Creating DVDs from your damaged video tapes

Recordings from Damaged or Faulty VHS & Camcorder Video tapes
Snapped, Jammed, Twisted video tapes and even Broken Cassettes
Can be brought back to life again !
with our
Video tape Rescue Service
(Video Tape repair and transfer to DVD)

now available for:-
VHS, SVHS, VHSC, SVHSC, video8 ,Hi8, Digital 8 and
miniDV (SD Standard Definition, recorded in SP standard Play mode only)

Online Order Form > > >

How does it work ?

First the damaged video cassette is striped down and inspected, damaged or worn parts are replaced or the video tape reels are removed and inserted into a new video cassette housing with a new set of parts i.e. guide rollers, reel brakes, etc. If the video tape has been snapped or twisted, a temporarily repair  splice will be carried out. When the tape is operational a standard video to DVD transfer will be completed. When the DVD has been made up, it is sent out to you by 1st Class recorded delivery. It is only when we have received confirmation from you that the DVD has arrived safely and all is OK, that we return your original video tape.  However with any video tape that has been repaired we recommend that it is not played in a domestic videotape player or camcorder as this may cause damage to the machine (your original video tape cassette will be labelled with a warning as appropriate).

How much does it cost ?

VHS or Camcorder video tape repair and transfer to DVD  service £22

To ensure we achieve the highest quality we normally transfer around 90 minutes to a DVD although this can often be stretched to 2 hours
for tapes with recordings longer than 2 hours we recommend the recording is split over 2 DVDs (double disc set)

Transferring over 2 hours of rescued  video to a double DVD set £32
 

Additional copies made at the same time as your DVD cost just £5 each
or 3 for £10 with our Special Offer!

An Mpeg2 digital file made from your rescued recording copied on a PC-DVD data disc £5

Online Order Form > > >

Can we rescue your video tape recording ?

The video tape has snapped, torn or pulled out of the spool.

We can carry out a temporary repair to the video tape (re-join / splice) the broken tape ribbon together or re-attach it to the spool. When the repair has been completed we convert the rescued video to a digital file and then transfer it to a DVD.
Please note that due to the way the picture on the videotape is recorded there may be a some interference displayed on the DVD at the point the repair has been carried out to the videotape. if the tape has been spliced we recommend that it is not played in a domestic video player or camcorder as this may damage the machine (your video tape will be labelled with a warning as appropriate)

We can carry out a temporary repair to the video tape by cutting out the section of the video tape ribbon that has been twisted or screwed up and (re-join / splice) the videotape ribbon back together, when the repair has been completed we convert the video on the tape to a digital file and then transfer it to a DVD.
Please note that due to the way the picture on the videotape is recorded there may be a some interference displayed on the DVD at the point the repair has been carried out to the videotape. if the tape has been spliced we recommend that it is not played in a domestic video player or camcorder as this may damage the machine (the video or camcorder tape will be labelled with a warning as appropriate)

The damaged video cassette is striped down and inspected, broken, worn or missing parts are replaced or the video tape is removed and placed into a new cassette housing with a new set of mechanical parts i.e. brakes, guide rollers etc

Inside the video cassette are several mechanical parts including the cassette brake, this is like the parking brake on a car. It stops the tape reels from spilling out the tape when the cassette is outside the player or camcorder. Normally the cassette brake is automatically released when the tape is put into the player / camcorder, however if it fails to release due to faulty parts the tape will not move and in some players will automatically be ejected and in other older players could cause the tape to snap.
We repair or replace the faulty parts, or the video tape is removed and placed into a new cassette housing with a new set of mechanical parts i.e. brakes, guide rollers etc.

If problems occur when you push the video cassette into the tape slot on your video player i.e. it stops and is not accepted or the the player rejects it pushing back out again. This is often caused by a slightly bent or distorted cassette case.  To fix this problem the videotape is removed and placed into a new cassette housing with a new set of mechanical parts i.e. brakes, guide rollers etc

It looks quite simple and it is relatively easy to gain access to a video tape cassette to repair it, usually by removing 4 or 5 small screws however it is not so easy to re-assemble the tape and make it operational again. We have had many e-mails and phone conversation with customers who have found this out to their horror, if this has happened to you then we can help, if possible remove any loose springs and other mechanical parts that could damage the tape in transit and keep the tape spools inside the cassette housing, or just send the spools very carefully pack so that the tape does not become unwound or screwed up causing further damage. We have replacement cassette housing including all the mechanical parts i.e. brakes, tape guides, rollers, flaps, springs etc and can get your tape operational again and transfer the recording to a DVD or DVDs

If liquid has got inside the video cassette then it will not be suitable for our video tape rescue service. If a tape suffering from these problems is put into a normal video player it will almost certainly snap or be torn. We can recover recorded material from tapes that have had liquid inside but it requires an intensive and time consuming process. How much of the recorded material we can recover from the video tape and the cost involved will depend on the type of liquid and the extent of the damage to the tape. Each case will need to be individually inspected to assess the work required and cost involved.

Often caused by a mechanical fault in the video recorder or camcorder, where the tape receives damage as it goes past the video head or other moving parts, it is scored, creased or even folded. Although we can capture and make DVDs from tapes with this type of problem if the material is of precious family memories or other irreplaceable recordings, but it is unlikely that the picture will be good , it's likely to be very unstable not very pleasing to view there may also be problems with the sound. Whether we can recover any recorded material from the video tape and the cost involved will depend on the type and the extent of the damage to the tape. Each case will need to be individually inspected to assess the work required and the cost involved.

This service is available for:- VHS, SVHS, VHSC, SVHSC, video8 ,Hi8 video tapes only

Unfortunately, if the video or camcorder tape was not recorded or has been erased or recorded over we have no way or recovering the material.

Erasing a video tape should not be confused with "deleting" files on a hard disk drive or memory stick. Deleting these files is not instant (as it is on a video recording) they are hidden from view and the space on the drive is allocated to be replaced when new files are added. So if not too much time has passed you can probably recover all or part of a deleted files. However when you record over a previous recording on a video or camcorder tape the original recording is completely erased first before being replaced by the new recording. So there will be nothing left of of the original recording to retrieve.
 

 or  phone 01205 871000