Is there a way to restore/fix snowed-out video?

[Takaji]

Check this file: https://mega.nz/file/XJNGSCKb#_oIPWbIq_724Ll1adPQQ3JyolTt3HsK6mwiL0vtRHN0


[Attachment 86454 - Click to enlarge]

Two of my digital 8mm videotapes are completely snowed-out (correct term?). It appears that the sound is preserved, but hardly any of the video is visible except for some horizontal rolling of frames.

Is there any way to correct this? What would be the issue with the tape that would be causing this? Strangely enough, 1hr57m of one of the tapes are like this, and then the last three minutes are clear.

[Selur]

Nothing you can do for that captured file.

My guess: either the tape really is broken or some autocorrection went haywire,.... (probably contrast issues)

[Takaji]

I ordered a videotape cleaning cassette off eBay to see if it will help the problem. I tried looking into potential tape issues (some people have described various issues on here) but I can't be sure of what caused/causes it.

I agree though that there's nothing to be done with the capture as it is!

[Sharc]

Dirty heads cause different effects IMO. Be careful. Don't ruin your camera's head and gear with cleaning cassettes.

[Takaji]

Dirty heads cause different effects IMO. Be careful. Don't ruin your camera's head and gear with cleaning cassettes.

I'll make sure to check how to use cleaning cassettes. I understand they're supposed to be played for a very short time.

[johnmeyer]

If you have some cassettes which play OK, then your problem is almost certainly NOT dirty heads. I recommend that you do NOT attempt to clean the heads. Dirty heads usually cause static, noise bars, a rolling picture, or other sync issues. Scroll down three pages to page 254 to see a couple of examples:

https://cool.culturalheritage.org/videopreservation/vid_guide/14/14.html

[Takaji]

If you have some cassettes which play OK, then your problem is almost certainly NOT dirty heads. I recommend that you do NOT attempt to clean the heads. Dirty heads usually cause static, noise bars, a rolling picture, or other sync issues. Scroll down three pages to page 254 to see a couple of examples:

https://cool.culturalheritage.org/videopreservation/vid_guide/14/14.html

Thanks for the info. Given that other tapes play fine, it then sounds like an issue with the tape itself and that I shouldn't attempt to clean the heads. Any ideas what could be wrong with the tape? Is anything salvageable?

[Sharc]

Any ideas what could be wrong with the tape?

Exposure to strong electromagnetic fields maybe. Has it ever played correctly? As it can't be fixed you may want to make a new recording with this tape+camera to see whether it is basically working.

[Takaji]

Exposure to strong electromagnetic fields maybe. Has it ever played correctly? As it can't be fixed you may want to make a new recording with this tape+camera to see whether it is basically working.

Thanks for the input. At one point it played correctly, so your guess about it being exposed to something could make sense. Tapes were recorded on this device after these tapes, so I'm sure that the camcorder is working correctly.

[Sharc]

What I suggested is to make a new shot with the camera using this same damaged tape and see what you get.

[Takaji]

I could see that as a potential way of troubleshooting, but wouldn't that permanently erase the data currently on that portion of the tape for the new shot?

[Sharc]

I could see that as a potential way of troubleshooting, but wouldn't that permanently erase the data currently on that portion of the tape for the new shot?

Sure, but these data are totally useless. One cannot restore anything useful out of these.

[johnmeyer]

Also, when he recommends recording over the tape, I'm sure he doesn't mean to record over the entire tape. Instead, fast forward to the end and record there. Most tapes don't have the recording go all the way to the end and even if they do, the stuff at the end is usually not important. Just record 20-40 seconds and see if that plays back.

Also, what are you using to capture these tapes? What capture device and what settings? This is a pretty typical issue when the proc amp is not adjusted correctly.

[Sharc]

Also, when he recommends recording over the tape, I'm sure he doesn't mean to record over the entire tape. Instead, fast forward to the end and record there. Most tapes don't have the recording go all the way to the end and even if they do, the stuff at the end is usually not important. Just record 20-40 seconds and see if that plays back.

Also, what are you using to capture these tapes? What capture device and what settings? This is a pretty typical issue when the proc amp is not adjusted correctly.

Exactly.

....Strangely enough, 1hr57m of one of the tapes are like this, and then the last three minutes are clear.

@Takaji: Strange indeed. Is it the captured file only which goes haywire? Can you play the tape with the camera and see something reasonable on the camera's monitor or with the camera connected to the TV for playback? If this works you should revisit your capture setup and re-capture that tape.

[johnmeyer]

Can you play the tape with the camera and see something reasonable on the camera's monitor or with the camera connected to the TV for playback? If this works you should revisit your capture setup and re-capture that tape.

Yes, I am thinking the same thing, but forgot to mention viewing on a monitor or in the viewfinder of the camera.

[dellsam34]

If the camcorder plays the tape at the last three minutes this is a good indication that one of the tape reels was exposed or in contact with a strong magnet, and the other reel containing the last 3 minutes was not in contact with the magnet, No need to record anything, the 3 minutes playback is a good test to confirm the camcorder is playing back correctly.

[Sharc]

It is still unclear (at least to me) whether it is the capture only or the tape which is flawed. The OP didn't tell us yet.....

[Takaji]

Sorry for my delay. The tape shows the same results when viewing it through the viewfinder of the camcorder, which doesn't give me much hope... unfortunately I cannot rule out if it was exposed to a strong magnet at one point.

I'm hesitant to attempt recording a short bit on the tape, just in case there's some way to salvage it.

[themaster1]

David Copperfield will not help you on this one, that's for certain.