Video tape
Tape is the more urgent job. Cine film from 1965 is often in better condition than a camcorder tape from 1994, which surprises people every time.
What we run
| Format | Deck | Common problem |
|---|---|---|
| VHS, S-VHS | Serviced S-VHS decks with time base correction | Tracking, mould after loft storage |
| VHS-C | Adapter into the same decks | Shell failure; often transplanted |
| Video8, Hi8 | Two Digital8 decks kept for this | Binder failure, dropouts through the middle |
| Digital8, MiniDV | Captured over FireWire | Dropped frames where the tape is creased |
| Betamax | One working deck | Everything. Parts are the hard bit |
| U-matic | By arrangement | Usually institutional material |
Time base correction
Old tape does not hold a steady signal, and a straight capture gives you a picture that wobbles and tears. Every transfer here goes through a time base corrector, which is why our VHS work looks different from a cheap USB capture stick.
Mould
Common in tapes stored in garages and lofts. We clean where it's safe — a spotted shell is usually recoverable, visible growth on the tape itself often isn't. Mould is also why we ask you to bag anything that smells damp before bringing it in: cross-contamination is a real risk in a room full of other people's memories.
What comes back
One file per tape, ProRes master plus an MP4 you can send to relatives. We don't split into scenes or add titles unless you ask and pay for the time. Tapes come back to you; we don't keep or dispose of originals without written instruction.