offer special delivery upon request.
If you would prefer to collect your tapes in person, please arrange with us in advance as we only do this via appointment.
While this will not reduce the fee, due to the administrative costs of disposing of magnetic tape, you might consider offering any unclaimed items to the arts and heritage sectors for upcycling and training purposes if you do not need your original tape.
Restoration
Restoration is the process of repairing, cleaning, and digitising old audio or video tapes (such as VHS, cassettes, or reel-to-reel) to restore lost quality, fix physical damage, remove noise, and convert them into modern, stable digital formats for preservation and accessibility.
Example restoration
Before
After
Cinereel
We accept inquiries about the digitisation and restoration of cinereels. Our services cover a range of film formats, including 8mm, Super 8mm, 9.5mm, 16mm, Super 16mm, and 35mm.
16mm
1/4 Inch Tape
Client assessment
As well as having our own archive, we also digitise an array of tape and audio formats for commercial / heritage clients, including the Royal Northern College of Music and The Hallé Concerts Society and Orchestra, and have digitised footage of famous celebrities such as Bob Dylan and The Beatles.
For an estimated digitising cost, please read through / complete our Client Assessment Sheet. This will help you calculate a guide figure for your tape(s), which will, of course, be confirmed with a quote from us.
Please contact us at connect@dig.media for any inquiries.
Insurance and liability
We know your tapes will be of immense value to you and we will take all possible steps to protect them on our premises.
General insurance cover is unavailable for the tapes we digitise. If appropriate, we recommend you acquire Specialist Insurance Cover before sending us your tape(s). Clients send us their material on the basis that Dig Media will not be liable for any loss or damage to the tapes.
Dig Media does not claim copyright over the content of the digitised output, and transfer of any ownership created in the process of the making the digital output is included in the fee. We are able to digitise any copyrighted work for the purposes of preserving its content, and will not liable for any copyright infringement taking place in the process.
Insurance companies find it hard to determine the value of recordings on outdated tapes unless there is previous documentation of a transaction.
We had around 20 Mini Dv tapes and recordings of events filmed 20-odd years ago that we needed digitising. Dig Media did a great job of digitising the tapes, checking the footage, and transferring it all onto a hard drive, ready for us to edit and share. It was a really simple process.
- Mat Norman (MDMArchive)
A professional digitising service, showcasing a reliable understanding of archival care and technical quality. The delivered digital files met high standards, preserving the integrity of the original material while ensuring long-term accessibility.
Dig Media approached our archive with care and precision. Their clear process, attention to detail, and commitment to preservation resulted in high-quality digitised and restored assets suitable for both archival and public use.