VHS (or Camcorder) Tape Split? Here’s How We Fix It

Tapes can snap at the leader or mid-reel after years in storage. Don’t worry—we regularly repair splits, then convert VHS to digital so you never have to risk the tape again.

Why tapes split

• Age and storage (heat, humidity) make the tape brittle.
• Old players with rough tape paths or reel tension faults.
• Previous mould contamination.

What not to do

• Do not use household sellotape—it gums heads and can rip again instantly.
• Don’t keep retrying a bad player; it makes the damage worse.

How we repair & transfer

• Re-splicing with proper archival splicing tape and clean joins.
• Re-shelling into a fresh cassette if the housing is cracked.
• Playback on serviced decks with time-base correction, then delivery as MP4 (download), USB or DVD.

Does this apply to camcorder formats?

Yes—we repair and convert camcorder tapes to digital: Hi8 to digital, Video8 to digital, VHS-C to digital and MiniDV to digital.

Aftercare

We label files clearly and recommend you keep at least two backups (USB + cloud). Once digitised, you can watch and share without touching the original cassette.