Tape Life

How do we know how long a home video tape will last?  Well, that's a complicated question.  To start with, there are many factors that affect a tape's longevity.  The quality of the blank tape when new, how many times the tape is played, and the conditions under which the tape are stored can all contribute to lengthening or shortening the tape's life.

But experts can shed some light on the subject.  A report at www.beacham.com says, in part,

"...So what's the bottom line. How long does Sony tell us we can expect a videocassette to last? Since environmental conditions are the key to the tape's chemical stability, the answer is based on storage conditions. If the user keeps tapes at a constant temperature between 59 [the report omits the top temperature] a relative humidity level of 40 to 60 percent, Sony predicts all modern tape formulations will last 15 years without significant degradation.

It is important here to note the word "constant" when speaking of the environmental conditions in which tapes are stored. Sony recommends there be little fluctuation in temperature or humidity to prevent expansion and contraction of the base film. Since most of us don't occupy such ideal temperature and humidity-controlled environments at home, the 15-year figure is unrealistic for the average user.

For important, irreplaceable tapes, Sony tape product manager Les Burger recommends that consumers follow the practice of many professional video producers and make protection copies from the master tape every three to five years. These copies, though down a generation, at least provide insurance against any deterioration or failure of the original master. Burger also recommends winding important tapes at least one a year.

When a tape is so valuable that money is no object for its protection, the ultimate in archival preservation is to make a digital backup copy at a professional video facility..."

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