Without wanting to get too technical, older magnetic tape absorbs moisture
which causes it to deteriorate. Depending on when (and how well) the
tape was manufactured, this data loss can begin to occur after only 8
years and, within 20 years, the tape can become totally unreadable.
There are many technically challenging and highly expensive ways of breathing
life into old and damaged tapes. Depending on the cause of the damage
these include baking the tape in carefully controlled ovens (yes really,
but don't try this at home), and precise vacuum drying. But by far the
best solution is to have your tapes transferred to a digital format while
the tapes are still ok.
At the moment we are hearing reports of shops no longer stocking VHS
video recorders. Compact cassettes are no longer generally available,
and when was the last time you saw a reel-to-reel tape recorder? we don't
for a moment believe that DVD and CD will be around forever either but
it makes sense to transfer your cherished memories to the most up-to-date
format available. It also makes sense to use the medium with the highest
consumer penetration. That way, there remains a very good chance that,
in another 50 years time, your grandchildren will be able to find a
machine to watch your wedding on.
We are not trying to scare monger here. The threat to old magnetic tape
is a genuine one. Please ask for further information.
