About Media Preservation
Archival film, video, and audio capture our history, culture, and represent a window into the past. But old media is fragile, and the simple act of viewing it can degrade it further.
In the UW-Madison Department of Communication Arts, our experienced technicians convert archival media, including film classics, early television programs, and home movies, into modern digital formats, safely preserving the material for viewing and study.
To preserve archival material, we use the state-of-the-art Lasergraphics ScanStation film scanner. Per its name, the ScanStation gently and accurately captures image and audio from source material using a high speed laser.
The scanner allows us to capture the value of this footage, in some cases converting it to digital before it degrades beyond recovery.
What kind of media do we preserve?
We have worked with a wide range of material. This includes kinescopes of Faye Emerson, the first late night talk show host (1946-1949), a press conference featuring Duke Ellington and Leonard Bernstein, as well as old family movies on Super 8mm.
Who do we work with?
We work with college faculty, graduate students, historical societies and art institutions, supporting their missions of research and teaching. We convert archival media for documentary filmmakers and television producers. We also help individuals preserve their own media, often film or video of birthdays, vacations, family reunions, or other memorable events.
What do I need to do to get started?
First, you'll want to assemble all the media you'd like preserved. Then, have a look at our pricing and FAQ pages so you know what to expect.
When you are ready to begin the process, you will click convert your media and provide us details on titles, quantity, and formats. Then you will ship it to us (or drop it off, if you are in the Madison, Wisconsin area). Once we've had the opportunity to look over your media, we'll convert it to digital format using the ScanStation, advising along the way if we have any questions.
In most cases, we will save digital footage to a hard drive you supply, and either ship it back to you, or arrange for pickup.