News Summary
The Grand Rapids Community Media Center has upgraded its Media Preservation Suite with advanced equipment to enhance digitization services. These upgrades include a high-resolution photo scanner and video equipment to stabilize analog footage, making preservation more accessible to community members and local institutions. Since January, GRTV has successfully assisted in digitizing over 250 hours of footage and has trained nearly 30 new users. Membership is required for access, allowing for both self-service and staff-assisted digitization options.
Grand Rapids—The Grand Rapids Community Media Center (GRCMC) has announced important upgrades to its Media Preservation Suite at GRTV, located on Bridge Street. Originally launched a year ago to aid the community in digitizing personal stories and memories, the suite has now been enhanced with two new high-tech devices aimed at making digitization services more accessible to individuals, nonprofits, and local institutions.
The upgraded Media Preservation Suite features a high-resolution Epson Perfection V600 photo scanner and an analog-to-digital setup equipped with a time base corrector along with a Blackmagic Design UltraStudio 4K Mini interface. The incorporation of this new equipment allows for professional-level digitization of various media types. The photo scanner is capable of handling everything from negatives to posters at archival quality, while the video equipment stabilizes analog footage and captures it in uncompressed formats, ensuring long-term preservation.
Since the beginning of January, GRTV has reported successful digitization assistance for over 250 hours of footage, completing 100 reservations, and training nearly 30 new members to use the digitization equipment. These numbers highlight the growing interest and need for preservation services within the community.
Access to the Media Preservation Suite requires membership to the Grand Rapids Community Media Center. Prospective users must undergo a one-time certification training course, which costs $40 and lasts between 30 to 60 minutes, covering important equipment operation and digital preservation best practices. After certification, members can utilize the Media Preservation Suite at no additional cost. Moreover, users have the option of requesting staff-led digitization services starting at $25, providing further assistance for those who might need it.
The Media Preservation Suite operates by appointment during select hours: noon to 8 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The service specializes in converting outdated media formats such as VHS tapes, cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs, and 8mm film to digital formats, ensuring that these personal and community histories remain intact and accessible.
There is a growing urgency for preserving histories stored on outdated media. Many libraries and institutions have phased out similar services, further emphasizing the importance of GRTV’s initiative. GRCMC membership also includes unlimited access to digital facilities, and members can bring their own storage devices for digitization or opt for cloud options.
By enhancing the Media Preservation Suite, GRTV aims to safeguard personal and community histories for future generations, ensuring that stories are not lost to the passage of time and technological advancement. As demand for digitization grows, the center continues to play a pivotal role in maintaining the heritage of the Grand Rapids community.
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Additional Resources
- Grand Rapids Magazine: GRTV’s Preservation Suite Levels Up
- MLive: New Service Helps Grand Rapids Locals Preserve VHS Tapes
- Fox17: Preserve Those Memories at GRTV
- Rapid Growth Media: Historic Grand Rapids Church Finds New Life
- Grain Radar: A Platform for Media Preservation
Author: STAFF HERE GRANDRAPIDS WRITER
GRAND RAPIDS STAFF WRITER The GRAND RAPIDS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREGrandRapids.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Grand Rapids, Kent County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as ArtPrize, Festival of the Arts, and World of Winter. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and Grand Rapids Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in furniture, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Steelcase, Spectrum Health, and Meijer. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HERENorthville.com, HERENovi.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
