Why Transfer your videos onto DVD?

DVD's offer superior quality and much longer shelf life than that of analog tape like VHS, VHS-C, Beta and  8mm. It is reported that image quality on analog tape begins to deteriorate in as little as ONE YEAR and can be completely gone in as few as ten years!  Temperature, humidity, and even orientation of the stored cassette tape are just a few of the environmental conditions that can affect the shelf life of video tape. 

What can you do to extend the life of the video tape?

The first and best solution is to have your videos transferred onto DVD's. The shelf life of DVD's are reported to be from 40 - 250 years! After you transfer your videos to DVD you will still have the original tapes. They should be kept and stored as long as possible because they represent original source material. In order to preserve the image quality on video tapes as long as possible several steps need to be taken.

Getting the most life out of analog video tapes.

To extend the life and image quality of video tape simply follow these few procedures:

Tape Care and Storage

• Keep tapes in a dust free environment, away from direct sunlight.

• Avoid high humidity and moisture.

• Never store tapes near magnetic fields, (top of TV, speakers, etc.).

• Try to give tapes 24 hours to adjust to extreme temperature and climate changes.

• Fast-forward & rewind tapes every 2 years to prevent sticking.

• Store tapes rewound and vertically in their case. The storage environment should not be hot, humid, dusty or smoky.

 Following the above procedures will prolong the life of your video tapes. If you have questions about video tape storage or anything regarding our services, contact us today.