Send the best source you have
The best file for restoration is usually the least-compressed version available. If you have an original camera file, ProRes export, high-bitrate tape transfer, DVD image, or master capture, send that instead of a small web copy. A larger source file can be inconvenient to upload, but it often gives the restoration process more real detail and fewer compression artifacts.
Avoid using a file that has already been posted to social media, sent through a messaging app, or recompressed several times unless it is the only copy left. Those services often reduce bitrate, change frame rate, crush dark detail, and add compression blocks. Restoration can still help a compressed file, but the ceiling is lower than it would be with the original source.
Do not pre-process the file before upload
It is tempting to run the video through a quick enhancer, crop the edges, brighten the scene, or export a smaller version before sending it. In most cases, that makes the professional restoration harder. Pre-processing can bake in artifacts, remove useful border information, change field order, or make the operator guess what happened before the file arrived.
If the source looks ugly, send it anyway. Tape noise, black borders, combing, odd color, and bottom-edge distortion can all be useful diagnostic clues. We can create clean viewing exports after the technical review. The upload should preserve as much original information as possible.
Useful formats and source notes
FrameRevive accepts common source formats including MP4, MOV, AVI, MTS, MXF, ProRes, and other standard video files. If you are not sure what the file is, upload what you have and describe where it came from: VHS transfer, Hi8 camcorder, MiniDV tape, DVD, old hard drive, camera card, or a file someone gave you years ago.
Good notes can save time. Tell us whether the original tape still exists, whether the file is a first transfer or a later copy, whether audio matters, and whether any section is more important than the rest. If there are multiple files from the same event, say whether they belong together or should be restored separately.
Choose a sample that reveals the real problems
A sample review works best when the sample includes the hardest parts of the video. Choose a section with faces, motion, dark areas, camera movement, tape noise, bad color, or anything that made you notice the footage needed help. A clean outdoor shot may look great but fail to reveal the restoration challenge.
If the video has several different problems, mention them in the brief. For example: the beginning has tracking damage, the ceremony is dark, the reception has loud audio, and the last ten minutes drift out of sync. That helps the operator test the right moments before quoting the full runtime.
Tell us what the final file is for
A family viewing file, an editing master, a memorial video, a reunion slideshow, and a long-term archive copy do not need exactly the same output. The restoration style, file size, aspect ratio, encoding, and delivery format should match the way the restored video will be used.
If you want the footage to feel natural and archival, say that. If you want the cleanest modern-looking version possible, say that too. There is no single correct style for every family archive. The right version is the one that helps your family watch the footage again without feeling that the memory was changed too much.
Privacy and rights confirmation
Only upload footage you own or have permission to submit. Restoration work often involves private family material, weddings, memorial videos, children, relatives, and old events where the people in the footage did not expect public distribution. The project flow includes a rights confirmation before source upload.
Customer media stays private by default. A case study, before-and-after sample, or article example should only be published with explicit approval from the family. If a customer wants the project kept entirely private, the restored files can be delivered without using the material in marketing.
Pre-upload checklist
Before upload, look for the best available copy, keep the filename recognizable, avoid trimming or compressing the file, write a short note about the source, and choose the section that best represents the damage. If the footage came from a tape, include the tape type if you know it. If the file came from a relative, mention whether you know how it was digitized.
Do not worry if the file is large or the format looks unfamiliar. The review exists because old media is messy. A clear source file plus a few honest notes are more useful than a polished but compressed export.
If you still have the physical tape
Do not throw away the tape after a first transfer unless you are certain the capture is good and safely backed up. The physical tape may still be the highest-generation source, even if it is inconvenient. If a transfer was made years ago on consumer equipment, a better capture may reveal more stable color, cleaner audio, fewer dropped frames, or less compression damage.
Store the tape upright in a cool, dry place and avoid repeatedly playing a fragile cassette just to check it. If the tape has mold, severe damage, or unusual shedding, it should be handled by a specialist before playback. FrameRevive can restore digital files, but the quality of a tape-based project begins before the file exists.
How to label files for a family archive
Good filenames reduce confusion later. A useful pattern is date or approximate date, event, source, and version: `1994-12-christmas-vhs-transfer.mov`, `1994-12-christmas-restored-1080p.mp4`, and `1994-12-christmas-archive-master.mov`. Even if the date is approximate, a consistent name is better than `video-final-final2.mp4`.
If you are sending several clips, include a short note that explains order and context. Families often have multiple tapes from the same wedding, vacation, or school year. The operator does not need a long essay, but knowing which file is the ceremony, reception, speeches, or camera-two angle can prevent delivery confusion.
When to ask before uploading
Ask before uploading if the file contains sensitive legal material, copyrighted third-party footage, adult content, or media where you are unsure who owns the rights. Also ask if the footage is physically damaged and only exists on a fragile tape, because the safest next step may be a better transfer rather than immediate restoration of an old copy.
The review process is designed for family archives and customer-owned media. A short question up front is better than sending material that cannot be processed or should not be handled in the normal workflow. It protects the customer, the people in the footage, and the restoration team.