Choose the destination before discussing the transfer
Truth On Tape lists standard video to DVD at $9.00 and video to digital file format, specified as MP4/AVI, at $12.00. These are useful starting points for a conversation, rather than a complete estimate for a collection. Ask what each listed price covers, including recording length, number of cassettes, any taxes and how the finished recording is delivered. The website also has a specialty video entry with a $25.00 digital-file figure; have the provider explain which category applies to your material.
Think about the people who will use the result. A DVD may suit someone who already watches discs, but check their player before ordering. A digital file is easier to copy into your own storage and organize alongside family photos. If you want both, ask for a combined quote. For MP4 or AVI delivery, confirm compatibility with the devices and archive you plan to use, rather than choosing by the filename extension alone.
An appointment with the right questions ready
The published schedule is Monday through Saturday, by appointment only. Arrange a time before bringing recordings, and use that conversation to establish accepted cassette formats, expected completion time and the handover arrangements. If a tape has a cracked case, loose tape or signs of moisture damage, describe the problem and ask whether it can be assessed. Do not try playing a visibly damaged cassette just to discover what is on it.
A short inventory makes the appointment more useful. Number each cassette and record whatever its label says, without replacing the original label. Note whether it appears to be a full-size tape or a smaller camcorder cassette. Include uncertain dates and any recordings you want prioritized. A relative may recognize a holiday location or a school name from a label, helping you identify the material before paying to transfer it.
Ask about recordings already on other media
The transfer page lists video camera hard drives, SD cards, floppy disks, smartphones, hard drives, thumb drives and flash memory cards as available source media. If your family recordings are spread across tapes and old devices, mention those separately when requesting an estimate. The list does not establish that every file or device will be readable, so describe the device and the files you can see.
Keep a copy of accessible files before handing over a drive or card. For material on a phone, identify the recordings you want included and discuss how to supply them. Give the provider an organized selection where possible, instead of expecting them to decide which personal files matter.
Keep the originals and inspect the finished recordings
Truth On Tape's FAQ says all original film and video cassettes are returned, with nothing erased or kept. Match returned items against your inventory. Original labels can still be valuable clues when the pictures reveal people or occasions you could not identify beforehand.
Check the beginning, middle and end of each finished recording, listen to the sound and compare the results with your list. Note any missing sequence or unexpected ending so you can discuss it promptly. Save a second copy of digital files in a separate location before reorganizing or renaming them. Keep the originals somewhere dry and stable, even when the new files become your usual viewing copies.
From converted files to shared family context
Memrial is a separate private family archive for digital memories after conversion. It does not convert tapes or form part of Truth On Tape's service. Its free plan includes 2.0 GB of storage shared across the archive, with no card needed. Check the size of your finished files before deciding how much to upload.
You can invite relatives, arrange photos and home videos into albums, and add comments and stories. Timeline accepts exact or approximate dates, so an uncertain summer vacation can still be found by year. For a birthday gathering, Live Watch Parties synchronize an uploaded home video while the host controls play, pause and seek. Voice and text chat let relatives nearby or far away join in. The free allowance is three hours per month with up to six participants.
Event Memories offers a secure contribution link for an occasion such as a family reunion. Contributors sign in but do not need archive membership; their photos and videos go into the event album. Closing the link retains those memories. That gives new recordings a place alongside the older ones.