FORMAT

- Binder instability:  this is the weakest point of most cassettes and may cause what is referred to "sticky-shed syndrome."  A breakdown of this material ultimately creates a gummy residue that clings to the heads of the VCR, clogging up the machine and causing magnetic tape to jam inside the videocassette.

         

- Magnetic erasure (degaussing):  though this is rarer than conventional wisdom suggests, it is possible to inadvertently erase tape by exposing it to heavy magnetism.

         

- Machine unsuitability:  poorly-maintained machines can (and often do) damage videocassettes during playback or cause problems with the playback itself.  This issue may also cause cassettes to jam inside the machine.

         

- Manufacturer error:  in the case of early metal-particle tape, misunderstanding of the technology led some manufacturers to produce an unstable product in their videocassettes.     

         

- User error:  “hitting the wrong button,” so to speak, can irreversibly erase recorded portions of the tape on a cassette.

         

- Repetition:  continuing to record continuously over one another on the same videocassette will cause the quality of the cassette to go down exponentially.

         

- Recoding speed:  try not to utilize the extended-play option for videocassettes going into long term storage, as the quality of the recording ultimately suffers.

         

- Moisture, high temperatures and relative humidity may all accelerate the process of degradation in videocassettes.