How To Repair 8mm Video Tape

How To Repair 8mm Video Tape. In this video, I show how to repair an 8mm tape using what I like to call the "Fishing" method. I use a little screwdriver with a piece of plastic transparent tape on the end of it and..... well, watch the video to see how I do it!!!

[@johntarella]

Fixed a 35 year old tape of my 1year old son. Thank you very much!

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Fantastic! Glad the video helped!

[@rasm0225]

Fixed my 25 year old wedding tape for transfer in 5 minutes. Thank you!

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

You are very welcome. Great job!!!👏

[@Coachwill101]

I had a cherished tap from '93 when I was living in Europe and it broke. This helped me to easily repair it. Thanks you!

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

You are very welcome! I am very glad that it helped you. Thank you for watching! Please make sure to help support the channel by subscribing!

[@LloydChristmas-vx2wh]

Great video. I'm so glad I never had to do this.

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

There may come a day and if and when it does, you now know how! Thanks for watching!!!

[@danam5272]

Awesome!!! I can't thank you enough. Repaired a very special tape in minutes.

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Thank you! I’m happy it helped! Please make sure to hit the at subscribe button!!!

[@JarrydHall]

Great video - very informative! I don’t love the sound effects (oh boy!) but everything else is absolutely top notch. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. :)

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@JaySkip]

Great trick! I do video transfers and normally I take the tape apart to fix them but this saves me a lot of time! 👏

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Great! I’m happy to hear that my video helped you!

[@joybalagat1176]

Thank you now i can fix my broken 8mm tapes. Very helpful tutorials.🙏

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

That's great! I am glad I could help! Please make sure to subscribe if you have not already!

[@samrameas293]

That was awesome! I am going to start using that technique on my old cassette tapes! Thanks Media nerd!

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

You are welcome!

[@zhaohaigaogu7821]

私の場合はテープが切れたら処分が正しいと思います。

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

直す必要があるだけなのに、なぜ捨てる必要があるのでしょうか。カビが生えていたり、くっついていたりする場合は、捨てますが、壊れたばかりの場合は、接合するのが非常に簡単です。

[@jmurphy252]

Fixed a tape i was to copy,that broke. thank you.

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Great job! You are welcome!!!

[@roytee3127]

Beware the 2-side Scotch tape splice! I successfully made a splice using this method (the fishing worked very well) and carefully made a two-sided splice using Scotch magic tape. The splice looked smooth. When I did a fast-reverse through my camcorder, it stopped when it hit the splice and displayed "Eject". After that, the video of all my tapes is severely scrambled. Apparently the tape threw something out of alignment in the guides or read head. Another video says to use professional splicing tape. Probably an extremely good idea.

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Thank you for the advise. I had never had that issue before using the tape on both sides. I do appreciate the feedback. Please subscribe to my channel. More videos are coming!

[@HeIIsBeIIsTrading]

Every time i do this once the camera plays and gets to the spliced piece it cuts out and ejects !!!! i have even tried it one side only once that splice hits the heads it stops and ejects

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

@@HeIIsBeIIsTrading it sounds like a safety feature on your camera like a gag reflex! Capture your tape up until that happens then manually turn the tape past that point using a paper clip to turn the sprocket past the splice then continue capturing. You will have to press in that little trigger to release the reels

[@JoeCullen-l4i]

The sound effects are amazing. And more importantly, this was a VERY helpful video. Thank you, Media Nerd!

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Thanks! I think you are the only one besides myself that enjoyed the sound effects.

[@speakeasyarchives8764]

Nice problem solving.

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Thank you

[@JVAVR]

Lifesaver! You make it look so easy though!

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

I’m sure you’ll do it fine.

[@Capturing-Memories]

Thanks for the tip, very informative and time saving.

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stosgarage456]

Thanks for the instructions.

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Thank you for watching!

[@hurleymediatv]

You are awesome! Thank you!

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Thanks!!! Please make sure to hit the subscribe button to help support the channel.

[@4638000]

Ur a legend

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

A legend in my own mind perhaps. But thank you!

[@chrismoseler]

Super helpful video. Thank you!

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Thank you for watching! I do appreciate it. Please subscribe to help support the channel if you have not already.

[@malph46]

Thanks for your video ,nice method witch the scotch tape on the table ! I have a digital 8 tape were only the casing lit is damaged ,,is it possible to switch the tape to another casing ?? Kind regards Ralf

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Yes, I have a video showing a melted 8mm tape and switching out the case. Check that one out. thanks for watching!

[@cairnshotrod]

took me a couple of goes , fat fingers in they way but worked perfect

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Splicing is not easy. Good job!

[@tusvideocintas]

Excelente tutorial, muy profesional 🤓

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Thank you!

