A collection that includes reels, slides and tapes
The appeal of I Do Productions is the range of older media mentioned on its services page. A family might have silent cine reels from an earlier decade, carousel slides from holidays and later recordings on video tape. The business says it can convert those listed media to a digital file or DVD. This gives you a basis for asking about several parts of a collection together, although it does not establish that every possible tape format is accepted.
Start by making a short inventory organised by physical format. Write down the labels already on each item and give every tape or reel a simple reference number. Keep descriptions tentative when you are unsure: a handwritten year may describe when somebody copied a recording rather than when it was filmed. Photographs of cases and labels can help the provider identify unfamiliar items before you arrange a handover.
What the VHS examples establish
I Do Productions publishes customer accounts of old VHS tapes being converted, with one describing a transfer to USB. These accounts support an enquiry about VHS specifically; they are individual experiences, rather than a specification for every order. The mention of 21 hours in one testimonial describes that customer's collection, not a package allowance or a maximum recording length.
Ask for a quote based on your own tape count and approximate running times, together with the expected completion date. Mention mould, cracked shells, loose tape or any previous playback problem before sending anything. Do not try a visibly damaged cassette in a player simply to discover its contents. Ask whether the provider can assess it and what any additional work would cost.
Choose the files you will actually use
The services page says the business primarily converts film to MP4, with files delivered on a USB stick and/or through a private cloud store for downloading. It also describes digital file or DVD conversion for the broader list of media. Because the MP4 wording refers to film, confirm the file format and delivery choices for your VHS order rather than assuming they are identical.
Think about where the result will be watched. A downloadable video file is useful for making backups and organising a family archive; a DVD may suit a relative who already uses a disc player. Ask whether recordings will be separated by tape, whether filenames will match your reference numbers, and whether both types of output are available if you need them. Confirm any charges for extra copies or storage media in the quote.
Agree the handover, then check the return
Use the listing details to contact I Do Productions and establish how to get your materials to the business. Its website publishes a phone number and email address. Ask about appointments or other handover arrangements before travelling, and confirm how the physical originals will be returned. A listed Balerno location is a starting point for contact, rather than a promise of walk-in availability.
When files arrive, open each one and sample the beginning, middle and end. Check that the right recording matches the filename, listen to any expected sound and note unexplained gaps with a playback timestamp. Keep the originals and make a second digital copy on a separate device before relying on one USB stick or download. If a download is offered, ask how long it will remain available.
Bring relatives into the recordings after conversion
Memrial is a separate private family archive for the digital memories you receive after conversion. It does not convert physical tapes and is not part of I Do Productions. You can organise photos and home videos into albums, invite relatives and collect comments or stories. The free plan includes 2.0 GB of shared archive storage, with no card needed. Check the size of your files when deciding what to add.
The Timeline accepts exact or approximate dates, helping you find memories by year even when nobody remembers the day. For example, a relative may recognise the summer of a particular holiday from a child's age or a house in the background. Recording that approximate date and their recollection gives the video context without presenting a guess as certainty.
For a family birthday, a Live Watch Party can synchronise an uploaded home video for relatives nearby or far away. The host controls play, pause and seek, with voice and text chat alongside playback. The free allowance is 3 hours per month with up to 6 participants. Event Memories provides a secure occasion contribution link: people sign in but do not need archive membership to add photos or videos. Contributions go into the event album, and closing the link keeps the collected memories.