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Frequently Asked Questions
Video Tape Storage
What is the proper way to store my video tapes ?
A few simple precautions should be observed.
Video tapes should be kept out of direct sunlight and away from any magnetic fields. The mechanism inside a cassette is fairly delicate, and rough handling (such as dropping onto a hard floor) can cause a malfunction. The tape should never be touched with your fingers, and broken tapes should not be spliced and reused. The splice can damage the heads inside a video recorder. The best way to protect your VCR is to use a plastic dust cover when not in use.
If your video recorder has special effects features (e.g., slow motion, freeze frame, fast forward search), it is important to remember that these functions can accelerate tape wear if they are used excessively. For example, if the recorder is placed in a "freeze frame" mode, the video heads will still be spinning against the tape at a high rate of speed but the tape will be stationary. If used excessively, the tape can easily become worn.
If moisture condenses on the surface of a tape (from extremely high humidity or a sudden change of temperature) it can stick to the video head drum. Most machines have a "DEW" sensor that automatically shuts down the machine to prevent damage in these situations. When going from a cold, dry environment to warm, moist air (coming in from outdoors on a winter day, for example) it is usually necessary to let the tape and equipment warm up for a couple of hours before use.
Slack tape
is probably the most common cause of transport problems with video cassettes. Slack tape can easily be eliminated by turning one of the hubs on the underside of the cassette until you are able to feel tension in the reel.