Black horizontal lines through video

[teeg]

Hi,

I have just been viewing the beginning of a few tapes (VHS) in our home movie collection and a few from the early 90's/late 80's have black horizontal lines that randomnly flick on and off for the first few minutes. As you progress further into the tape they disappear. Are these signs of wear or dropouts (usually seen as white lines)?

Many tapes have not been played since they were made and have been stored in a dry, cool and dark environment. They have been FF/RR to ensure an even spool. It seems that the tapes from 1983 are in better condition (flawless colour reproduction) than many filmed in the early 90's showing slight visible chroma issues! I do plan on capturing these to dv-avi sometime in the next few months with hardware correction facilities.


Tristan.

[edDV]

Hi,
... have black horizontal lines that randomnly flick on and off for the first few minutes. As you progress further into the tape they disappear. Are these signs of wear or dropouts (usually seen as white lines)?

Signs of magnetic dropouts. Dropouts seem the worst at the most tightly wound ends.

... It seems that the tapes from 1983 are in better condition (flawless colour reproduction) than many filmed in the early 90's showing slight visible chroma issues!

All depends on tape quality. Cheapest tapes came on the market during the 90s.

[teeg]

Is there anything that can be done on playback to reduce these lines?
Also, I believe there was something wrong with the camera at the time and it recorded with a red hue (I'll see if I can get a screenshot sometime). Can this be fixed with software or hardware filters?


Thanks,
Tristan.

[edDV]

Is there anything that can be done on playback to reduce these lines?
Also, I believe there was something wrong with the camera at the time and it recorded with a red hue (I'll see if I can get a screenshot sometime). Can this be fixed with software or hardware filters?

Thanks,
Tristan.

If it is a dropout, higher end TBCs will have dropout compensators that repeat previous lines over the dropout area making them less noticeable.

Red shift can be corrected in many ways in either analog (proc amp or TV hue control) or software.