#1  
04-25-2008, 02:13 PM
mrwhitethc mrwhitethc is offline
Free Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: , , .
Posts: 32
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I got these old VHS tapes of a show to preserve and all the tapes have some kind of white residue on the inside top of the tape reel. I can tell the person was a smoker since the tapes smell of nicotine but I'm wondering if anyone has ever seen this and if I should do anything to the tapes before I start to copy them in through the VCR.
Reply With Quote
Someday, 12:01 PM
admin's Avatar
Ads / Sponsors
 
Join Date: ∞
Posts: 42
Thanks: ∞
Thanked 42 Times in 42 Posts
  #2  
04-25-2008, 02:29 PM
stoogedog stoogedog is offline
Free Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 94
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
hi, yes i have seen this. it is caused by improper care such as improper temperature storage. it is matter similar to the nitrate residue you find on old 16mm and 35mm films. i would take the tape apart and gently try and clean this off as best as possible with a horse hair paint brush like i use to brush of lp records before i play them. these are not coarse but gentle brisle brushes. i would make sure the tape was tight on one wheel and then gently brush across the top edge of the tape. by having the tape tight, you should be able to clean this matter off without it getting down inside on the tape. if you can't remove this matter, then i would play and copy this tape on a backup type vcr. i would only try to get at least one pass from these tapes for transferring. there are also tape cleaning machines you can purchase, but i don't know much about them. i have a video that goes thru the steps of how to take a vhs tape apart to repair it and put it back together. thanks stoogedog
Reply With Quote
  #3  
04-26-2008, 02:14 AM
lordsmurf's Avatar
lordsmurf lordsmurf is online now
Site Staff | Video
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,501
Thanked 2,447 Times in 2,079 Posts
It could also be mold or mildew. You'll really ruin a VCR if you stick this tape in, in the unclean condition it's in now. I refer all such VHS tapes to a family-owned service in Maine, as they will bake and clean physically-damaged media.


- Did my advice help you? Then become a Premium Member and support this site.
- For sale in the marketplace: TBCs, workflows, capture cards, VCRs
Reply With Quote
  #4  
04-26-2008, 03:48 AM
mrwhitethc mrwhitethc is offline
Free Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: , , .
Posts: 32
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Lordsmurf, does it matter what is it, if it's mold, mildew or nitrate residue as stoogedog pointed out, will they still clean it? I doubt anyone has these episodes so if I have to send the tapes to be cleaned by a professional it's worth it to me.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
04-26-2008, 03:58 AM
stoogedog stoogedog is offline
Free Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 94
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
hi, of course if it is something that you can't clean off your self, by almeans, don't put it in a vcr. thanks stoogedog
Reply With Quote
  #6  
04-26-2008, 04:02 AM
mrwhitethc mrwhitethc is offline
Free Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: , , .
Posts: 32
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Yeah, I rather not take the chance and try and do something that my or my not ruin the tapes.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
04-26-2008, 07:39 AM
lordsmurf's Avatar
lordsmurf lordsmurf is online now
Site Staff | Video
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,501
Thanked 2,447 Times in 2,079 Posts
The place I deal with with clean and fix anything. They work with physical damage.

I, on the other hand, work with signal-based damage. That's my specialty. But the tapes need to be in good physical condition.

The only thing I can fix are tapes that have snapped off the spool, or clamshell damage. That's easy to work on.

- Did my advice help you? Then become a Premium Member and support this site.
- For sale in the marketplace: TBCs, workflows, capture cards, VCRs
Reply With Quote
  #8  
04-26-2008, 08:28 AM
mrwhitethc mrwhitethc is offline
Free Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: , , .
Posts: 32
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
LordSmurf, do they take mail order? If so how would I go about getting a quote to fix the tapes?
Reply With Quote
  #9  
04-27-2008, 10:00 AM
cp32 cp32 is offline
Free Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 255
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Hey, maybe its powered toastman's remains on the tapes
Reply With Quote
  #10  
04-27-2008, 12:00 PM
mrwhitethc mrwhitethc is offline
Free Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: , , .
Posts: 32
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I could only wish it was that easy, here's pic on what it looks like:
Reply With Quote
  #11  
04-27-2008, 04:13 PM
lordsmurf's Avatar
lordsmurf lordsmurf is online now
Site Staff | Video
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,501
Thanked 2,447 Times in 2,079 Posts
Contact www.videointerchange.com and tell him that "digitalFAQ.com sent you".
Send him these images and describe the problem.



- Did my advice help you? Then become a Premium Member and support this site.
- For sale in the marketplace: TBCs, workflows, capture cards, VCRs
Reply With Quote
  #12  
04-28-2008, 03:16 AM
mrwhitethc mrwhitethc is offline
Free Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: , , .
Posts: 32
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanks LordSmurf, I'll let you know how it goes.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
04-29-2008, 01:40 PM
mrwhitethc mrwhitethc is offline
Free Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: , , .
Posts: 32
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thank you again LordSmurf, I'll be sending my tapes off shortly to them, it's going to cost a bit, but I figure it's worth it to get the best possible out of the tapes.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
05-08-2008, 11:51 PM
wayshway wayshway is offline
Free Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Posts: 100
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to wayshway
Sounds like quite a project.
Keep us updated.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
07-26-2008, 06:24 AM
mrwhitethc mrwhitethc is offline
Free Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: , , .
Posts: 32
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I got the first batch of 3 tapes back, they were able to get the mold off and transfer them to DVD for me, one set of DVD's, there were 3 per tape has a weird almost posterization effect on moving objects, not as noticeable on the TV as it is on the LCD, but other wise they all were able to be transferred and preserved thankfully. Thanks to LordSmurf for the heads up on where to get this done.
Reply With Quote
Reply




Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Macbook Pro: Weird Finder behavior, computer unresponsive Sossity Computers 3 10-02-2011 02:52 PM
Weird problem with DVD Workshop Superstar Author, Make Menus, Slideshows, Burn 3 09-17-2011 10:24 PM
Beta home tapes to DVD? How to Convert Betamax to digital? rocko Project Planning, Workflows 4 07-14-2011 11:23 PM
Weird audio problem Superstar Restore, Filter, Improve Quality 30 01-29-2010 09:20 PM
Weird DVD+R blank discs purchased in Europe admin Blank Media 0 10-18-2009 03:25 PM

Thread Tools



 
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:07 AM