Local services · Family memories

Alamo Film and Video Transfer: VHS to Digital in San Antonio, TX

Alamo Film and Video Transfer lists both NTSC and PAL VHS transfers, a useful starting point when family recordings include tapes made overseas. Listed in San Antonio, TX, the business also handles VHS-C and several camcorder and professional tape formats. The key decision is what you want back: a disc to play, digital files to preserve, or an edited version. Its published options give you something concrete to discuss before booking an appointment.

Identify the tapes before choosing a transfer

Alamo's tape list includes VHS and VHS-C in NTSC or PAL, S-VHS, Beta, 8mm video, Hi8 and Digital8. It also names formats such as Umatic, Digital Betacam and DVCAM. For a mixed collection, write down the format printed on each cassette rather than treating every small tape as the same thing.

Number the cases and make a matching inventory with any known dates, people and events. Alamo asks for descriptions where possible because they help with titles and on-screen descriptions on the order form. Ask relatives to identify uncertain labels before submission; a note such as 'possibly graduation, early nineties' is more useful than an invented exact date. Flag broken shells, visible mold or tapes that previously jammed, and ask whether they can be assessed before anyone attempts playback.

USB files or a disc for the living room?

Published tape destinations are DVD, Blu-ray, USB flash drive and USB hard drive. Alamo says tape transfers on USB are supplied in AVI or MOV format depending on the computer used. Tell the provider which computer you use and how you plan to watch or share the recordings.

A disc can suit a relative who already uses a compatible player. Files are useful for backups and a private online archive, but confirm the file type, likely size and playback compatibility first. If you intend to upload a video, check the archive's accepted formats and ask whether an additional compatible copy is available. Keep the original delivered files even if you later make smaller viewing copies.

Resolve the editing rate before approving the order

The tape-transfer page publishes straight transfer at $15.00 per hour, with a $15.00 minimum for each tape and a $50.00 minimum per order. Its examples price a one-and-a-half-hour tape at $22.50 and a two-hour tape at $30.00. The minimums matter when several cassettes contain only short recordings.

Editing needs clarification: the FAQ lists Full Edit at $25 per hour, while the tape-transfer page lists Edit transfer at $27.00 per hour, with a $27.00 per-tape minimum and $50.00 order minimum. Ask which applies and what editing includes. The video order form lists additional DVD or Blu-ray copies at $12 per additional disc and requires a $50.00 deposit unless paying by credit card. Request a written total covering your output choice, shipping and any tax; the published figures do not establish an all-inclusive bill.

Arrange an appointment or discuss shipping

Alamo says San Antonio-area visits are by appointment only, with same-day appointments sometimes available. That is appointment availability, not a promise of same-day conversion. Its website also says transfers from outside San Antonio can be shipped in. Confirm timing if the recordings are needed for a reunion or anniversary.

For shipping, the provider recommends a box with room for protective bubble wrap and the DVD accompanying the returned order. Its FAQ specifies FedEx for return delivery. Photograph your inventory before packing and agree on how all original tapes will be returned. The video order form says shipped orders go back after final payment is received.

Check the transfer while the inventory is handy

When the files arrive, compare them with your tape list. Open every file, sample the beginning, middle and end, and listen for sound. Check that important scenes are present before putting everything away. Keep notes about anything that needs a discussion with the converter.

Retain the tapes and make a second digital copy on separate storage. Name working copies by event and date, retaining uncertainty where necessary. Invite a relative to watch a few scenes with you: recognizing a house, a voice or a birthday cake can turn an anonymous recording into a memory people can find again.

Bring the converted recordings into Memrial

After conversion, Memrial provides a separate private family archive for digital photos and home videos. It does not convert tapes and is not part of Alamo. The free allowance is 2.0 GB shared across the archive, with no card needed. Invite relatives, organize albums and add exact or approximate dates to Timeline so memories can be found by year.

For a family reunion, Live Watch Parties synchronize an uploaded home video, with host play, pause and seek controls plus voice and text chat for relatives near or far. Free Watch Parties allow 3 hours monthly and up to 6 participants. Event Memories offers a secure occasion contribution link: contributors sign in without needing archive membership, and their photos and videos collect in the event album. Closing the link keeps the memories.

