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When video tape it is getting damaged by a Beta VCR it results in a visible signature in the playback picture. Displayed here are eight of the most common tape injuries and how they can be identified by watching the television screen and what they look like on the tape itself. Keep in mind as we go through these that not every machine will reproduce these exact same results for every situation, they are meant only to be a general guide. Click on the picture to bring up each situation as we examine each example. This first picture is showing a normal playback picture and a undamaged tape surface that is smooth, flat and uniform. Click the picture to see this a very common injury. The horizontal surface scratch can be seen as a white line that breaks through the picture. Its location on the tape corresponds with the location in the displayed image. If it is near the very top or bottom edge of the tape it may not be visible, but instead will disturb the audio or the stability of the picture. The scratch is usually caused by foreign matter stuck to a guide or an burr present somewhere in the path area. As with this example, and all to come, the tape is ruined by the damage represented. The next example is the bottom edge ripple. This one is usually caused by the tape crawling down or traveling too low against the bottom of a guide rim. This can be the result of a hard pinch roller, damaged guide, worn component or an adjustment problem. The next example is almost the same but the tape has traveled too far up. Click the picture and example five is similar to the ripples already seen, but the cause is usually from tape winding on the reels too low, or in the case in the next picture, too high. These are caused by a guide, frame or tape tension problem. Next are wrinkles or creases in the tape that are vertical. This is the result of a tension malfunction, harsh stopping and starting or by a bad capstan. It can also be caused by using a rewinder of a poor design. The last picture is the center crease or folding. A capstan with oxide build-up can cause this, so can a hard pinch roller or broken guide. This completes the tour. In each example service would be required to restore normal operation to the Beta. To close this panel and go back to the disclaimer page click here.
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