Proper storage/conservation of VHS

I made this thread as while it is not game conservation it is something i feel should be better researched.

Digging through my old VHS in the loft a tonne either track or are fuzzy as shit/no picture at all. Im wondering if these are just old recordings gone bad and cannot be fixed or if a recording placed over it would not be as shit quality. Also wondering how to store these? Damp or cold places are out of the question as always but what about other areas. should they be out of light? not in extreme heat? boxed up?etc

TL;DR

Can dying VHS recordings be saved?
How should they be stored?
etc.

 

and, i would suggest, absolutely make digital copy of the item.

 

It's that dreaded white mould you have to look out for. Sometimes if you store the tapes in a cupboard or shelf unit that's up against an exterior wall, the reels turn mouldy over time.

The only option would be to ditch all the affected tapes, as the spores can travel across to other tapes if eventually stored together (and obviously won't do the VCR heads much good either).

 

Thanks for the info. Disposing the ones affected.

 

Two little points I thought I'd toss in:

1) Read in some old magazine at some point (man I wish I could cite this better, because it sounds so sketchy like that) that the best way for long term storage was with the reading edge down. The idea was something like storing it in the conventional upright position (reading edge to the 'back') would put extra stress on the point in the tape where it winds off one spool down onto the other. This would probably have little impact if it has been fully rewound, but... there judge for yourself.

2) Always hold onto one or two 'junk' tapes to test playback. Since a failing VCR can 'eat' a tape, it's always best to test playback on a non-essential tape first.

 

you can rip your old vhs cassettes with ion usb vcr recorder. the quality is ok and the installation is easy.

 

Currently doing this with a Scart to Yellow white red connections cable i spliced and gamebridge. Image is crisp as hell. working my way through every WWE PPV since mid 98 up until 2003. Got some old video game recordings i made when i was a kid to rip and a few Home recordings. (My n64 unboxing when i was 8. oh joy)

 

I thought the firewire on those could only be used to transfer to-from d-vhs tapes, and not to rip analog video off standard VHSs.

 

The method im using is workingjust fine, Its about a gig a pop on 3 hour ppvs which isnt too bad and when its recorded is the same quality as whats on the vhs which isnt too bad

 

Do some research and shopping for VHS players. You can pick up a really nice VHS player from Goodwill or any other thrift store.

1) Go look at their selection.
2) Copy down model numbers of "higher end" and "like-new" looking players.
3) Test a VHS there to make sure the player works.
4) Google the players and see which ones rate really high.
5) Go back and buy one. (Make sure it has S-Video output)

I picked up a 9 year old $230 MSRP Sony VHS player for $20 and it was practically brand new.

After you have your VHS player, get a high end video capture card that has S-Video input. I use an older but awesome ATI TV Wonder Elite.

Record at 640x480 resolution in MPEG-2 format. Make sure you record with progressive scan!!!!!!!!!! Burn to DVD(or uncompressed AVI if you have the space) and enjoy!

 

I think for VHS the best method would be using one of VHS<->DVD direct copying deck.
Pop in your VHS and blank DVD-R and copy the whole thing into DVD disc for the viewing.
I'd also keep the VHS case with insert.

There's one on sale here in recent time for around A$200 mark for such beast.
Apparently allow to copy DVD to VHS as well but don't see the point myself tbh...

 

There are two drawbacks to that method:

1) The DVDs created by some can be dodgy quality-wise. Who knows what it is doing internally.

2) If the end intent is to rip to computer, you end up with a huge drop in quality, as likely you will reencode it from the DVD's MPEG2.

Of course for simplicity and ease of use, not to mention if you only intend the process to allow you to continue watching the media, this will win hands down.

 

I thought the original poster wanted to preserve VHS tapes.
And other than converting it into the file, the next best thing would be - and for the simplicity sake - what I suggested would be the no brainer.
I myself am seriously considering this option as I have few promo/trade VHS tapes I'd like to convert into DVD so I can watch on the big telly...

 

http://www.preservation.gc.ca/howto/articles/videotapes_e.asp

http://cool.conservation-us.org/bytopic/video/

from that the best thing seems to be to clean all the stuff you are wanting to preserve in original format then place it in an air tight container to prevent any further oxidation, along with maintaining humidity etc.

also i thought fast forwarding/rewinding degraded the quality of the tape. i collect audio cassettes so don't have the trouble with rewinding but your stuck if its video (this is just speculation on my part though), but im sure depending on the quality of your player shouldn't really be an issue.

 

i just use my dvd recoder and old vcr to convert vhs to dvd or next blue ray
i dont think they have release a blue ray home recorder my dad ordered one blue ray burner for his pc had one extra so he has two now computer is worth mint now