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Problem playing back older Hi-8 tapes

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Flatlander81	Problem playing back older Hi-8 tapes	Lead	[-]
Posts: 4 (March 11, 2008 7:35 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None Hi all, I am having problems with the playback of older hi-8 tapes. The playback is jumpy and seems almost as if the tape wheels are putting too much drag on the camcorder motor. The video looks great still, but my digital 8 camcorder (Sony DCR-TRV350) seems to be working too hard to turn the tape. Anyone know of a way to loosen or lubricate part of the tape's drive wheels to fix this problem? I tried fastforwarding and rewinding the tape but if anything this seemed to make it worse. I also tried a sony hi-8 camcorder (TRV68) which played some tapes back better, but still seem to have the same problem, jumpy video or tape speeding up or slowing down? Some tapes are pushing 17 years old but have only been taped once and were stored dust free for all this time. Guess i should have started this long ago, but any help or ideas would be appreciated
DaveC	Re: Problem playing back older Hi-8 tapes	#1	[-]
Posts: 4662 (March 11, 2008 2:33 PM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	*Quote:* The playback is jumpy and seems almost as if the tape wheels are putting too much drag on the camcorder motor. *Quote:* The video looks great still, but my digital 8 camcorder (Sony DCR-TRV350) seems to be working too hard to turn the tape. There seems to be a contradiction here? If the video looks great then I would get those tapes transferred to digital files or DVDs as soon as possible. There is no way that a normal user can lubricate a camcorder. A service center could probably do it but the cost would be prohibitive. Most likely the lubricant that is part of the oxide has broken down and is putting too much drag on the head drum. There is nothing you can do to fix that. You need to get those tapes transferred as soon as possible by a player with a powerful motor. Probably a professional Hi8 deck could work but I don't know where you would find one and I don't know what model numbers to look for. Sony was the only manufacturer of Hi8 equipment. You might try a commercial service like Walmart or Walgreen's to transfer your tapes to DVD. A few weeks ago Walgreen's had a sale on that service for about $20 a tape (I think?). I haven't used either service. I have a lot of old Hi8 tapes. I guess I better start checking them out. Dave
Flatlander81	Re: Problem playing back older Hi-8 tapes	#2	[-]
Posts: 4 (March 13, 2008 3:34 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	DaveC, thanks for the reply. Since posting I have done about 10 or 11 tapes. Still have about 30 to go. But only a couple have exhibited bad behavior and its not totally age related as some older ones have played perfectly. What I have noticed is the problem seems limited to Sony Hi-8 Metal Evaporated tapes so far. All the MP tapes have been perfect. On a couple of ME tapes i have also had some audio dropouts. I will try getting the problematic ones done on pro deck, although I was thinking now that it may be a control track issue. Possibly the ME tapes are more prone to shrinkage over time, hard to say. But for now I am filling a 500 GB HDD and throwing them on to DVDs for posterity. Moral of the story is don't wait 18 years to back up your tapes!
DaveC	Re: Problem playing back older Hi-8 tapes	#3	[-]
Posts: 4662 (March 13, 2008 7:54 PM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Sounds like a good plan to me. I never could afford many ME Hi8 tapes. I think I bought 10 of them way back when Hi8 first came out. They were Sony's and they had a lot of drop outs so I never bought any more. Since 1999 I have only recorded video with D8 camcorders and ME is a total waste of money when recording digital on them. I do need to go back and check my first Hi8 tapes starting in 1992 from my Sony CCD-TR81. I sure hope they are OK. I know my VHS tapes from 1978 were still OK last year. Yikes...I just looked up what I paid for those 10 Sony ME's in 1992. It was $149 plus shipping. Video tape was very expensive in those early days. I think my first VHS tapes were $29 each. Today you can buy better quality VHS tapes for $1 each (about $.25 in 1978 money). Thanks for bringing this problem to my attention. I have some work to do right after I get my taxes done. Dave

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