How to Save/Salvage an Oxidising VHS Tape?

[darkarn]

Just played one of my tapes... It stopped at the 27 minute mark (was an hour long show). Upon dismantling the tape, I found out that parts of the tape is becoming transparent, which I take it to be oxidising.

May I know how can I save such tapes?

Thanks!

[lordsmurf]

That's not "oxidizing" -- tapes are always oxidized. Oxidize = air gets to it, and a reaction happens.
The reaction with video tape is slow and takes decades and decades to have ill affects.
This is one way that optical media is superior -- the recording materials are sealed.

What's happened here is "oxide shedding".
This isn't caused by air, but rather by moisture and heat damage over time.
If the tape is clear, the recording is gone, and nothing can be done. It's beyond repair, too late.
If tapes are still shedding, then you need to get them baked by a professional service.

[darkarn]

Maybe that's why I can't get any definitive answer from Google... =X

Thanks for the clarification, I guess that tape is busted then; much of the tape is transparent but then again, why are there no oxide flakes/residue?

Also, to think that the tape was wrapped before I used it... =(

[jagabo]

much of the tape is transparent but then again, why are there no oxide flakes/residue?

It's probably stuck on the back side of the tape that was on top of the transparent section on the reel.

If it's just a few spots you can cut and splice. The cuts will be very "dirty" -- because of the helical scan you'll get several seconds of bad sync.

[darkarn]

Well, most of the tape has streaks of transparent parts, which makes recovery near impossible. Furthermore, the damage is spread out ie. some in the middle, some in the ending etc.

[jagabo]

If you get a full frame TBC you'll be able to capture whatever's left (the capture software won't quit when it encounters the bad sections). Or maybe you can find some other capture software or hardware.

[darkarn]

Afraid not, TBCs are not available here... And what happens if I use a black marker pen (permanent ones) or black tape to colour the transparent parts?

[jagabo]

what happens if I use a black marker pen (permanent ones) or black tape to colour the transparent parts?

Nothing good. You just get black marker all over your VCR heads.

[darkarn]

Got a point there...

How about the black tape idea?

Ran a tape that was patched up with scotchtape; the VCR has no issues with it...

[jagabo]

Why do you think making the tape black will help? VHS tape uses a magnetic coating. Even if you could re-deposite a magnetic coating it would have no signal recorded on it. You would still get loss of sync on playback. It would be like replacing missing pages in a book with new blank pages. The missing text is still gone.

[darkarn]

But at least the tape will play, right?

Currently have another tape which has only a fine line of transparent stuff... The rest is in surprisingly good condition...

[jagabo]

Ah, so the transparent sections are causing the end-of-tape sensor to trigger and the player stops playing? You might find it easier to disable the sensor. Be careful with FF and RW though...

[darkarn]

Hmm... How do I go about doing that? Nothing in the manual says anything about that sensor...

EDIT: Wait, I think I know what you meant by that sensor... Let me open the VCR tomorrow and take pics...

[jagabo]

Yes, there will be an optical sensor somewhere along the tape path.

[lordsmurf]

You're going to really screw up the VCR heads playing these tapes.
Clean, and clean often.
Follow this guide: http://www.digitalFAQ.com/forum/showthread.php/panasonic-ag-1980-2108.html?p=11353#post11353

[mikel]

Cover the spot w/permanent black marker on the side of the tape that doesn't touch the heads.
& let it dry.
It'll keep the end-of-tape sensor from triggering.
I've done this on old flaking beta tapes.
...but it won't last for long..... so copy it on the first playback.

Then clean your heads.

No guarantee...but it has worked for me.

Good luck.

[darkarn]

Yes, there will be an optical sensor somewhere along the tape path.

But how do I go about disabling it? Can't find any guides about it so far...

[darkarn]

You're going to really screw up the VCR heads playing these tapes.
Clean, and clean often.
Follow this guide: http://www.digitalFAQ.com/forum/showthread.php/panasonic-ag-1980-2108.html?p=11353#post11353

Will do!

[darkarn]

Cover the spot w/permanent black marker on the side of the tape that doesn't touch the heads.
& let it dry.
It'll keep the end-of-tape sensor from triggering.
I've done this on old flaking beta tapes.
...but it won't last for long..... so copy it on the first playback.

Then clean your heads.

