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VCR Issues

kevin2266
By kevin2266
in Troubleshooting
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Posted

Hello,

I'm trying to help my dad convert his old VHS tapes to mp4s. 

When I play the VHS tape and record it, there are these weird green and blue dots flying around the video. I've attached a clip showing this.

Are the VCR heads dirty, is it interference, or something else?

Thank you

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Posted (edited)

You might try some of the remedies mentioned here, but only use manual tracking a last resort.

 

Likely heads are dirty or need to be degaussed. But tapes do deteriorate over time, so if that doesn't help, all you can do is clean up the image with video editing software.

Edited by An0maly_76
Revised, more info

I don't badmouth others' input, I'd appreciate others not badmouthing mine. *** More below ***

 

MODERATE TO SEVERE AUTISTIC, COMPLICATED WITH COVID FOG

 

Due to the above, I've likely revised posts <30 min old, and do not think as you do.

THINK BEFORE YOU REPLY!

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Posted
2 minutes ago, kevin2266 said:

Are the VCR heads dirty, is it interference, or something else?

What type of cable are you using to connect? Standard composite video ("RCA") tends to be hard to isolate from external noise. Use S-VID if you have the option, or get a nice co-axial RCA cable for the video signal. Make sure the distance is as short as possible and away from other AC/data cables.

 

How old is the VCR? Might want to clean the heads.

 

Have you isolated this issue to one VCR? It might just be the way the tape was recorded (unfortunately) or how it's gotten over time (some old VHS tapes had a composition issue that made them stick together on the reel). FWIW, it adds that "retro" appeal everyone is looking for these days 😉 

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