PHONOTONE
FILM SCANNING
IMAGE AND SOUND RESTORATION SERVICES
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From reel to restored in four simple steps
1. Send us your film
Pack it securely and ship it insured via UPS or FedEx. Please don't use Media Mail, since it isn't reliable enough for irreplaceable film. Shipping nitrate film? Contact us first.
2. We inspect and prepare it
We repair splices and torn frames without losing a single image. We never use harsh liquid cleaners on vintage film. Instead, particle transfer rollers gently lift away loose dust.
3. We scan it in up to 4K
35mm film is scanned in 4K on our Cintel G3. All other formats are scanned in 4K or 2K on our sprocketless scanner, or in 2K on our pin-registered scanner, if the film is warped. You receive uncompressed files (DPX, AVI or MOV), or ready-to-use ProRes or MP4 files.
4. We return it safely
Your original film comes back by UPS, together with your files on a hard drive or by secure download.
Film Formats Scanned
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Super 8mm (Single 8mm)
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Standard 8mm
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9.5mm
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16mm
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35mm
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Specialty formats such as 28mm, 22mm and 17.5mm
Audio Playback
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Super 8mm, Standard 8mm magnetic sound
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Super 8mm optical sound
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9.5mm optical sound
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16mm optical and magnetic sound
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35mm optical sound (analog)
Image restoration
We bring faded, damaged footage back to how it looked when it was new. We stabilize shaky images, remove dirt, dust, scratches, and flicker, and restore color by hand when needed. We use AlgoSoft VIVA Pro, the industry's leading film restoration software, and we know it inside out: for years, we have worked with Algosoft to help refine and improve it.
Sound restoration
Decades of experience go into every soundtrack we restore. We remove clicks, hum, and background hiss, and reduce the distortion typical of optical tracks. We also restore 78 RPM records, vinyl, and magnetic tape.
Ready for the big screen (DCP mastering)
Want your film shown in a cinema? We create Digital Cinema Packages (DCPs), the format every modern theater projects, using DaVinci Resolve with easyDCP and full 5.1 surround sound.
What sets our DCPs apart is sound. We set the audio level precisely to what the movie theater needs, so your film plays at exactly the right volume, with no guesswork in the projection booth. Our DCPs have been screened at cinemas across Europe and at prominent independent theaters in the US, with excellent results.
Something special
Custom film production: We shoot opening titles, intros, or short pieces on real 16mm or 35mm motion picture film.
Vintage voice-over: We record English or German narration on classic ribbon microphones such as the RCA 44.
Every project is different, so contact us for a personal quote. Film students receive reduced rates.
COLLABORATORS:
We are proud to work with:
AlgoSoft Restoration Technology - https://algosoft-tech.com/
Industry-leading film restoration software