[@cokeman13377331]

If the tape is only showing static and has a loud distorted static sound, is it completely done for? I know it's most likely done for, but I'm just hoping for something.

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Well, you could try cleaning your VCR or try a different VCR that is working properly. If you are getting static using a different VCR than the tape is bad but that is just my opinion.

[@cokeman13377331]

@@TheMediaNerdMT It's for an 8mm tape in particular. Other ones work fine but this one seems to just have static and the occasional distorted sound. I know there was stuff on it as it is labeled.

[@TheJonboix]

Thank you. I just subscribed.

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Awesome, thank you!

[@elenaheuze]

what happens if I cannot fish for the film on the other side? I was only able to find on one side, but the other side, as I keep turning the film, I don't see any lose string I can grab PLS HELP

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

You’ll have to take the tape apart to see what is going on. You may have to tape the film to the spool.

[@Mariamserry]

Thank you soooo much I fixed the tape but I can't find the video, what should I do?

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Try cleaning the heads of your camera. Since the tape was broken and most likely broke in your camera, particles got in your tape head sensors clogging it. I just posted a video yesterday about how to clean a 8mm camera.

[@Mariamserry]

@@TheMediaNerdMT THANKS A LOT!

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

You are welcome! Please subscribe to help support the channel. I really appreciate it

[@Mariamserry]

@@TheMediaNerdMT I don't know how to thank you! It's working all good again!❤️❤️

[@zura5399]

thank you so much

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

You're welcome!

[@marcelbiliuta7039]

ooh thanks man, i didn'n know it would work, but it works!

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

That is great! Thank you for watching and please subscribe to support the channel if you have not already!

[@MichelleGianni]

Thank you!

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

You are very welcome! Please subscribe if you have not already. I’d greatly appreciate it!

[@infamismworldwild6248]

Thank you

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

You are welcome. Hope it helped you. Please hit that subscribe button!

[@ThePelle16]

You my hero :-) Thank you

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Your welcome and thank you for watching! Please subscribe to support the channel if you have not already. I'd greatly appreciate it.

[@riversedge64]

You don't need to use a tape and screwdriver. Just open the tape and use proper tweezers (I used one of which I use for soldering). I was able to fish the tape with tweezers :) Anyway, thanx for Your video :)

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

That's cool. I tried the tweezer method once and couldn't catch the end of the tape. Sometimes, it is like the tape is glued to the reel and really hard to get out. That is why I found the tape to be a bit easier, it grabs the tape easy and pulls it out without having to search for the end. I appreciate your tip! Thank you for watching and please subscribe if you have not already.

[@christinascleaning]

I have an 8 mm tape that is very very important to me I accidentally broke the tape the other day and I know there's a way to fix it I don't want to give up on it do you still fix them if so I will pay the money to have it fixed please let me know ASAP thank you so much

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Send me an email at [e-mail] and I’ll be more than happy to help you out.

[@LuckyRain0rig]

Wow ! Thank you so much for sharing. My old video came ate one of my tapes ( the daughter baby ‘movie’)… I don’t know how to remove it…in my frustrations I have to destroy the video camera itself 😢. ( this is to say that I could buy another camera 🎥 but not the memory that was on the tape)

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

I am sorry that happened.

[@damian9303]

Omg, this is why I don’t trust the camcorder and opt for a deck that can playback the video8 format. I have a warped tape that may be susceptible to snapping, luckily it hadn’t but the camcorder refuses to play through those sections due to the glitched image anyways.

[@umarcheema6193]

Hey, I successfully fished the tape out of one side of the tape however the other side of the tape has nothing to fish out? Do you think there is anyway to repair this tape?

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

You can follow the same steps as this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pn6opqOleJ1jo9E You are going to need a very small Philips head screw driver like what you would use for glasses and some plastic tape. Please make sure to subscribe! I'd greatly appreciate it. This is a good video to make in the future.

[@umarcheema6193]

@@TheMediaNerdMT Thank you! Appreciate the response!

[@raskassa1211]

Thanks Much

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

You are welcome! Thanks for watching and please subscribe! I’d appreciate it greatly!!!

[@dondeaton9797]

Is there a way to tell if the player is cutting the tape or if it is just that the tapes are old. I have a sony portable player EV-S1 and in the rewind it seems like it has sliced two tapes recently.

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Don. I am not familiar with this type of deck. I did a search on it to check it out. If I were you, I would just stop using the deck all together. Because of the age, you could have dry rot with with some of the rubber parts. You can find some good used camera players on Amazon but it will cost you a few hundred dollars. I can also transfer them for you which may be cheaper than getting another player. Thank you for watching and please subscribe if you have not already. Good luck!!!

