ArchvistaBox + digitization of DVDs/VHS included

Egg, July 22, 2025: The new ArchivistaBox 2025/VII is significantly smaller than the previous flagships K2 and Everest, but stores up to 1 million films in VHS or DVD quality. Agreed, who still works with DVDs and/or VHS tapes today? Well, there is still a very high five-digit number of DVDs in the Swiss library network alone. These stocks are in danger of “disintegrating”, which is why ArchivistaBox is launching the combination package of ArchivistaBox and digitized DVDs/VHS cassettes.

Multimedia: When the topic “eats up” (too) much time

Anyone who visits this blog from time to time will have noticed that since the multimedia ArchivistaBox was released at the end of 2020, topics relating to audio and video files have featured prominently. This was not planned, but ultimately this is due to the fact that audiovisual data is almost “horrendously” complex compared to scanned pages, PDF and/or Office files, and even email messages. There are now two possibilities. Either it is simply boldly claimed that everything is under control or it is explained why something is like this and what solutions are available. However, solutions only exist if they have been developed and extensively tested.

The Archivista solution was created in 1998 as an archiving solution for written material, with which information can be securely “managed” digitally over a very long period of time. This in the sense of a document management system (DMS). Multimedia files are also documents, just as PDF and Office files are. However, video files in particular are blatantly larger (1 hour of video corresponds to 108,000 images), so that the term “file” only fits “halfway”.

The ArchivistaBox has been optimized in this respect many times over the last few years. Nevertheless, with each extension, there were still things that were not or not optimally solved. For this reason, the last few months have been used to properly address this issue.

The new ArchivistaBox Lothse

The K2 and Everest models were previously responsible for large data volumes. An additional box for up to 10 hard disks was available as an option for these boxes. This has been in use for many years. However, the external box is quite large and the fans are not super quiet. This may be acceptable in a server room, but it is less pleasant in everyday office use.

With the ArchivistaBox Lothse, these worries are a thing of the past. The new box offers either five, eight or even twelve bays for 3.5″ hard disks and remains pleasantly quiet during day-to-day work. Of course, two or more box systems can be kept redundant.

As the ArchivistaBox Lothse can be equipped very individually, it will not be available in our store for the time being. However, we will be happy to advise you on the choice of the optimum configuration over the phone. The basic version of the solution starts at CHF 1800 (with 20 TByte capacity). You can find out everything else by calling +41 44 350 05 60. If you would prefer to receive a written offer by e-mail, you are also welcome to send an e-mail to webmaster@archivista.ch.

New backup concept

However, the best hardware is only as good as the software that is adapted to the hardware. For this reason, the ArchivistaBox is supplied from a single source, hardware and software from a single source.

For the data volume of the ArchivistaBox Lothse, for example, a new backup concept was necessary, because it goes without saying that the backup must be optimally organized across several hard disks if up to 12 hard disks are used internally.

Tools for capturing DVDs and VHS tapes

Until now, DVDs and VHS tapes could only be recorded using additional software. The necessary tools are now available directly on the ArchivistaBox 2025/VII, but also on AVMultimedia.

Anyone who argues that nobody needs such tools should be told that a Kataog search for DVDs (without online holdings, but under Film objects) currently returns 79,427 entries for Swiss libraries alone. Of course, there are a number of titles that are available more than once, but there is still a very large number of data carriers (estimated at around 50,000 unique titles). Even the good old VHS cassettes still exist in not insignificant numbers.

Both DVDs and VHS tapes are subject to an ageing process. VHS cassettes have an “advantage” in that the ageing process “simply” results in poorer picture quality, whereas DVDs usually suffer total loss. It is therefore necessary to digitize these data carriers. These options were previously missing on the ArchivistaBox.

The ArchivistaBox can now not only capture DVDs and VHS cassettes, there are also tools for converting the image-based subtitles on DVDs into the web-based formats commonly used today (VTT/SRT). ‘vobssub2srt’ is available for DVDs and the tool ‘sup2srt’ for BlueRays. The subtitle files generated in this way are searchable and can also be subsequently edited (recognition errors in the OCR identification are very rare). VHS tapes can be recorded either on the console or via OBS.

Order ArchivistaBox and receive digitized DVDs/VHS

Capturing both DVDs and VHS tapes requires practice. If you want to tackle the job with a classic Windows or Mac computer, you will soon realize that you need a lot of programs and tools, and it takes a lot of time to achieve optimum results. For the first point, the ArchivistaBox 2025/II or the version of the Linux distribution AVMultimedia with the same name is now available. All the necessary programs are included from version 2025/VII.

Capturing non-digital data has never been the core business of Archivista GmbH. Nevertheless, there have always been cases in the past where holdings were recorded. Archivista GmbH currently has the appropriate equipment to efficiently capture documents with document scanners and flatbed scanners, just as film negatives and slides from analog photography can be captured.

This is now also possible for DVDs and VHS cassettes. The prices are moderate. There is a flat rate of 10 francs per DVD, for VHS cassettes according to the length (<30 minutes): 10 francs, for 30-60 minutes it is 20 francs, above that it is a flat rate of 30 francs. ISO files are supplied for DVDs and MP4 files for VHS cassettes.

These services do not form the core business of Archivista GmbH, which is and remains the ArchivistaBox. However, as the ArchivistaBox from version 2025/VII has been optimally optimized for handling DVDs and VHS cassettes, ArchivistaBox is launching the combined offer of ArchivistaBox + digitization service.

