restore 27 year old VHS. please help!!!!

[jatink129]

Hello all.
i just found my parents wedding cassette. it also has my first birthday on it.

we had made cd and dvd versions of it. but unfortunately when we moved we lost them. I thought we had lost the original vhs too, but i found it today.

I went and bought a brand new VHS player, but it wouldn't read the tape.

sometimes for a few seconds i can hear something, but i only see static. throughout the tape. i tried rewinding and fast-forwarding it till the either end. but all i see is static.

is there any way to salvage this VHS tape?

I'd be willing to fork out good money to see it restored.

If anybody could point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it.

thanks.

[Megahurts]

If you do a fast search do you see any video?

If so, it might be recorded in LP mode (4HR). Most new vcrs won't play LP.

[johns0]

The vcr heads might of got clogged by the tape,try a different tape and clean if still static,also inspect the tape to see if it's in good shape.

[jatink129]

i don't have any other vhs tapes to try, but the VHS player is brand new. i just bought a few hours ago.

[jatink129]

If you do a fast search do you see any video?

If so, it might be recorded in LP mode (4HR). Most new vcrs won't play LP.

no i don't see any video. it's only static.

most of the time, when i hit play, it show static for a few seconds and then stop by itself.

[LOWTECH]

Because of the unknown nature of the VHS tape condition, I would suggest trying a few options.


1 - Try another tape, shop bought or from a friend that works ok in their tape player.

2 - Try ajusting the tracking control on your player if you have static lines and see if it improves anything or a least to give the hint of something there.

3 - Take the tape itself to the shop and ask if they can play your tape in a couple of their tape machines.

4 - If it is a S-VHS tape I am not sure but it may only play in a S-VHS player

5 - Is there any Audio at all with the static and is there - static lines or dots.

6 - It maybe possible that your old tape has dirt deposited onto the video recorder heads and the heads need a clean. A recent tape working on a friends tape recorder tested in your recorder will confirm that the heads are ok.

7 - It maybe that the tape has problems due to its age, google a tape specialist in your area as a last resort for help or their assistance.

Good luck and do nothing to the tape and be careful with it ... do not send through the post.

[sanlyn]

no i don't see any video. it's only static.

most of the time, when i hit play, it show static for a few seconds and then stop by itself.

What model VCR plays a tape for a few seconds (even a blank tape) and then automatically stops? Will other tapes play in this VCR?

[jatink129]

i've created a video of what's happening now.

i'll take you through the video...

i put the tape in. hit play. static appears for a split second and then the screen changes to a blank screen. now this blank screen is what i see when i usually don't have my video cable plugged into my tv. it's the AV mode.

and that's what it's showing me. i tried it twice. and each time with the same result.

last night it was showing me static. now it won't even play.
just this.

[jatink129]

Because of the unknown nature of the VHS tape condition, I would suggest trying a few options.


1 - Try another tape, shop bought or from a friend that works ok in their tape player.

2 - Try ajusting the tracking control on your player if you have static lines and see if it improves anything or a least to give the hint of something there.

3 - Take the tape itself to the shop and ask if they can play your tape in a couple of their tape machines.

4 - If it is a S-VHS tape I am not sure but it may only play in a S-VHS player

5 - Is there any Audio at all with the static and is there - static lines or dots.

6 - It maybe possible that your old tape has dirt deposited onto the video recorder heads and the heads need a clean. A recent tape working on a friends tape recorder tested in your recorder will confirm that the heads are ok.

7 - It maybe that the tape has problems due to its age, google a tape specialist in your area as a last resort for help or their assistance.

Good luck and do nothing to the tape and be careful with it ... do not send through the post.

1. i tried a different tape. it worked.
2. i don't know what tracking control is.
3. will do if i can't find any help here
4. don't know what an s-vhs tape is
5.now it won't even play. i have attached a video. please watch it.
6.i don't think so. the tape hasn't been played in a while and the vhs player is brand new and the first tape to be played on it is this one.
7. will try that.

[jatink129]

no i don't see any video. it's only static.

most of the time, when i hit play, it show static for a few seconds and then stop by itself.