From the provider's website

Published service details

Website information checked 4 October 2026. Prices and availability can change. The original wording and conditions are included below.

Hours for people in the San Antonio area are by appointment only so we can work with you on your transfers. Sa...

Hours for people in the San Antonio area are by appointment only so we can work with you on your transfers. Same day appointments are sometimes availabe.

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Tapes can be transferred to DVD, Blu Ray, USB flash drive or USB hard drive.

Tapes can be transferred to DVD, Blu Ray, USB flash drive or USB hard drive.

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Video Tape formats transferred: Umatic (3/4-inch video tape) Digital Betacam NTSC or PAL Betacam/SP NTSC or PA...

Video Tape formats transferred: Umatic (3/4-inch video tape) Digital Betacam NTSC or PAL Betacam/SP NTSC or PAL Betacam SX NTSC or PAL MPEG 1MX NTSC or PAL VHS Tapes NTSC or PAL S-VHS Tapes VHS or VHS-C Tapes NTSC or PAL Beta 1,2 or 3 8mm Video Tape HI 8 Video Tape Digital 8 Video Tape DVCAM Panasonic DVCPro

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Your order will be returned via Fed Ex.

Your order will be returned via Fed Ex.

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When placing video tapes on a USB drive, they will be in either AVI or MOV format depending on the computer us...

When placing video tapes on a USB drive, they will be in either AVI or MOV format depending on the computer used.

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Hours for people in the San Antonio area are by appointment only so we can work with you on your transfers. Sa...

Hours for people in the San Antonio area are by appointment only so we can work with you on your transfers. Same day appointments are sometimes availabe. Transfers outside San Antonio can be securely shipped to us.

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What do you charge for the transfer? Our rates are: Full Edit (per hour) $25 Straight Transfer (per hour) $15...

What do you charge for the transfer? Our rates are: Full Edit (per hour) $25 Straight Transfer (per hour) $15 Extra Copies (per DVD) $12

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Full Edit (per hour) $25 Straight Transfer (per hour) $15 Extra Copies (per DVD) $12 You can obtain an estimat...

Full Edit (per hour) $25 Straight Transfer (per hour) $15 Extra Copies (per DVD) $12 You can obtain an estimate of your job by using our estimate calculator.

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Straight Transfer (per hour) $15 Extra Copies (per DVD) $12 You can obtain an estimate of your job by using ou...

Straight Transfer (per hour) $15 Extra Copies (per DVD) $12 You can obtain an estimate of your job by using our estimate calculator. About your video tapes: Do you edit my video tapes?

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How should I package my video tapes? We suggest you pack them in a large enough box to add bubble wrap to prot...

How should I package my video tapes? We suggest you pack them in a large enough box to add bubble wrap to protect them so they are not damaged during shipping. Also, please allow enough room to enclose your DVD when we return your order. Do I need to give you a description of what is on the tapes? Yes, if at all possible. It will help us provide you with titles and on-screen descriptions. You can do this when filling out the order form.

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Panasonic DVCPro Transfer Rates: Straight Transfer Minimum charge is $15.00 for each tape. Each additional hou...

Panasonic DVCPro Transfer Rates: Straight Transfer Minimum charge is $15.00 for each tape. Each additional hour is $15.00. For example, if your tapes are less than 1 hour the rate is $15.00. If it is for over 1 hour and 3 minutes $15 .00 per tape. So if the tape is 1 1/2 hours it is $22.50, if it is 2 hours it is $30.00. If the tapes are over 2 hour the rate continues at $15.00 per hour. There is a minimum charge of $50.00 per order.

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Transfer Rates: Straight Transfer Minimum charge is $15.00 for each tape. Each additional hour is $15.00. For...

Transfer Rates: Straight Transfer Minimum charge is $15.00 for each tape. Each additional hour is $15.00. For example, if your tapes are less than 1 hour the rate is $15.00. If it is for over 1 hour and 3 minutes $15 .00 per tape. So if the tape is 1 1/2 hours it is $22.50, if it is 2 hours it is $30.00. If the tapes are over 2 hour the rate continues at $15.00 per hour. There is a minimum charge of $50.00 per order.

