role: user
content: 'Take a look at the info below.
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The tape inside the VHS cassettes is very delicate and can be easily ruined,
making them unplayable and unrepairable. The reason the tape deteriorates is that
the magnetic charge needed for them to work is not permanent, and the magnetic
particles end up losing their charge in a process known as remanence decay. These
particles could also become demagnetised via being stored too close to a magnetic
source.
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One of the most significant issues with VHS tapes is that they have moving parts,
meaning that there are more occasions when something can go wrong, damaging your
footage or preventing it from playing back. The tape itself is a prominent cause
of this, and tape slippage can occur. Tapes slippage can be caused when the tape
loses its tension, or it has become warped. These problems can occur in storage
due to high temperatures or frequent changes in humidity.
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VHS tapes deteriorate over time from infrequent or overuse. Neglect means mold
and dirt, while overuse can lead to scratches and technical difficulties. This
is why old VHS tapes inevitably experience malfunctions after a long period of
time. Usually anywhere between 10 to 25+ years.
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Some VHS tapes like newer mini DVs and Digital 8 tapes can suffer from digital
corruption, meaning that the footage becomes lost and cannot be recovered. These
tapes were the steppingstone from VHS to the digital age when capturing footage
straight to digital became the norm. Unfortunately,they are susceptible to digital
corruption, which causes video pixilation and/or loss of audio.'