Identify the cassette before asking for a price
Cine Sanctuary publishes a video tape service page with N1500 and N1700 pricing. Those named formats matter because a collection described simply as old video tapes may contain different cassette systems. Copy every visible format label into your enquiry and photograph the cassette and its case. A handwritten wedding label tells the family what might be recorded; the format markings help the converter decide how it can be played.
For N1500 and N1700, the published figure is £60.00 per cassette, with £10.00 per cassette added if tape baking is required. The page also mentions a 15% discount for more than 5 tapes of either format. Ask for a written quote matching your actual collection, including tax treatment and any extras, before relying on a total. These are specific cassette figures, not a general VHS rate.
Keep film reels, slides and sound recordings distinct
The cine pricing page describes high definition transfer to a computer file for 8 mm, Super 8 mm and reversal film. It contains several length-based price blocks with different additional-footage charges, so an itemised quote is more useful than choosing a single headline figure. Send details of the reels you have and ask which block applies. Film length in feet should not be used to estimate the cost of a video cassette.
Slide prices are separately listed at £1 per slide for 1 - 100, £0.75 per slide for 101 - 500, and £0.65 per slide for 501+. Audio details cover quarter-inch reel-to-reel, audiocassette, compact cassette and MiniDisc, with CD or computer-file output. Keep an inventory split by medium so the conversation stays clear, especially if photographs and sound recordings belong to the same occasion.
Decide what you want to receive and edit
Cine Sanctuary’s video tape details say that editing requires an edit decision list. If you want selected scenes, prepare a clear description of the desired order and anything to omit, then ask how to identify scenes when you cannot yet watch the recording. Request the cost of any preview or capture work separately from the editing itself.
For everyday family viewing, ask for a computer file that plays on your intended devices, and confirm its format, delivery method and whether it includes the entire recording. A disc may suit one relative, while a file is useful for backups and a private archive. These are choices to discuss, not assurances about the provider’s video output. Also agree how original items will be returned and when the work is expected to finish.
Make the first transfer easy to check
Number each item and keep a photograph of its existing label. Write possible dates and people in a separate note rather than altering the original. If a tape looks mouldy, broken or otherwise damaged, describe the condition and ask whether it can be assessed safely; do not try playing it just to discover what is on it.
When the digital files arrive, compare them with your inventory. Check the opening, a few points through the middle and the ending, and listen where sound is expected. Confirm that the scene order makes sense before creating shorter versions. Keep the originals, preserve an untouched copy of each returned file, and make a second backup on a separate device. Relatives can help identify unfamiliar faces without changing your master files.
Connect the transferred scenes through Memrial
After conversion, Memrial offers a separate private family archive for digital photos and home videos. It does not convert tapes and is not part of Cine Sanctuary. Its free plan includes 2.0 GB of storage shared across the archive, with no card needed. Check video file sizes before deciding how much of the collection to upload.
Timeline accepts exact or approximate dates, helping relatives find memories by year even when nobody remembers the precise day. A Live Watch Party synchronises an uploaded home video, with the host controlling play, pause and seek and relatives using voice or text chat nearby or far away. The free allowance is 3 hours per month with up to 6 participants.
For a family reunion, Event Memories provides a secure occasion contribution link. Contributors sign in but do not need archive membership; their photos and videos collect in the event album. Closing the link keeps the memories, so the reunion’s new pictures can sit alongside the older scenes that prompted the gathering.