Late in 2024 I saw an advertisement for The Digitize Center (TDC), which was offering a great holiday sale. I had a bunch of VHS tapes of my own children growing up, and also had more than 40 old reels of 8mm films shot mostly by my father, dating to the 1950s and 1060s. After doing very little pre-commitment research, I prepaid for 60 items to be digitized (my order included the 8mm films, a few full-sized VHS tapes, about 30 compact VHS tapes, and a few audio cassettes). I sent TDC 83 items in total, but 4 of the older 8mm films could not be digitized, so ended up paying for 79 items.
I had A LOT of questions about how their process worked and what would happen if my films could not be copied. I interacted with their very helpful, very professional customer service folks both before I mailed them my films and during the period that they were working on them. I was mainly worried about two things: the condition of my older 8mm films and how the final price would be adjusted after the work was completed. My older films, dating to 1948 and the early 1950s, were somewhat degraded (they smelled of vinegar—this is the so-called “vinegar syndrome”). I asked if they could handle films in such condition and was told that they could—to a certain degree. I also asked about how pricing would be affected if some of the films could not be copied (you don’t get charged). I knew that my final bill would be adjusted because I prepaid for 60 but sent more than that. Again, their helpful personnel explained how I would get the best unit price, based on the sale price that I locked in when I prepaid. Emails with their Customer Service people were clear, timely, and helpful.
I’m giving my review of TDC five stars, but that is a very ‘soft’ five. It is really closer to 4.5 or even 4.25 for the following reasons. First, the invoicing information shared with me was clear as mud. At the end of the job I was sent an email showing how my order had changed and the amount that I owed to make it right (remember, I paid for only 60 items, but they digitized 79). They explained how they calculated my outstanding bill, but it was not documented on the invoice or discernable from the billing information. However, understand clearly that I am NOT suggesting that I was cheated. I am only saying that they did not clearly explain their invoice document or how my bill was calculated. Also, the final amount I paid, and the digitized files I received from them amounted to a VERY GOOD DEAL.
Second, I was surprised that four of the VHS tapes I sent had mild to moderate quality issues (tapes dating from 1997 to 2004). When your order is returned to you TDC includes a short note about how the job went, but there were no details about why these tapes had degraded somewhat.
Third, while they DO explain a little about what condition my media items were in and how well they copied, I was not prepared to see that a number of the digitized old 8mm films were “jumpy” on screen and appeared like tapes with bad-tracking adjustment. On several film copies film sprocket holes are displayed along the left hand border and there are black lines at the top or bottom of the frame as if the film was loaded incorrectly in the digitizing machine. And these films were not reported in the note as having “mild” or “moderate” quality issues. They just appear somewhat badly framed on screen.
But all things considered, even though the movie record of my parents wedding from September 1948 could not be saved, and although I can’t rate them a solid five stars (think four-and-a-half), The Digitize Center is a great deal and I highly recommend them.
We sent an audio cassette and our 32-yr old VHS wedding video to DC for digitization. Everything came back promptly and of great quality. Very well done!
Another company that I had used for video rudely declined my request to digitize my reel to reel tapes. The Digitize Center gladly welcomed my business. When I submitted my tapes the I believed were recorded at 71/2 ips, they found that deeper into the tape there was material at a different speed. They corrected my error at no extra cost and sent me very clean audio files in my requested format.
I was so pleased I contracted with them to do my last two reels recorded at 15 ips. We were unable to find a machine today that will play at this speed. I’m looking forward to getting my last files back.
Very impressed with the helpful and understanding staff. Highly recommend this company.
Thank you! Great job done very quickly. I also liked the communication that helped keep me informed as to time schedule!!
The advertisement I saw showed 8 mm and super 8 mm film cartridges. I assumed they would be developed and digitized. I received my fill back, but my money was never refunded.
It is a bit daunting to send your precious memory pieces off.....not really sure if you will get what is promised and hoping nothing is lost!
I am thrilled with the Digitize Center! Every phase of the project was clearly defined, and supported with exact directions and expectations.
It was completed in a timely manner, and I was 100% satisfied with the digitized items. All are perfect. I highly recommend The Digitize Center!
Marti Cermak
I am happy with your service..my VSH to DVD turned out great...I will be using your service again in the future
Two of the MP3 files taken off my old reel to reel tapes sound fine. The other two are muffled, sound distant, and are unplayable. Don’t understand why two sides of the same tape are so different
Great customer service, fast and convenient shipping and return process. Excellent results.
I was a teenager when my mom passed away in 1996, and something told me to hang onto our answering machine tape, and I'm so glad I did. Fast forward almost 30 years, and I was able to hear her voice again, along with my Granny (what a pleasant surprise). I also had the camcorder tape of our wedding digitized and it was wonderful to be able to share it with my kids. Aside from the wonderful memories, it was a super easy process and was finished sooner than expected. I have nothing but rave reviews for The Digitize Center!
I received my disc's from Digitize Center and am so happy with the results and quality.
The process was just so easy. The instructions were clear. They do all the work you just fill out the form and send it in. You know right where your valuables are the whole time. We are very pleased with our mini DV to usb. Will be sending in another order to be done shortly . Recommend 100%
Can’t recommend this place enough. Their customer service was so good (they were responding to me in real time, it was honestly a little scary) and they sent me my videos much faster than expected. AND the videos came out great! so happy
Very satisfied!!! This is my third order digitizing memories. First box last year (2024) and two boxes in April 2025. April’s memories was returned in less than three weeks. The second box is a new order. I don’t expect it to take very long. Very happy with response time and quality of product.
I’m extremely happy to finally have ALL my picture in one place instead of having my pictures on 40 DVDs
