Magnetic tape deterioration
 Text courtesy of Polderbits software

Introduction

Until recently, the popular belief was that information stored on audio and videotape is permanent. Magnetic tape has become the archival storage medium of our age. In the short term, magnetic tape has allowed us to save and replay history at will, whether a major national event or important personal moment.

Now we realize that with audio and videotape there is no long term. Magnetic media has a very limited life span and priceless sounds and images are in danger of being lost.

The magnitude of the problem of magnetic tape deterioration is just starting to be realized. Virtually all of the magnetic tape ever recorded older than as little as 10 years may be in serious jeopardy. The threat comes from several sources, but the largest threat is chemical in nature, coming from the breakdown of the binder, or glue, that holds the magnetic particles to the polyester base of tape. As this hydrolysis process (sometimes known as "Sticky Shed Syndrome" ) occurs, the tape often gets coated with a tenacious adhesive that makes it extremely difficult to play. In some cases the problem can be so severe that the magnetic material literally falls off or sheds from the base leaving a pile of dust and clear backing. The problem of hydrolysis has been known for some time, but the extent of both the problem and catastrophic effect it has on magnetic media is just now reaching widespread public visibility.

At risk is virtually the entire inventory of recorded media, from master audio recordings of symphonies to videotape recordings of the news gathered over the last 40 years. Virtually our entire audio and visual heritage from the 1940's to the 1980's is in serious jeopardy. No tape is safe from the multiple threats that vary from accidental erasure and physical loss due to fire and flood, to the slow disappearance of the machines that are required to play the tapes back. Coupled with Sticky Shed Syndrome, the threat is far greater than anticipated. Realistically, some of the vast inventory of tapes are of little value being copies of other materials, but many others are masters, original recordings, that cannot readily be duplicated. And the amount of tapes needed to be restored is so huge, that it would take decades, even if facilities, techniques, and funding were readily available.

Facing the challenge

Over the last decades more than 10 billion blank audio tapes were sold worldwide. Assuming that only one percent of these tapes contains really unique recordings (like family events, interviews, meetings, live recordings etc.) we are talking about 100 million audio tapes that are in potential jeopardy.

Your important recordings

Converting audio tapes to CD using a PC is the only viable and cost effective option to save recordings for consumers. PC's are in wide spread use enabling access to virtually everyone. Recording software needs to be very easy to use to appeal to the wide audience that needs to save their audio tapes.

Conversion to CD

Conversion to CD to preserve your audio tapes can be done with tools like the PolderbitS Sound Recorder and Editor. The ease of use of this product makes it especially useful to a wide audience with low to average computer skills. Kris Colt from Boise, Idaho, USA told us: "I'm currently using your software to convert over 500 old family history cassette tapes. Having tried numerous other audio capture utilities on the market your Polderbits Sound Recorder is by far - hands down - the VERY BEST!! I love it because it's SO SIMPLE to use, it captures with greater clarity and works right every time!".

The PolderbitS Sound Recorder and Editor helps you to digitize your recordings. The Polderbits Recorder makes sure you get your recordings into the digital world after which you can edit them with the Editor. Typical editor tasks are splitting your recordings into separate tracks, cutting blank spaces and fade tracks in and out. Once your data is digital and the way you like it you can 'burn' it on CD or storae the file on your hard drive

Of course the lifespan of a CD has its limitations too. The official statement of Kodak, a leading manufacturer is: "We predict the lifetime of KODAK Photo CD, and KODAK Writable CD Media with InfoGuard Protection System, under normal storage conditions in an office or home environment, should be 100 years or more. Under controlled conditions, our best estimate of the data life of these products is 217 years, which provides room to incorporate reasonable differences of opinion as to what constitutes 'normal storage conditions' ".

So a CD lasts a life time (unless you purchased low grade CD or DVDs), but at some point your recordings will need to be transferred again to the then current media, probably a descendant of our current DVD. The good news is that by then you will need much less media to store your recordings. Having your data in digital form will definitely help you and our next generations with future conversions.

Solutions to prevent anymore loss of your valuable recordings?
Buy the very affordable software PolderBits tape recording program to preserve your data


More Information

• Detailed step by step information on how to record LPs to CD (process very similar to tape conversion)
  http://www.angelfire.com/vt2/tommymc3/LPtoCDR.html

• The Care and Handling of Recorded Sound Materials
  http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byauth/st-laurent/care.html

• Magnetic Tape Storage and Handling:
  A Guide for Libraries and Archives of the National Media Laboratory
  http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub54/index.html

• Resource site by Stanford University Conservation Online program
  http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/bytopic/audio/

• Lifetime of KODAK Writable CD and Photo CD Media
  http://www.cd-info.com/CDIC/Technology/CD-R/Media/Kodak.html
  
  Text courtesy of Polderbits software