Video8 Head Misalignment?

[frozentax]

Hey all,

I have a few Video8 tapes that were recorded on an old Sony Handycam. The camera worked fine, but I think at some point the video heads misaligned. When I playback those tapes on any new Video8/Hi8/D8 camcorder, the video is garbled at the bottom and noisy, and the sound is very garbled. I'm trying to transfer these to DVD, but the output is horrible and virtually unwatchable.

I don't have the old Sony anymore (gave away years ago). What are my options - any restoration sites you can point me to? Does it indeed sound like misaligned heads during recording? Can I purchase an old Video8 camcorder and try to misalign the heads manually, or is that unreasonable? I really need to get retrieve this video - any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Megahurts]

The only way I know of is to misalign the heads to match the tape. It can be done by using a scope and monitor the head output envelope or by eye-balling the video on the screen.

All the tapes may not be misaligned the same because when the locking screw came loose, the tape guides may have drifted over time.

[turk690]

While misaligned heads can cause that, an equal culprit is simply dirty heads. Video8/Hi8 was designed for an all automatic tracking system; although it's analogue, there is no dedicated linear control track like in VHS. Tracking is done by recorded tones on the helical video itself: the capstan motor adjusts such that there is maximum output of such tones then it's deemed tracking is optimum. When one head gets clogged (by a dirty tape or not), often video is still recognizable because the VTR will have line or field storage to repeat previous line, except for the beginning (or ends) of a field which will show noise. But, since audio is also picked up by the same heads for video, when one is clogged this can't be corrected on playback so a motorboating sound is produced.
Old tapes that have been less than optimally stored (not fully rewinded, no box, hot/humid place) have a tendency to either get dirty or shed off bits of its magnetic material (hopefully not enough to cause serious drop-outs) and clog up either one or both heads during the duration they're inserted or intermittently. Before I play old tapes, I physically inspect their outward appearances: I delicately brush or blower off dust. Then I forward and rewind them 2 or 3 times, ideally on a separate rewinder machine. Then I get a tape cleaner cartridge.
After inserting a tape and pressing play, chances are if it's dirty and clogging up heads, pressing FF will produce a better looking picture. I then take it out and insert the tape cleaner to clean the heads; letting the original tape remain will only clog the heads even more. In most cases (even with VHS), simply playing a 10-year old tape on FF many times then cleaning the heads slowly brings the video back to the best level it could at this point.
If it's proven that whatever is done still produces wretched-looking video, then approaching a video production house that (still) has industrial-grade Video8 decks may be the only answer.

[frozentax]

In most cases (even with VHS), simply playing a 10-year old tape on FF many times then cleaning the heads slowly brings the video back to the best level it could at this point.

Thanks for the in depth response. That's a good procedure to try. I seem to remember the video flickering on and off (black picture for several frames but still audio - it's been a while since I've watched the videos). Is that an indication of dirty heads as well?

The only way I know of is to misalign the heads to match the tape

Yes, good call - that's what I was thinking. I may just purchase a cheap unit on eBay. Is there a guide that you know of explaining how to modify the head alignment? Or is it a fairly simple procedure?

[frozentax]

Anyone know of a good guide for manually adjusting video heads on a Video8 camcorder?

[Number Six]

The angle of the heads are adjusted by manipulating tiny set screws that are part of the head / drum assembly, but to do the job properly you need an oscilloscope and a special video tape designed for the unit that you are working on. Good luck!

[edDV]

Anyone know of a good guide for manually adjusting video heads on a Video8 camcorder?

I suggest you have a camcorder repair shop do it. They have old camcorders they can sacrifice, the scopes, alignment + tension tools and the experience to do it right.

There are also specialty restoration shops where they do this on open transports. These guys charge much more than your local camcorder repair expert. The restoration experts mostly get paid by lawyers and corporations.