What model VCR plays a tape for a few seconds (even a blank tape) and then automatically stops? In the past a few higher-end VCR's would stop play and/or even eject badly damaged tape, but I didn't know today's low-cost players had that feature. I'm assuming you've successfully played other tapes in this machine (?!).

Most tape cassettes have printing or embossing somewhere on the plastic case that identifies the type of tape.

the only thing on the tape is a sticker saying AKAI- VHS E-180 VIDEO CASSETTE. that's it.

[jatink129]

i googled "tracking" and i know follow what that means...but since the tape won't even play anymore...i don't really know what to do.

also- this is originally from india. so in all probability it's PAL/625/25 . i thought modern vhs players play all formats. am i wrong?

is this the reason for the problem?

the vhs player i bought is a magnavox. it's only brand that was available at that point. don't know if that makes a difference.

[usually_quiet]

i googled "tracking" and i know follow what that means...but since the tape won't even play anymore...i don't really know what to do.

also- this is originally from india. so in all probability it's PAL/625/25 . i thought modern vhs players play all formats. am i wrong?

is this the reason for the problem?

the vhs player i bought is a magnavox. it's only brand that was available at that point. don't know if that makes a difference.

PAL is the problem. VCRs made for N. America won't play PAL tapes, only NTSC tapes. Most DVD and Blu-Ray players made for N. America won't play PAL DVDs either. You need to find a good VHS to DVD transfer service that has the right equipment to copy the tape to DVD for you.

[lordsmurf]

Use a transfer service for this one tape.
That's all you need to do.
Find a good service that knows how to do a proper PAL>NTSC conversion (many claim to, but few actually do).

[jatink129]

Use a transfer service for this one tape.
That's all you need to do.
Find a good service that knows how to do a proper PAL>NTSC conversion (many claim to, but few actually do).

any idea why the tape was playing yesterday albeit with static (and sound) and today won't play? did you see the video?

[usually_quiet]

Use a transfer service for this one tape.
That's all you need to do.
Find a good service that knows how to do a proper PAL>NTSC conversion (many claim to, but few actually do).

any idea why the tape was playing yesterday albeit with static (and sound) and today won't play? did you see the video?

I saw the video, and it does not seem to me like the tape is playing.

Stop fooling around with the tape. It won't play using the equipment you have. It is 27 years old, and you are not doing it any favors by attempting to play it back on the wrong equipment.

[jatink129]

[QUOTE=usually_quiet;2118052][QUOTE=jatink129;2118035]

Stop fooling around with the tape. It won't play using the equipment you have. It is 27 years old, and you are not doing it any favors by attempting to play it back on the wrong equipment.

I'm not fooling around with it!

I was just trying to demonstrate what exactly was the problem. because it was playing yesterday. and today it's doing this. so i didn't know why.

i would never intentionally mess around with that tape. it's far too precious to me.

anyway, i have gotten in touch with 2 places..and they have assured me that they will be able to do a conversion. I'm going to take it to them later on today and see how it goes...and then i'll post back with the results!

[victoriabears]

Good luck....................a good transfer service is your best bet, I would love to have helped you but am a ways away.

[Cornucopia]

When they said "stop fooling around with the tape", what they meant was DON'T DO ANYTHING MORE WITH THE TAPE AGAIN YOURSELF. This includes putting it in the VCR to try to play again. For a 27 year old tape, the probability of the oxide shedding is very great! Every pass is going to seriously lose more and more signal. Sounds like you've done it 2 or 3 times at least.

This is why you should take it straight to a transfer house that KNOWS how to deal with both PAL->NTSC conversion AND knows how to deal with old tapes restoration/maintenance. They should manually check for oxide shed and apply a gloves-on wet cleaning approach to the tape itself if it is overly sheddy. Then they should check to make sure there is no trouble with the transport/shell. Then they should do a short segment pass at the beginning to get things set up right. Then clean the heads (again). Then do a SINGLE full pass if possible, hopefully getting everything in one pass.

edit: OH, and make sure they're capping to a real good master quality (SD, YUV 4:2:2, Lossless codec, or similar), in addition to any DV/DVD, etc. output, so you won't ever have to deal with this tape again.

