Based on 29 years of hands-on experience working with old video tapes, we have found that VHS and Camera tapes (such as MiniDV, 8mm, Digital8, VHS-C, Hi8) often start to age around the 20+year mark.

A significant problem in Brisbane, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast is … MOLD and FUNGUS! Mold is visible whilst fungus is not. Both can destroy a tape if left to … Mother Nature.

Other common signs of video age deterioration include: “snow bands”, “picture flicker” or simply “loss of sharpness or colour” as your tapes age.

The good news is that MOLD and FUNGUS can usually be removed from tapes, however “snow bands”, “picture flicker” sometimes cannot.  Where tapes are cleanly snapped or have broken cases … these are fixable.

If your tapes are around 20 years or older … keep your fingers crossed that they are still transferable in a reasonable condition.