VHS alongside the smaller camcorder tapes
The company's digitization page explicitly lists VHS, VHS-C, 8mm, Hi8, Digital 8 and MiniDV. That makes it relevant when family recordings came from more than one camera. It also lists 8mm/Super 8mm and 16mm film, audio cassette, DVD and Sony MiniDisc. Film reels and 8mm video cassettes are different media, so identify them separately when requesting a quote.
Start with a simple inventory that records each item's format and existing label. Photograph labels before adding your own numbering, especially if handwriting identifies a relative or occasion. If a cassette has a cracked shell, loose tape or suspected mold, describe it before arranging a handover and ask whether it can be accepted. Avoid opening or repeatedly playing questionable tapes yourself.
Local handover and the stated processing window
Secondary Media publishes local pickup and drop-off availability in the Grand Traverse Area. Its stated average processing time is 3-7 days from pickup. That is an average, rather than a guaranteed deadline for a birthday or reunion. Agree the collection arrangements and expected completion date directly, particularly if you want the files ready for a specific gathering.
A numbered inventory also helps at handover. Keep one copy and ask how the tape numbers will correspond to the delivered files. Mention recordings you consider especially important, such as a wedding ceremony or someone's voice, without assuming the provider will edit or repair them. Establish how the original tapes will be returned as part of the same conversation.
Read the tape prices together with delivery charges
Published average prices per video tape are $15 for 1 to 12 tapes, $14.50 for 13 to 20 tapes, and $14 for 21 or more tapes. The website says prices for other formats and DVDs vary. These are described as average prices, so use them to frame a quote request rather than treating a tape count alone as a final bill.
Thumb drive delivery starts at $15+ per 32gb High-Speed USB 3.0 Drive. The page also carries a June 2026 notice about increased flash drive prices, making confirmation of the current charge useful. DVD delivery is listed at $10 per DVD, with an average of 2hrs of video per disc. A further condition says that if digitizing fewer than 4 tapes, or 400ft of film, the initial Thumb Drive/DVD is $20 per. Ask how that condition applies to your order and request the complete delivery cost before proceeding.
A download needs a plan for saving it
Digital download/cloud delivery costs $5 with download within 7 days, and $10 per additional week. It is unavailable when the total file size is 64gb or larger. For a bigger collection, ask about the expected file size before selecting this option. The company says digital copies use widely compatible formats, MP4/WAV; confirm which files your particular recordings will produce.
For home videos you hope to share digitally, ask for files you can save and upload, even if you also want DVDs for a relative. Once delivery arrives, check every file opens, then sample the beginning, middle and end for picture and sound. Compare the filenames against your inventory. Report missing recordings or playback problems promptly, and keep the originals alongside a second digital copy on a separate drive.
From delivered files to a private family archive
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 Secondary Media's service. Its free plan includes 2.0 GB of storage shared across the archive, with no card needed. Check your video sizes before deciding what to upload; the allowance is not unlimited.
Invite relatives to help identify faces and add stories. Timeline accepts exact or approximate dates, so a recording labeled only with a likely summer can still become easier to find by year. Albums give a birthday, holiday or branch of the family a useful home without requiring every date to be settled first.
Live Watch Parties synchronize an uploaded home video, with host play, pause and seek controls plus voice and text chat for relatives nearby or far away. The free allowance is 3 hours per month and up to 6 participants. For a reunion, Event Memories provides a secure occasion contribution link. Contributors sign in but do not need archive membership; their photos and videos go into the event album. Closing the link keeps the collected memories.