Transferring VHS, getting snowy lines for a few seconds (see pics)

[daysaf00]

I'm in the process of transferring a ton of VHS tapes from the '90s (recorded material from TV not available for purchase) to DVD and my HD recorder. During playback, I occasionally get a few seconds of lines that appear in the picture. It doesn't happen on all tapes, just some. It doesn't occur in the same location either, sometimes it's an hour into the tape, other times it can be at the end of a 6-hour tape.

I have attached a few snapshots. The tape plays perfect, no jitter or lines and then all of a sudden out of no where I get a thick static line that move from top to bottom, or sometimes two lines beginning in the center and splitting and moving up/down the screen. After about 10 seconds or so they disappear and the tape plays normal again. Generally this doesn't happen more than once or twice on a tape (meaning it's not recurring every 30 minutes or something).

I have tried different vcr's which can magnify or reduce the problem but it still occurs. The tapes are in great condition, no damage or improper storage. All have been kept in original cases/boxes in a guest bedroom. I opened the flap to see if there was damage to the actual tape, which there isn't.

Hopefully someone has experienced this and can give feedback as to what the problem/cause is and a solution to rid the lines. I fully fast-forward and re-wind the tape prior transfer since many of these haven't been played in years...perhaps ever since initial recording.

[poisondeathray]

It doesn't occur in the same location either, sometimes it's an hour into the tape, other times it can be at the end of a 6-hour tape.

But is it in the same spot on the tape? If you rewind and play that just section back on the same tape does the same thing happen? (i.e is defect recorded on the tape)

Have you tested another VCR? Do you have access to another VCR? Maybe a friend or relative?

[daysaf00]

Yes when I stop and rewind it happens again. I'm just wondering if it's due to age of the tape and how it has been sitting for years? Not sure if rewinding and fastfowarding a few times and waiting a few days would help?

I have tried other vcr's and brands and it still happens just looks a little different.

[poisondeathray]

Whoops, I missed that you already tried other VCR's in the 1st post...

These observations would suggest that it was recorded like that in the first place, not a playback issue. Since defect is recorded like that on the tape and it seems persistent, waiting a few days or rwd/ff won't help

I don't think there is any evidence that properly stored tapes would deteriorate in this fashion

[daysaf00]

Obviously it wasn't aired like this from TV, how would it record like this and not elsewhere on the tape?

One thing I have noticed is that it often happens at the END of an episodes. I often taped 5 episodes per tape, each one hour long. It usually happens (if it does) at the VERY end of an episode (within a minute of end) I would then stop the tape and start recording the next day for an hour, stop then another episode, and so forth. I'm trying to think of every possibility.

It's annoying since the tapes play perfect otherwise.

[Hoser Rob]

"It usually happens (if it does) at the VERY end of an episode (within a minute of end) I would then stop the tape and start recording the next day for an hour ..."

Sounds like it's on the tape ... faults like that would usually occur when the tape was stopped / started or paused.

I've seen this on videotape a bunch of times, especially in rental tapes ... quite often when an actress took off her top.
I don't think there's anything much you can do about it, especially if it does if on different machines.

About the only thing I can think of would be to make sure the tracking is set properly, and that won't really fix it.

[jagabo]

Obviously, the problem is on the tape, either damaged tape or bad recordings. I bet if you look at the tape you'll see a wrinkle where the problem occurs. The question is whether you want to do anything about it. You can replace individual frames/fields if it's just a few here and there. You can use simple repeats or motion interpolated frames with AviSynth. But it has a pretty long learning curve. It's best to post a few video samples.

[intracube]

Sounds like it's on the tape ... faults like that would usually occur when the tape was stopped / started or paused.

I don't know for sure, but listening to the noises my Sony VCR (~1995) makes, I don't think it's unwrapping the tape from the drum when playback is stopped. It also sounds like the heads continue to spin for a minute or so. Increasing tape wear by 100x, 1000x or more.

This contrasts with our old 1980s JVC which sounds like it's unwrapping the tape whenever it's not playing/paused. It's certainly a lot slower in operation.

That's why I make a point of ejecting important tapes and never pause or 'stop' them.