Videotape Chewed/Snapped

5 Feb 2006 10:41 PM

tkbirdie

I put my videotape in the VCR and as I tried to take it out, it would
not eject my tape. Eventually, I managed to get it out and the VCR had
"cut" my tape in half. The tape contains some important programmes, so
I really need the tape. Can I repair it myself or do I need someone to
do it? Do I need some special equipment or can I repair it with
sellotape? If not sellotape, then will invisible tape do the same
thing?
Please help me.
Thanks

6 Feb 2006 2:19 AM

Gene E. Bloch

On 2/5/2006, tkbirdie managed to type:

> I put my videotape in the VCR and as I tried to take it out, it would
> not eject my tape. Eventually, I managed to get it out and the VCR had
> "cut" my tape in half. The tape contains some important programmes, so
> I really need the tape. Can I repair it myself or do I need someone to
> do it? Do I need some special equipment or can I repair it with
> sellotape? If not sellotape, then will invisible tape do the same
> thing?
> Please help me.
> Thanks

You *do need* special splicing tape for the cartridge. Other tapes are
likely to come off and get into the mechanism and do harm.

It helps also to have a splicing jig or splicing guide, whatever it's
called. It holds the video tape in place in proper alignment while you
cut the ends and it cuts and applies the splicing tape.

I haven't seen such things for years, but they weren't very expensive
back in the day. However, I never found them all that easy to use,
really.

It might be best to just take it to a known dependable shop and pay
them to do it for you. And perhaps have them make a copy on their own
machine!

Gino

--
Gene E. Bloch (Gino)
letters617blochg3251
(replace the numbers by "at" and "dotcom")

6 Feb 2006 8:51 AM

tkbirdie

I'm only going to use the damaged tape once. Will the sellotape or
invisible tape hold for that long? I'm guessing a few hours. Could I
repair it without the splicing tape. The tape is not damaged exactly,
it's more cut in half. If I cut the ends and tape it with sellotape,
do you think it will work? As I know it, invisible tape has less glue
than sellotape, so is less likely to ruin the VCR.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

6 Feb 2006 7:34 PM

Gene E. Bloch

On 2/6/2006, tkbirdie managed to type:

> I'm only going to use the damaged tape once. Will the sellotape or
> invisible tape hold for that long? I'm guessing a few hours. Could I
> repair it without the splicing tape. The tape is not damaged exactly,
> it's more cut in half. If I cut the ends and tape it with sellotape,
> do you think it will work? As I know it, invisible tape has less glue
> than sellotape, so is less likely to ruin the VCR.
> Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I guess you didn't read what I said. Here's a quote:

"You *do need* special splicing tape for the cartridge."

'Nuff said?

HTH,
Gino

--
Gene E. Bloch (Gino)
letters617blochg3251
(replace the numbers by "at" and "dotcom")

6 Feb 2006 8:48 PM

Laurence Payne

On 6 Feb 2006 00:51:04 -0800, "tkbirdie" <tkbirdi***@yahoo.co.uk>
wrote:

>I'm only going to use the damaged tape once. Will the sellotape or
>invisible tape hold for that long? I'm guessing a few hours. Could I
>repair it without the splicing tape. The tape is not damaged exactly,
>it's more cut in half. If I cut the ends and tape it with sellotape,
>do you think it will work? As I know it, invisible tape has less glue
>than sellotape, so is less likely to ruin the VCR.

Not sellotape or invisible tape or any tape except the proper splicing
tape. It's not expensive.

11 Feb 2006 3:58 AM

learnbytheminute.com

When you do splice your tape together, you'll also find that the audio
for the spliced section (if you cut the tape in one straight
perpindicular line) doesn't lip sync. That's because the audio isn't
recorded or played back in direct line with the video signal. The audio
is recorded and played back either slightly ahead of or behind (can't
quite remember) its corresponding video image on the tape.

15 Feb 2006 1:56 AM

Gene E. Bloch

On 2/10/2006, learnbytheminute.com managed to type:

> When you do splice your tape together, you'll also find that the audio
> for the spliced section (if you cut the tape in one straight
> perpindicular line) doesn't lip sync. That's because the audio isn't
> recorded or played back in direct line with the video signal. The audio
> is recorded and played back either slightly ahead of or behind (can't
> quite remember) its corresponding video image on the tape.

I suspect that 8.7 inches of tape (to pick a random example) contains
just as many milliseconds of audio as it does of video.

Whatcha think?

Gino

--
Gene E. Bloch (Gino)
letters617blochg3251
(replace the numbers by "at" and "dotcom")