What Can Go Wrong with Your Tapes

Videotape is not an archival storage medium. Problems can arise because the tapes were not properly recorded originally or have been subsequently damaged. There are several general types of problems which are often caused by a mishandling, improper storage, malfunctioning equipment or disaster. For more information see Video Terms, Care and Handling, Storage and Insurance and Disasters areas. The National Technology Alliance Online provides access to the National Media Lab's Media Stability Studies.  Included is the report "Information on Storage Media Longevities".

• The tape itself can be physically damaged by mishandling, or playing the tape on poorly maintained equipment. The edges of the tape are often damaged by a misaligned tape transport systems on the deck, and by excess or uneven tension when rewinding the tape. Tapes can also be stretched and creased.
• The binder on the tape can deteriorate. This may cause the video heads to clog with debris, drop out, sticking or slipping of the tape and squealing as the tape is played. It is often caused by improper storage conditions.
• The magnetic signals on the tape can be damaged by exposure to magnetic fields, inadvertent erasure or re-recording.
• The original recording may be faulty because of tracking or sync problems caused by the original recording equipment.
• The tapes can be damaged or destroyed by extremes of heat and humidity or by a physical disaster, such as flooding.