Digitizing Dance
Preservation Station
Gather your VHS tapes, make an appointment, and come to our office in the Monadnock Building for FREE use of our previewing and digitizing equipment. CDHP staff will be on hand to assist. Soon, we will enhance the service to include two flatbed scanners for your digitizing of ephemera such as programs, photos, and more.
Between now and the end of 2025, each member of the community is eligible for up to 20 hours of cost-free digitizing. All appointment blocks are 4 hours in length and sign-up is required 48 hours in advance.
"I'm excited to look back on this in ten years. I'm excited for the history of this moment."
- Kait Dessoffy, on the value of CDHP's Preservation Station
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How should I prepare for my session?
Know the time length of your media. You'll need to be present for the full digitization session, so knowing this will help you plan your trip accordingly. Digitization happens in real time so if your video is one hour, the time you should plan for is one hour.
This will also help with understanding the amount of storage you will need.
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What will I bring?
Bring your VHS tapes and an external hard drive to copy your files. At least 500GB of available space on your hard drive is recommended.
A one-hour video equates to about 110GB of space.
Will there be someone who can help if I have questions?
Yes! A staff member will be on hand to help with any technical difficulties or if you simply need to ask a question.
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Can I bring drinks or food?
No. Drinks and food are prohibited in the digitization area for your safety and the safety of our equipment.
Digitizing Dance
The Preservation Station is generously funded by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affars and Special Events.
Thank You.