Analogue Signs of U-Matic Video Tape Deterioration | Broadcast Transfer Services
Broadcast Video & Audio Tape Archiving at Oxford Duplication Centre
Oxford Duplication provides professional video tape digitising services for archive companies, historical societies, corporate business, independent directors and producers, who would like to archive and re-purpose their titles.
TAPE BAKING STICKY SHED SYNDROME
Oxford Duplication Centre have more than 20 years of experience handling virtually every brand and every formula of source media, assures the safety of your master. We are able to transfer the content of unstable media by properly preparing the tape while retaining the integrity of the master.
Analog tape is made up of multiple layers joined by an adhesive. Molecular breakdown of the adhesive and absorption of moisture by the tape’s lubricants causes some tapes to “stick” and “shed” when traveling through a tape machine’s transport. This is due to the formula of the binder that was used to manufacture most tapes beginning in 1973; it takes approximately nine years after manufacture for the problem to occur.
To temporarily alleviate the problems of sticking and shedding, the primary method of stabilisation is to cure the tape at a constant temperature with circulating air. When performed correctly, this process is benign and can be repeated as needed. The baking process serves to temporarily correct the problem by slowly re-setting the molecules and removing the moisture.
At Oxford Duplication Centre, this is done using specific archival dehumidifiers that maintain an unvarying temperature of 125°F and do so without subjecting the tapes to harmful magnetic fields.
The length of baking time varies from hours to days, depending on mass (the width and length of the tape). The baking process stabilizes the tape for one to three weeks.
Corporate & Heritage Video Tape Pricing
Clear volume pricing for standard broadcast and professional video tape conversion.
Broadcast Video Tape Conversion
HDCAM • Digital Betacam • DVCPRO HD • U-matic • Betacam SP • DVCAM • Betacam SX • Betamax • VHS • Video8 • Hi8 • MiniDV
| Service / Output | 1+ | 10+ | 25+ | 50+ | 100+ | 500+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Corporate Broadcast Tape Conversion | ||||||
|
Production File
ProRes 422 HQ / MOV |
£50.00 | £45.00 | £40.00 | £35.00 | £30.00 | £30.00 |
|
Archive 1
FFV1 Uncompressed |
£70.00 | £65.00 | £60.00 | £55.00 | £50.00 | £45.00 |
|
Archive 2
10-bit Uncompressed |
£70.00 | £65.00 | £60.00 | £55.00 | £50.00 | £45.00 |
| Additional Broadcast Tape Services | ||||||
| H.264 / MPEG-4 Access Files | £25.00 | £22.50 | £20.00 | £17.50 | £15.00 | £12.50 |
| Digital File Up-Conversion from SD to HD | £25.00 | £22.50 | £20.00 | £17.50 | £15.00 | £12.50 |
| U-matic Tape Baking — Sticky Shed Syndrome | £25.00 | £22.50 | £20.00 | £17.50 | £15.00 | £12.50 |
All prices shown are the current prices published on the existing page. VAT is additional where applicable.