Scott

[jatink129]

When they said "stop fooling around with the tape", what they meant was DON'T DO ANYTHING MORE WITH THE TAPE AGAIN YOURSELF. This includes putting it in the VCR to try to play again. For a 27 year old tape, the probability of the oxide shedding is very great! Every pass is going to seriously lose more and more signal. Sounds like you've done it 2 or 3 times at least.

This is why you should take it straight to a transfer house that KNOWS how to deal with both PAL->NTSC conversion AND knows how to deal with old tapes restoration/maintenance. They should manually check for oxide shed and apply a gloves-on wet cleaning approach to the tape itself if it is overly sheddy. Then they should check to make sure there is no trouble with the transport/shell. Then they should do a short segment pass at the beginning to get things set up right. Then clean the heads (again). Then do a SINGLE full pass if possible, hopefully getting everything in one pass.

edit: OH, and make sure they're capping to a real good master quality (SD, YUV 4:2:2, Lossless codec, or similar), in addition to any DV/DVD, etc. output, so you won't ever have to deal with this tape again.

Scott

i'm going to go there in an hour or so. I've even taken a printout of what you said so that they know what to do... hope they don't get offended! but then again, i sure hope they know what they're doing! When i spoke to them, they said they would charge me 20$ for the conversion. we didn't talk about any cleaning or restoration costs. how much extra will that be? so that i know i'm not being overcharged by a lot. I am willing to pay good money though. another place that i spoke to, said that they would charge 60$ for just a conversion. seemed like a lot to me. but anything that gets the job done well. let's see.

[jmac698]

I would watch them play it back and forward through it to see if there's any problems. If it looks ok, let them go ahead and do their thing. If there's any problems on the tape, I think you can get help for free here (if you are so inclined to learn), but you should get it in the original PAL format, because some techniques will only work with the original.

I'd take back that VCR before the 7 days are up or whatever

[jatink129]

I would watch them play it back and forward through it to see if there's any problems. If it looks ok, let them go ahead and do their thing. If there's any problems on the tape, I think you can get help for free here (if you are so inclined to learn), but you should get it in the original PAL format, because some techniques will only work with the original.

I'd take back that VCR before the 7 days are up or whatever

haha..yes.. i'm going to give them a piece of my mind. i asked them if it would play a vhs tape from India...(i couldn't remember the term PAL then) and they assured me it would play stuff from anywhere in the world. and I was so worried that my tape was lost forever when it didn't play.

I think i have 14 days to take it back. I'll take it back today though.

I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL YOUR HELP EVERYBODY!! MANY BLESSINGS!

[jatink129]

I'll be sure to get back with more information once I get back from that video place.

[NJRoadfan]

i'm going to go there in an hour or so. I've even taken a printout of what you said so that they know what to do... hope they don't get offended! but then again, i sure hope they know what they're doing! When i spoke to them, they said they would charge me 20$ for the conversion. we didn't talk about any cleaning or restoration costs. how much extra will that be? so that i know i'm not being overcharged by a lot. I am willing to pay good money though. another place that i spoke to, said that they would charge 60$ for just a conversion. seemed like a lot to me. but anything that gets the job done well. let's see.

http://www.videointerchange.com/

He can handle PAL tapes and the conversion to NTSC. He also handles damaged tapes. It won't be cheap, but good work and dealing with possible damaged media is never cheap.

[Cornucopia]

Wow! That's a pretty huge array of supported formats...

@jatink129,
You may want to consider having them do a straight PAL cap (if they've got the equipment) to digital. Once it's in the digital realm, there are a number of non-realtime ways of converting PAL->NTSC (many listed on this site) that might even surpass in quality what they have available.

BTW, $20? That seem awfully low. Even $60 seems low considering both restoration & standards conversion. But in this day and age, those don't always equate with quality or lack thereof...

The proof is in the viewing!

Scott

[lordsmurf]

Given the amount of work required for quality PAL>NTSC, not to mention hardware involved, you'd be looking at $55 minimum (and I'm dirt cheap). Anything cheap, and you're getting crap from some sloppy method. The video will be jerky, ghosted, soft, deinterlace jaggied, etc. You need to be careful about PAL conversion work in North America.

If you find some store in a strip mall, you're dealing with low-end work. Period, no exceptions.
Same for any "chain" store (Wolf, Walgreens, whatever).