Order an ArchivistaBox by October 31, 2025 and send us your DVDs and/or VHS cassettes. Your data carriers can be delivered between September 1 and October 31, 2025. Receive your ArchivistaBox together with the digitized data between mid-September and the end of November (orders are processed in a linear fashion). The offer is limited to a Swiss postal address (the customs formalities for abroad are too high). However, it is possible to order from abroad, only the delivery must be made in Switzerland (collection in Egg is possible on request).

Example: You order an ArchivistaBox Dolder for CHF 110. For this you receive a maximum of 11 digitized DVDs, which you receive together with the ArchivistaBox license. If you have more data carriers, simply order a larger ArchivistaBox. The maximum number of VHS cassettes per order is 3 tapes. Unfortunately, data carriers that are defective still count, but any fragments will be delivered.

What volume is available?

There is a maximum capacity of 100 DVDs and 10 VHS cassettes per day. The offer is valid from now until the end of October 2025 and will be processed in the months of September to November 2025. With approx. 60 business days, this results in 6000 DVDs and 600 VHS cassettes. This limitation does not exist because no more data carriers can be recorded per day, but because the offer is primarily aimed at those who still have data carriers and who would like to build up a digital film archive with the ArchivistaBox.

6000 DVDs or 600 VHS cassettes correspond to around 10 percent of the holdings in the Swiss Library Network. If someone (e.g. a library or video store) would like a complete digitization, this can be planned together and the conditions are of course negotiable.

If required, our “daily production” can be increased to several hundred DVDs. It is also important to note that any copy protection is not affected during digitization; ISO files are supplied that can be played with any commercially available program (e.g. VLC player). On request, conversion to MP4 format can also be offered; any additional work will be charged separately.

Why does this offer exist, why moviebox.ch?

A few years ago, the managing director started to build up a digital film archive privately, simply because the online streaming offerings were not convincing in the slightest. This has since grown into a sizeable private archive.

The collection is not “only” designed for Swiss films, but the catalog of Swiss films is now available for research at moviebox.ch as a complete directory (without the films, of course). It contains a good 8700 titles. No public library or video library has ever had such a directory for Swiss films. Only aeppli.ch publishes a comprehensive directory of Swiss films (limited searchability via some subpages and Ctrl+F). There is also procinema.ch, which currently lists 4083 hits for Switzerland.

If you search for Mathias Gnädinger at procinema.ch, for example, you will find only 2 hits. At moviebox.ch, a search for a person yields 63 entries, while the Swiss library catalog has around 90 hits, but these only correspond to around 40 films, as many works are listed more than once (which doesn’t make the search very convenient). There are 34 productions at swissfilms.ch.

The new Swiss film directory moviebox.ch was created as a by-product of the managing director’s private film collection. Either the complete list in an annual list or the database can be consulted directly for research purposes. The moviebox.ch website also contains a wealth of information on how the private archive came into being.

When building up the private collection, we found that a few percent of DVDs borrowed from video stores and libraries were already irrevocably defective. There were fewer total failures with the VHS tapes, but the ageing process was all the more evident there. In short, a few percent of the content has been lost.

The Managing Director has spoken to many people (both professionally and privately) in recent months. When it came to the question of digitizing DVDs, it was always said that the effort involved would be far too high. It is not. The job can be done very efficiently with any ArchivistaBox or even AVMultimedia solution. Instructions can be found at moviebox.ch (Capturing movies, part 4, in German).

For all those who do not want to do the job themselves, there is an offer with the combination package ArchivistaBox + Capture DVDs/VHS.

Does the offer apply to all ArchivistaBox systems?

Yes, the offer is valid for all ArchivistaBox systems ordered until October 31, 2025, regardless of whether only the software (ISO file) or an ArchivistaBox with hardware is ordered.

What restrictions apply?

The (Swiss) provisions of copyright law apply, see Art. 19 para. 2 CopA: “Anyone who is entitled to personal use may also have the necessary reproductions made by third parties, subject to paragraph 3; libraries, other public institutions and business establishments that make copying machines available to their users are also deemed to be third parties within the meaning of this paragraph.” Art. 19 para. 3 CopA: “Outside the private circle referred to in paragraph 1 letter a, the following are not permitted: a. the complete or substantially complete reproduction of commercially available copies of works; b. the reproduction of works of visual art; c. the reproduction of graphic recordings of musical works; d. the recording of lectures, performances or presentations of a work on audio, audiovisual or data carriers.”

This means that only DVDs that are no longer commercially available are digitized. DVDs that are commercially available must (according to Swiss law) be copied yourself. In some countries, this is also only permitted if, for example, the DVD itself was purchased. When the DVDs are delivered, a list must be supplied on a USB stick showing that the titles in question are no longer commercially available. To determine this, a good faith effort must be made. However, it may also be noted that the majority of DVDs are no longer available today.

Is the offer necessarily linked to the ArchivistaBox?

The offer is linked to an order of the ArchivistaBox. There is no obligation for the ArchivistaBox to be used for the digitized data carriers.

If you have any further questions, please call +41 44 350 05 60 or send an e-mail to webmaster@archivista.ch. Orders can be placed via our web store.

P.S: The pictures in this article are taken from the azurgo.ch homepage and the article about a cycling trip to Athens.