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Minimum charge is $15.00 for each tape. Each additional hour is $15.00. For example, if your tapes are less th...

Minimum charge is $15.00 for each tape. Each additional hour is $15.00. For example, if your tapes are less than 1 hour the rate is $15.00. If it is for over 1 hour and 3 minutes $15 .00 per tape. So if the tape is 1 1/2 hours it is $22.50, if it is 2 hours it is $30.00. If the tapes are over 2 hour the rate continues at $15.00 per hour. There is a minimum charge of $50.00 per order.

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Transfer Rate: Edit transfer: Minimum charge is $27.00 per tape. Each additional hour is $27.00. For example,...

Transfer Rate: Edit transfer: Minimum charge is $27.00 per tape. Each additional hour is $27.00. For example, if your tapes are less than 1 hour the rate is $27.00. If it is for over 1 hour and 3 minutes to 2 hours the rate is $27.00 per hour of tape. For example, if you tape is less than 1 hour it is $27.00. If the tape is 1 1/2 hour it is $40.50. If the tape is 2 hours it is $54.00. If the tapes are over 2 hour the rate continues at $27.00 per hour. There is a minimum charge of $50.00 per order.

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Minimum charge is $27.00 per tape. Each additional hour is $27.00. For example, if your tapes are less than 1...

Minimum charge is $27.00 per tape. Each additional hour is $27.00. For example, if your tapes are less than 1 hour the rate is $27.00. If it is for over 1 hour and 3 minutes to 2 hours the rate is $27.00 per hour of tape. For example, if you tape is less than 1 hour it is $27.00. If the tape is 1 1/2 hour it is $40.50. If the tape is 2 hours it is $54.00. If the tapes are over 2 hour the rate continues at $27.00 per hour. There is a minimum charge of $50.00 per order.

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Additional DVD/Blu-ray copies ($12 per additional disc): _____________ Additional USB drives ____________ A de...

Additional DVD/Blu-ray copies ($12 per additional disc): _____________ Additional USB drives ____________ A deposit of $50.00 is required to start the work (unless paying by credit card). You will be advised as to the final payment due when the project is completed. Upon receipt of the final payment your order will be shipped back to you Media Transfer Risk Disclaimer By engaging in the process of transferring media (hereinafter referred to as "the Process") with Alamo Film and Video Transfer, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

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reel does not have leader film, please do not write on it. Total number of reels sent: _______ Total 9.5mm car...

reel does not have leader film, please do not write on it. Total number of reels sent: _______ Total 9.5mm cartridges sent: _______ 8, Super 8 and 16mm film $0.15 per foot 9.5mm film $0.16 per foot 35mm film $0.27 per foot Sound film $0.17 per foot 9.5mm cartridges $0.17per foot Transfer my order to (pick one):

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Total number of reels sent: _______ Total 9.5mm cartridges sent: _______ 8, Super 8 and 16mm film $0.15 per fo...

Total number of reels sent: _______ Total 9.5mm cartridges sent: _______ 8, Super 8 and 16mm film $0.15 per foot 9.5mm film $0.16 per foot 35mm film $0.27 per foot Sound film $0.17 per foot 9.5mm cartridges $0.17per foot Transfer my order to (pick one): □USB Stick or Drive □Blu-ray Disk □DVD □Add Background Music

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Total number of reels sent: _______ Total 9.5mm cartridges sent: _______ 8, Super 8 and 16mm film $0.15 per fo...

Total number of reels sent: _______ Total 9.5mm cartridges sent: _______ 8, Super 8 and 16mm film $0.15 per foot 9.5mm film $0.16 per foot 35mm film $0.27 per foot Sound film $0.17 per foot 9.5mm cartridges $0.17per foot Transfer my order to (pick one): □USB Stick or Drive □Blu-ray Disk □DVD □Add Background Music □Windows ($0.20/ft)

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Total 9.5mm cartridges sent: _______ 8, Super 8 and 16mm film $0.15 per foot 9.5mm film $0.16 per foot 35mm fi...

