How Long Do Tapes Last? (What We See After Thousands of Transfers)

Magnetic media is not forever. Here’s what we see with VHS, Hi8/Video8 and MiniDV—and why timely VHS to digital or camcorder tapes to digital avoids permanent loss.

Typical Age-Related Issues

• Dropouts, colour bleed and timing wobble (analogue).
• Head clogging and mis-tracking on neglected decks.
• Creased tape and splices failing.

When to Act

If tapes matter to you, don’t wait for the next heatwave or loft leak. Converting to MP4 (and adding USB or DVD) gives you multiple safe copies.

Storage Basics

Cool, dry and dark. Keep away from magnets and sunlight. For deeper preservation reading, see the National Archives.