How Long Do VHS tapes Last - Visalia, California 93277

Who Transfers VHS tapes to DVD in Visalia, California 93277?

I transfer many VHS tapes for customers and I am amazed at how many of them are deep into the stages of deterioration. I promise, this is not an exaggeration: Videotapes really do degrade much faster than people realize. In as little as 8–10 years, tapes can suffer deterioration, and total life expectancy is less than 20 years. A tape frequently shows a lower quality of picture crispness just after 5 years.
So why does videotape deterioration happen?

Well, there are three main parts to a videotape:

1. physical plastic tape

2. magnetic particles (iron oxide), which contain the video and audio

3. The "binder," which is glue that holds the magnetic particles to the plastic tape

These particles act like tiny bar magnets and are changed into patterns when the tape passes over an electromagnet during the recording process. When the tape is played back, the patterns are picked up by a playback head and become the video image.

Over time, the binder glue weakens. When this happens, the magnetic particles lose their adhesion to the tape.


Why does the binder glue weaken?

1. Some of the tape is rubbed off every time it is played
2. How the tapes are stored affects the glue also. high humidity, or in a room where the temperature changes substantially dramatically affect tapes. Plus, VHS tapes are vulnerable to sudden data loss resulting from static shock or strong electric fields, such as those generated by TVs and other electronics.

Even worse, the magnetic particles can become separated from the binder just over time, a process that accelerates as the tape gets older. This happens because as the binder absorbs more and more water from normal humidity, it swells and exposes more surface area – absorbing even more moisture.

What are the signs of a weakening binder?

1. Faded color and audio changes.
2. The timing and color signals that the tape outputs to the VCR also start to fade.
3. Straight lines begin to look a little wavy, rolling lines can appear on the video, and the picture can start to jitter because your VCR has trouble picking up the necessary signals.

Eventually, a tape will become unwatchable and the video completely gone. This happens when it clogs the playback heads of a VCR or camcorder. Want to know how to fix your VHS tapes? - Or bring them to me at Home Video Studio-Visalia

I hope this helps you understand that the vulnerability of videotapes make them the most unsuitable media for long-term storage of precious video memories. Which is why I strongly recommend you convert your tapes to DVD as soon as possible.

Home Video Studio - Visalia