Total 9.5mm cartridges sent: _______ 8, Super 8 and 16mm film $0.15 per foot 9.5mm film $0.16 per foot 35mm film $0.27 per foot Sound film $0.17 per foot 9.5mm cartridges $0.17per foot Transfer my order to (pick one): □USB Stick or Drive □Blu-ray Disk □DVD □Add Background Music □Windows ($0.20/ft) □Apple

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8, Super 8 and 16mm film $0.15 per foot 9.5mm film $0.16 per foot 35mm film $0.27 per foot Sound film $0.17 pe...

8, Super 8 and 16mm film $0.15 per foot 9.5mm film $0.16 per foot 35mm film $0.27 per foot Sound film $0.17 per foot 9.5mm cartridges $0.17per foot Transfer my order to (pick one): □USB Stick or Drive □Blu-ray Disk □DVD □Add Background Music □Windows ($0.20/ft) □Apple

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9.5mm cartridges $0.17per foot Transfer my order to (pick one): □USB Stick or Drive □Blu-ray Disk □DVD □Add Ba...

9.5mm cartridges $0.17per foot Transfer my order to (pick one): □USB Stick or Drive □Blu-ray Disk □DVD □Add Background Music □Windows ($0.20/ft) □Apple Optional Extras Additional DVD or Blu-ray copies ($12 per additional disk): _____________ Additional USB Drives (cost of device): _____________

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Note: USB devices will be supplied by us and billed at cost. Due to security concerns we cannot accept custome...

Note: USB devices will be supplied by us and billed at cost. Due to security concerns we cannot accept customer devices A deposit of $50.00 is required to start the work (unless paying by credit card). You will be advised as to the final payment due when the project is completed. Upon receipt of the final payment your order will be shipped back to you. Media Transfer Risk Disclaimer By engaging in the process of transferring media (hereinafter referred to as "the Process") with Alamo Film and Video Transfer, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

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The next chapter for your home videos

Make them part of family life again

A digital copy saves the footage. Your own private Memrial archive gives the family somewhere to enjoy it, talk about it and add what they remember.

Ways your family can use Memrial after digitising home videos
Your family spaceHow it worksA moment to try
TimelinePut the years back in orderAdd dates to your photos and home videos, then explore them together by year. If you only know roughly when something happened, use an approximate date and let relatives help fill in the story.Find the summer you all went away together. Add the names, place and little details that the camera never recorded.
Live Watch PartiesSame video. Same moment.Choose a home video from your archive and invite relatives to watch online. Playback stays in sync, with the host controlling play, pause and seeking. Talk through voice or text chat while you watch, whether you are nearby or miles apart.Put on an old birthday tape and pause when someone spots a familiar face. Hear the stories from the people who were actually there.
Event MemoriesEveryone's view, togetherOpen an event for a birthday, reunion, wedding or other occasion and share its secure contribution link. People sign in to add photos and videos to the event album without needing to be members of your archive. Close the link when you are finished; the contributed memories stay.Collect this year's reunion photos in one place, then revisit an older reunion video together. The occasion gets its own album rather than another scattered message thread.
Your private archiveStart with 2.0 GB freeKeep photos, home videos and their stories in an invite-only family space. Your free storage is shared across the archive. Add a few favourite memories first, then invite relatives to contribute.Give a short home-video clip a title your family will recognise. Ask who remembers the day, and keep their replies with the memory.
Before you start

Questions about Alamo Film and Video Transfer and your family videos

Does Alamo accept PAL VHS recordings?

Yes. Its published format list includes VHS and VHS-C in NTSC or PAL. Identify overseas tapes when requesting a quote so the format is clear.

Can I visit without booking?

San Antonio-area hours are by appointment only. Same-day appointments are sometimes available, so contact Alamo before traveling.

What files does Alamo put on USB?

Alamo states that video tapes transferred to USB are supplied as AVI or MOV depending on the computer used. Confirm which you will receive and whether it suits your intended viewing device.

About this guide

This independent directory guide brings together published service information and practical family-archive advice. A listing does not imply a partnership or a tested endorsement. Memrial's archive is a separate service.

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