Cintrex AV Process for Media Conversion & Transfer:

An explanation for our Resellers on our conversion processes is given below.  Please reveiw this and share it with customers as appropriate.  We also provide sample verbiage when responding to bids, near the bottom of the page.  Thank you.

The transfer steps and processes are very similar for scanning film and video tapes, photo’s, negatives and slides.  Some of the initial ingestion tools may be different at the transfer stations because of the differing nature of specific media access, but once the digitized content is placed on the network, then the processes involve the same computer tools and data appliances, the same new access media and storage options, and the same business processes.  The common steps in the process are:

• Receipt of order and cataloging physical contents, including inspection of customer supplied contents for damage, and noting areas in need of repair

• Cleaning, repairing, and prepping the physical media as needed to ensure smooth transfer and conversion

• Assigning a sequence and order of transfer, so as to complete the job in as quick a professional manner as possible.  Having a plan upfront saves time later on.

• Playing and ingesting the captured content, using current technology scanners, players (representative of the right era and technology) and collection points to capture the content, digitize and encode the content.

• Placing captured content on our computer and storage network

• Editing the Content, preparing content for Transfer, transcoding or creating correct file types to match requested output

• Selection of proper new media, and transfer of captured, converted digital content to new media

• Presentation and Packaging

• Quality Control Inspection on ALL orders prior to shipment

• Interim storage up to 90 days of customer content

• Business Systems for order status, packing, tracking, updates, invoicing

Below is a representative response to RFQs for large media conversion project requests from corporate accounts such as local and state governments, healthcare and education firms: 

Scope of Work: Digitize various type media of professional audio and video tape recordings to both uncompressed and compressed data file formats, and return these new digital copies via disc, external hard-drive, and web download. The audio media will be converted to a preservation format (wav or aiff) for long term storage and future editing, as well as, an access copy in mp3 format for easy storage and transport across the web. All video tapes will be converted to Apple ProRes 422 for the preservation copy, and to H.264 MP4 for the access copy. Cintrex will return the larger data file types (wav, aiff, or ProRes422) on both external hard-drives (eSata and USB3.0 interfaces) and archival Blu-ray Discs, and the compressed file types (mp3 and mp4) via web download from a private cloud storage account. Cintrex will maintain a backup of all captured content on LTO-6 tapes, kept at a local Iron Mountain storage facility, for a period of 1 year, as backup protection. During the project Cintrex will maintain a private secure online spreadsheet shared with the customer listing all media items, barcodes, original tape title, new file title, runtime, file size, requested metadata input, and assigned final storage media and backup LTO tape.

Processes: Cleaning and repair of tape media prior to content capture; calibration of high-end decks for best quality capture via digital interfaces (SDI output for video tapes), use of Apple Final Cut for capture and Adobe Premiere Pro for editing and enhancement, and Quality Control checks for each finished file item (in some cases aligning audio sync with video). 

Shipping - Shipping into Cintrex Lab and return of original source and new digital copies will be done via door-to-door transport service provided by UPS, with all paperwork, duties, taxes, and special fees included in the services' pricing. Insurance for outgoing shipment will be provided by UPS Capital. Onsite inventory and packaging of materials to be done by Cintrex personnel or contractors; their purpose to create an accurate manifest prior to shipment, and prepare items for safe transport in special containers.