Preparing VHS Tapes for Capture

Video Transcript

"In this clip I will be explaining how to prepare your VHS tapes for capturing. OK, so you have your tape or tapes. The best thing to do is to not just jump right into it and record because, if you are like most people, you probably have had your tapes in storage for a long time. That may be one of the reasons why you are getting around to converting to DVD because you are ready do throw them out. What will happen is that while the tape is in storage the tape will sag. Inside of this cassette are spindles, which I've taken one apart earlier and they look like this. The tape goes from one reel to the other. However, while it is sitting in storage, whether the tape is vertical or horizontal, on its side, this tape will begin to sag. So, what that means is that when you pop it into VCR and press play, the tape can be loose on the reels. That means that your VCR could "eat" your tape, right then. You will loose your footage forever. So, the way, around that, is to put it into the VCR, fast-forward it all the way to the end and then rewind it. What this is doing is, taking these spindles, transferring all of the tape from one side to the other and then putting it back. Then you'll capture. So basically, it is called repacking the tape and it makes sure that everything is nice, snug and tight in there. Plus, you not going to, hopefully, have your tape eaten up, right in front of you and lose all of your precious footage. After you have done that step, then you'll can go ahead and capture."