REEDSVILLE — Taking a video wasn’t always as easy as pulling out a cellular phone and pressing the record button. In the past if you wanted to capture a special event you needed to use an analog device such as a camcorder and record it on a video cassette tape.

Over the years as digital technologies became more relevant the watching these old analog recordings has become more difficult. Until now. Chris Toddes at Audio Video Rescue Services in Reedsville can take those old videotape recordings and transfer them to DVD.

At Audio Video Rescue Services they have the ability to take many analog formats such as VHS, VHS-C, Betacam, and 8mm films and convert them into digital media. Unlike the larger companies which often use only one type of machine, Toddes has multiple types of equipment at his disposal to ensure he gets the transfers his customers need.

Toddes explained that different videocassette recorders might produce a better quality of image during playback.

“I’ll play the video in the first deck and then go down the line to see which deck will pull the best video and audio for the transfer,” he said.

Toddes’ shop is filled with what he refers to as “old tech” giving him the ability to play back and transfer almost any analog recorded material. And if he doesn’t have a machine that can play what you need converted he’ll find one that can.

“I won’t turn a client away if I run into a problem with a transfer,” Toddes said. “I’ll keep working at it until I find a solution even if that means going out and tracking down equipment.”

He stands behind his work as well. If a customer has trouble with something he transferred, that client can bring it back and Toddes will figure out a way to make it work. With the transfers Toddes has the ability to correct the color in videos which has deteriorated over time or as a result of numerous playbacks.

In most cases the audio can also be enhanced to give DVD transfers a richer sound. The video transfers can be edited down to just the material a customer wants and titles can be added. In his shop Toddes can also clean and repair most dirty or broken tapes.

Video transfers aren’t the only service offered at Audio Video Rescue Services. Toddes can restore and enhance audio recordings from cassette tapes, 8-track tapes or vinyl records and transfer them to CD. He even has the ability to take the recordings from an 8-track tape and record the enhanced audio onto a new 8-track cassette.

Services are offered by appointment only. Audio Video Rescue Services can be reached at (717) 667-7750 and is located at 4907 Old US Hwy, Suite 1 in Reedsville.