No guarantee...but it has worked for me.

Good luck.

Looks like it's either this method or disabling the light sensor...

[oldfart13]

Look up "tape baking". This works with audio tapes. A friend has done most of his old audio reel to reel collection that way. Video should work as well but it's not for the faint at heart....

[darkarn]

Checked that already; not an option I am afraid... =(

[lingyi]

Cover the spot w/permanent black marker on the side of the tape that doesn't touch the heads.
& let it dry.
It'll keep the end-of-tape sensor from triggering.
I've done this on old flaking beta tapes.
...but it won't last for long..... so copy it on the first playback.

Then clean your heads.

No guarantee...but it has worked for me.

Good luck.

Beta machines use a mylar trailer to trigger the end of tape sensor, not optical like VHS.

Blacking out the the back of the tape may work, but you'll have to get tape completely covered. I've used a black marker to cover pinhole spots on VHS tapes before, never an entire area.

I'd suggest capturing up the bad spot, unload, manually forward the tape past the bad spot and continue capturing. Experiment with a good tape to determine how far you have to manually forward to the tape to miss the bad spot.

Unless your tape is a one of a kind homemade video, I'd suggest doing an extensive search online (i.e. don't be afraid to search non-english sites) to see if someone, somewhere has it available. The wonders of the internet never fail to amaze me as with patience and willingness to travel to non-english sites (practice safe surfing and protect yourself!), I've found videos that I thought no one else would have ever saved.

[jman98]

While tape baking might be useful for other parts of the tape, the missing parts are missing and it will not make that part of the tape any better than it already is. I just want to point that out.

lingyi's suggestion is quite good as many people erroneously conclude that because something is not available in the USA that it's not available anywhere in the world and that's often wrong.

[darkarn]

Beta machines use a mylar trailer to trigger the end of tape sensor, not optical like VHS.

Blacking out the the back of the tape may work, but you'll have to get tape completely covered. I've used a black marker to cover pinhole spots on VHS tapes before, never an entire area.

I'd suggest capturing up the bad spot, unload, manually forward the tape past the bad spot and continue capturing. Experiment with a good tape to determine how far you have to manually forward to the tape to miss the bad spot.

Unless your tape is a one of a kind homemade video, I'd suggest doing an extensive search online (i.e. don't be afraid to search non-english sites) to see if someone, somewhere has it available. The wonders of the internet never fail to amaze me as with patience and willingness to travel to non-english sites (practice safe surfing and protect yourself!), I've found videos that I thought no one else would have ever saved.

1. Not using Betamax here...
2. Well, I just wanted to know what if I encounter the problem on a homemade video...

[darkarn]

lingyi's suggestion is quite good as many people erroneously conclude that because something is not available in the USA that it's not available anywhere in the world and that's often wrong.

Can look into that...

[lordsmurf]

Tell me what it is, either in post or PM. I bet I can find it, either retail or maybe homemade.
Open invite to anybody ever looking for anything.
Or better yet, ask for it here: http://www.TVPreservation.com/forum/
Somebody there usually knows if something is released, where it might be, etc.

I have a lot of videos from overseas, for this reason.
Had it not been for collecting rare tapes, I'd never have gotten into video all those years ago.

[darkarn]

Thanks for the offer; will let you know if I need anything...

But however weird it sounds, what I am doing now is actually practising and learning video archiving skills "on-the-job" with those commercial videos I got; I sense that I will need them pretty soon (read: wedding video of my parents [mine's not coming soon... =/])

[lordsmurf]

Commercial type errors and homemade type errors are usually not the same.
The tapes tend to be of different grades, for starters. (commercial tapes are crappier, home blanks superior)

So practicing on one style may not prepare you much.

[darkarn]

Commercial type errors and homemade type errors are usually not the same.
The tapes tend to be of different grades, for starters. (commercial tapes are crappier, home blanks superior)

So practicing on one style may not prepare you much.

Hmm I kinda see what you mean; got some (somewhat) useless home-recorded TV shows/movies tapes to "play" with too...

They store MUCH more data than the commercial ones; got bored with viewing through them for anything neccessary and tried to fast forward them. One of the tapes got torn up because of that...

[lordsmurf]

Your VCR doesn't sound like it's a very good one, if its eating tapes.
It may be out of alignment, too.