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Have you ever wondered how VHS tapes work? Well, to begin with, an electrical signal sets a pattern for the electromagnets on the recording heads. The electromagnets on the recording heads draw in particles of metal, adhering to the pattern set by the electrical signal. When the record button is pressed, the machinery draws forth a loop of tape from between the two wheels located in the cassette. The tape then winds around a rotating drum that draws it over the recording heads. As the tape moves past the recording heads, the electrical signal gets recorded on the tape. And so, magnetism is really the secret to the inner workings of the VHS tape. If other powerful electromagnets are brought near the tape, it could rearrange the ferric oxide particles, destroying the signals imprinted during the recording process. However, ordinary magnets found around the house, like the magnets found on refrigerators, will not have a profound effect on recording tape, unless the tape has been exposed to the magnets for an extended period of time. Another powerful electromagnet, on the other hand, could do some serious damage to your tapes, and very quickly. When an electric current runs through wire that has been coiled into one or more loops, this creates a magnetic field. That magnetic field has the power to render your tapes useless. Aside from magnets, though, recording tape just won’t last forever. Recording tape naturally degrades by the chemical processes inherent to its composition. Dehydration of the polymer binder occurs whether or not the tape has ever been used or recorded on. When this happens, and it’s only a matter of time before it does, the binder will delaminate from the thicker substrate it was originally bonded to. This problem is more commonly known as sticky tape syndrome. With sticky tape syndrome, playback will no longer be possible. The tape becomes so sticky that it will not slide smoothly over the guide posts and drum. Instead, it will stick and literally squeal. In severe cases, the tape would stick so bad that the tape motion is brought to a halt in such a manner that all you’ll be left with is a bunch of mangled tape and a trashed VCR. If you encounter a sticky tape problem, do not attempt to rewind your tape. Immediately stop the machine and eject the cassette. There are some solutions to sticky tape syndrome, but they are mostly for short term transfer purposes, and will not suffice as a long term fix. It is recommended that you transfer your video (or music) within 24 hours of baking the tape. Tape baking occurs in an accurate temperature controlled electric convection laboratory oven, for a time determined by the mass of the tape — definitely not a job for amateurs. If you have tapes suffering from sticky tape syndrome, your best option is to take them to get transferred. In order to transfer video tapes safely, and not risk mailing them off to some internet-based computer repair company, you will need to find a local shop that provides transfer services. You can start by searching for computer repair stores in your city. Sometimes they offer audio and video transfer services. I recommend Two Squares, a professional media transfer shop that offers audio/ visual transfers and conversions.
Two Squares, Inc
6272 Boone Ave N.
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428
763-400-4510
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audio transfer, video transfer, VHS to DVD, cassette to CD,
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