Here is a list of useful facts regarding home video formats such as Beta, VHS, Hi8, MiniDV, and VHS-C video tape.
- Video tape rewinding - should always be either totally rewound or totally fast forwarded when being stored.
- Video tape storage should be in a reasonable temperature range with little variation, dark, and with low humidity.
- Video tape storage - should be stored upright, like books in a book case. It is best to keep tapes in plastic cases in order to minimize exposure to dust.
- Videotape preservation - the overall life is limited. There are no definite numbers, but tape life is estimated from 10-30 years depending on storage conditions. Degradation of the image and sound is worse the longer a tape has been in existence.
- Video degradation happens. Symptoms of video degradation are static, snow, color loss, general distortion, ghost images, and possibly a total loss of the video. Some of these symptoms can be remedied if the tape is transferred soon enough, but once loss occurs to the source tape, it is permanent.
- Videotape transfer, properly done, can save a lot of video/audio and accomplish amazing things. However, the transfer capabilities are limited by the source quality. So the sooner, the better.
- Video equipment quality varies greatly. There really IS a difference between consumer video, prosumer video, and professional video equipment.
There have been various (and numerous) videotape formats over the years. Some you may not have heard of include:
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