Immersed in natural beauty, the Great Lakes are brimming with picturesque views and inspiring vistas. The region brings in photographers and filmmakers from all over the world. Amateurs and professionals alike can explore the shores, waters, and the countless islands of the five lakes, finding all kinds of brilliant angles. Every video and photo captures a moment in time, worthy of preserving for the future.
That's where Great Lakes Video came in. The now defunct business provided a host of services that transformed aging media into easily preserved formats. Mediums such as classic 8mm and 35mm film, audio tapes, and VHS become increasingly fragile and hard to care for as they age. Picture quality also tends to suffer over time, tarnishing the precious memories contained in videos and photos. Great Lakes Video served to ensure those memories weren't lost with transfer and editing services carried out by experienced professionals, thus preserving a small piece of Great Lakes history. Read on to learn more about the work that Great Lakes Video did, and how video is still used to showcase the region.
Great Lakes Video ServicesAs the premiere video transfer service for the Great Lakes area, Great Lakes Video provided a range of options to convert all kinds of mediums to digital and DVD. Regardless of the new medium for the video, audio, or photo, you could rest assured that it was of the highest quality.
Great Lakes Film Transfer Services to DVD and Digital |
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Using the latest technology, Great Lakes Video was able to convert video film to DVD and digital. The business would have a member of the team carefully monitor the entire process of reading the old film to ensure that all went well. Once the original film was read, they would save it onto a DVD or into digital format. Great Lakes Video was capable of converting all forms of VHS and 35mm and 8mm film to DVD.
Along with working to transfer analog video to digital file, the business would take on the thankless task of trimming blank spots. The audio would also be edited, to reduce any noise or crackling in each video's sound.
Transfer Audio Tape to Digital File
Similar to their work to preserve videos from all around the Great Lakes, Great Lakes Video also converted audio to digital. This included cassette tapes, vinyl records, and even reel-to-reel original recordings. These were transcribed to CD or digital format with careful consideration.
Once taken from their original form, each audio file was edited. A specialist could modify the sound to be at its best, changing the bass, treble, noise, and just about anything else in-between.
Photo Transfer to DVD
Lastly, Great Lakes Video could convert photographs to the latest digital or disc format. Each photo was taken and scanned in at 300 dots per inch (DPI), the standard for a high quality image. Each was scanned in, then color-corrected and cropped as needed by the in-house photography expert.
Photographs were able to be taken from slides or printed photographs, as long as they were below the size of a standard sheet of paper. Before saving to a CD or DVD, they were converted a JPG format. This allowed the customer with the CD to take those photos, download them, and conveniently share them with friends and family. Or, photos could be transferred to DVD, allowing clients to build their own slideshow. This was the perfect way to show off an event or trip -- we're sure they saw plenty of Great Lakes cruises in their time!
Photographs were able to be taken from slides or printed photographs, as long as they were below the size of a standard sheet of paper. Before saving to a CD or DVD, they were converted a JPG format. This allowed the customer with the CD to take those photos, download them, and conveniently share them with friends and family. Or, photos could be transferred to DVD, allowing clients to build their own slideshow. This was the perfect way to show off an event or trip -- we're sure they saw plenty of Great Lakes cruises in their time!
Great Lakes Video Productions
The legacy left behind by Great Lakes Video and others like it is something to behold. Passionate about preserving and showcasing the beautiful media of the Great Lakes region, they have given us an endless source of incredible films and photographs. These allow us a glimpse into the world of America's inland oceans, where we find history, adventure, romance, and more. While the work done by Great Lakes Video is personal to its clients, there are many wonderful movies available to the public. Below, we've compiled a short list of essential films for anyone interested in the lakes and their surrounding locales.
Great Lakes Movies
Drain the Great Lakes
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Drain the Great Lakes (2011)Learn about the base of each of the Great Lakes with this intriguing documentary. Several experts in their respective fields bring insight into what lies at the bottom of the five lakes, from historic shipwrecks to geological transformations.
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Lakeboat
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Lakeboat (2000)This no-holds-barred comedic story tells the tale of life on a Great Lakes freighter from the perspective of a recent college graduate. For those interested in a decent depiction of daily life on a commercial ship sailing the inland seas, this film is a must.
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Somewhere in Time
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Somewhere in Time (1980)Starring Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve, Somewhere in Time is one of the most widely beloved films to be set on the Great Lakes. Specifically, it highlights romance in Mackinac Island, Michigan, one of the most popular Great Lakes cruise destinations.
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Great Lakes Digital Library
For more media on North America's largest lakes, be sure to take a look at our Great Lakes Library. Along with our recommendations from our team and clients, we've sought out a selection of top readings from Stephen Burnett, executive director of the Great Lakes Cruise Association.
