Pricing
For film, pricing depends on the length of film supplied, additional labor required to make it compatible with our equipment (for example, adding a leader to a very short reel of film), and the output resolution.
For video and audio, pricing depends on the duration of the material supplied (a 60 minute VHS tape, or a 90 minute cassette tape, for example), and any additional labor required to prepare it for preservation.
Orders will have tax added. If you're a tax exempt entity, please include your tax exemption in an email to mp@commarts.wisc.edu.
See the FAQ for more information.
Film (8mm, 16mm, 35mm)
$0.25-$0.35 per foot of film. $0.25/foot is the base rate for film in good condition, $0.35/foot is the rate for curled or warped film that requires use of the warp gate. Film scanned in HDR mode for higher quality files costs $0.30/foot. If your film requires prep work (splicing, added leader) the fee is $40/hour.
Video
Each tape transfer costs $50/hour with a one hour minimum. If your tape is warped, there may be an additional charge for baking.
Audio
Audio transfers cost $50/hour with a one hour minimum. If your tape is warped, there may be an additional charge for baking.
DVD creation
If you choose to have film or video footage saved to DVDs, and need DVDs duplicated, the cost is $15.00 for the first standard DVD, $5.00 for each additional disc; $25 for the first Blu-ray, $10 for each additional disc. Discs will be play-only without menus or chapters.
What is baking?
Sometimes, magnetic tape becomes warped, and needs to be baked, in order to prepare it for conversion. When you submit your media, we will inspect it and ask your permission to bake it if necessary.