How to save a VHS tape

leachim · 03-12-2007, 09:39

Hi

I have a VHS-C tape from 92 which has some scenes which are corrupt (or unseeable) - the sound is there.

Sometimes when I put a tape cleaner in beforehand, I can view a short while before it scrambles again.

Are there tricks that might help me reclaim some more footage - did I hear somewhere about putting the tape in an oven ?

Mike

Chris Simon · 03-12-2007, 09:47

I heard that you soak it in warm water with normal washing up liquid and then let it dry out for a couple of months...

Not had the nerve to try this yet though.

Kenny Maclean · 03-12-2007, 13:55

Although it may need to be baked (no, seriously!) http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...e+baking&meta=

gomezz · 03-12-2007, 16:03

If the footage is that important to you I suggest you use a specialist media-transfer bureau who have experience in this kind of thing.

nickmoul · 04-12-2007, 17:06

Try another VCR first. Especially if cleaning the heads on yours makes a difference.

Gilson · 04-12-2007, 18:06

Following on from Nickmoul what are you playing it on? The camera or a VCR using an adapter? If the former try the latter and if the latter as Nickmoul says try another VCR.

GaryB · 04-12-2007, 18:55

Don't put it in an oven without specialist advice. With a few exceptions, that trick is generally used for audio tapes from the 1970s that have a particular composition.

It sounds like the tape is shedding oxide. Is there any crinkling to the edge or other damage. If it's a VHS-C tape, are you playing back in a camera? If so, it's worth popping it into a full size adapter and running it in a normal VCR. The heads in those are generally less susceptible to clogging.

nickmoul · 06-12-2007, 07:14

If I recall I do not think there are VHS-C head cleaners. So assuming you are using a converter in a full sized VHS player then try as follows.

1. Make sure tape is at room temperature, not cold or damp.
2. Borrow as new a VHS player as you can.
3. Clean its heads
4. Do a tape to tape copy using SCART RGB to SCART RGB
5. Try the copy
6. If all else fails and its important (eg wedding) look for professional media resore in yellow pages or Google.

Best of luck.

TVDX · 06-12-2007, 16:44

VCR's don't output RGB scart.

03-12-2007, 09:39	#1
leachim Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 36	How to save a VHS tape Hi I have a VHS-C tape from 92 which has some scenes which are corrupt (or unseeable) - the sound is there. Sometimes when I put a tape cleaner in beforehand, I can view a short while before it scrambles again. Are there tricks that might help me reclaim some more footage - did I hear somewhere about putting the tape in an oven ? Mike

03-12-2007, 09:47	#2
Chris Simon Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Snowdonia Posts: 2,725	I heard that you soak it in warm water with normal washing up liquid and then let it dry out for a couple of months... Not had the nerve to try this yet though.

03-12-2007, 13:55	#3
Kenny Maclean Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: London Posts: 1,242	Although it may need to be baked (no, seriously!) http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...e+baking&meta=

03-12-2007, 16:03	#4
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	If the footage is that important to you I suggest you use a specialist media-transfer bureau who have experience in this kind of thing.

04-12-2007, 17:06	#5
nickmoul Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 40	Try another VCR first. Especially if cleaning the heads on yours makes a difference.

04-12-2007, 18:06	#6
Gilson Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,145	Following on from Nickmoul what are you playing it on? The camera or a VCR using an adapter? If the former try the latter and if the latter as Nickmoul says try another VCR.

04-12-2007, 18:55	#7
GaryB Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: St Albans Posts: 4,088	Don't put it in an oven without specialist advice. With a few exceptions, that trick is generally used for audio tapes from the 1970s that have a particular composition. It sounds like the tape is shedding oxide. Is there any crinkling to the edge or other damage. If it's a VHS-C tape, are you playing back in a camera? If so, it's worth popping it into a full size adapter and running it in a normal VCR. The heads in those are generally less susceptible to clogging.

06-12-2007, 07:14	#8
nickmoul Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 40	If I recall I do not think there are VHS-C head cleaners. So assuming you are using a converter in a full sized VHS player then try as follows. 1. Make sure tape is at room temperature, not cold or damp. 2. Borrow as new a VHS player as you can. 3. Clean its heads 4. Do a tape to tape copy using SCART RGB to SCART RGB 5. Try the copy 6. If all else fails and its important (eg wedding) look for professional media resore in yellow pages or Google. Best of luck.

06-12-2007, 16:44	#9
TVDX Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,356	VCR's don't output RGB scart.

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How to save a VHS tape