[@jasonbrewster4401]

Good evening/morning. I have a few questions for you. What happens when the tapes play a few minutes of footage and stops playing the footage so you just see a blue screen playing? Have you had tapes like this and were you able to repair them? What do you need to do to repair the tapes like this? Thanks.

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

I don't think that it is the tape but the camera or deck that you are playing it on. The head or sensor that reads the tape is dirty and needs cleaned. I use an 8mm tape cleaner that I think you can still purchase on amazon. It looks just like a cassette which you put in your camera or deck and play for about 20 seconds. The other way is to just put in a tape that has not been recorded on and play that for a few moments to dislodge the dirt particles . I was told by a repair specialist that this was the best way and not to use the 8mm cassette cleaners because the cleaners are like cleaning the heads/sensors with sandpaper. Frankly, I find the "new cassette method" useless and I use the 8mm cleaner method witch works every time and I never noticed any damage. Thanks for watching and please subscribe to support my channel if you have not already!

[@jasonbrewster4401]

@@TheMediaNerdMT the vcr is a new one. I am digitizing these tapes to my computer. It say no signal and the capture screen goes blue

[@jasonbrewster4401]

@@TheMediaNerdMT the tape before was able to be captured to my computer fine. Then the next 2 tapes played for a few minutes and the blue screen shows up. The third tape was able to be captured all the way through without any blue screen until the home movies was finished.

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

That's a bit of a tough one. This is an issue that you need to trouble shoot the entire capture process from one end to the other to start ruling out things. The first thing I would do is recapture one or two of the tapes that you already captured. If the tape(s) capture fine again, you know that it is just a bad tape. If they don't capture like before then you have a lot of trouble shooting to do. Do you happen to have another VCR deck to try out? I doubt it but that could help with ruling things out. Check connections, computer speed, hard drive space..... Good luck! I am off for the weekend.

[@jasonbrewster4401]

@@TheMediaNerdMT Few questions. I have a few TC-30 tapes (VHS-C) and a few 8mm tapes that plays for a few minutes and then the screen turns blue. I’m trying to digitize my home movies. I’ve removed the case to look at the film and looks good (no cuts, wrinkles, etc). I removed the capture cables from my computer and VCR. I’ve talked with my customer and she does remember if she has check to see if they played all the way. My VCR heads have been cleaned. Still turning to blue screen after a few minutes of playing. Is there any other troubleshooting I could do or are the tapes damaged? Thanks.

[@LordXygor]

Hey my father had an 8mm Sony camcorder and he wants to transfer some videos from 8mm cassettes to pc but the problem is that the camcorder is not able to process the cassette like it is unable to rotate the magnetic tapes (reels)

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

If your camcorder can't turn the tapes then it is definitely broken. I don't know of a company that can repair cameras like this any longer. You may have to purchase a new camcorder to get the job done. Here is a link on amazon to purchase a new (used refurbished one). amzn.to/4a1j0pG

[@itsollieyx3]

I've been currently transferring hi8 tapes and theres atleast 3 tapes so far that needs to be repaired.. Will I lose footage by doing this method? I really dont want to risk messing up my tape further more or destroying the camcorder I just bought. These tapes are really special to me and I want it transferred. Please help 😭

[@itsollieyx3]

And I've transferred 6 of my hi8 tapes so far so I know it's not the camcorder

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

you will loose a little bit of footage when you do the splice. Just make sure to make the splice tape as thin as possible so it goes through the machine properly.

[@itsollieyx3]

@@TheMediaNerdMT I might just have the few tapes I weren't able to get working from your website. Is it additional cost if I want my tapes transferred on a flash drive rather than having it spliced?

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

@@itsollieyx3 Please go to my website where my phone number and email contact info is and I will be able to discuss your project. www.coloradospringsvideo.com

[@Bigislandguy]

Can you repair and recover video from hi-8?

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

I can do the best I can at repairing video tapes. Sometimes they are too far gone. You may go to my main website, www.coloradospringsvideo.com and contact me to discuss your situation.

[@geralyncamarillo8647]

MAHALO so much!!!

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Hello! I’m taking it that you liked the video. Please subscribe!!!

[@AllBeFlat]

Hey Media Nerd, I've had no luck repairing two of my own Hi8 tapes. Unfortunately, they have my wedding video from 2006 on one. Do you fix these professionally? Nobody nearby me even knows what Hi8 tapes are anymore. Can I send to you through the mail?

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

I do these types of repairs. You can go to my website Coloradosprings video.com for my contact information. I’ll be happy to discuss with you about the repair process

[@GhostNinjaTactical]

Doesn’t this destroy the footage on the tape?

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

Considering the tape is already broken and unplayable, no.

[@marciesmith3689]

What if my tape has a crack?

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

If the tape housing is cracked, it would be best to find another 8mm tape that you don’t need and put the tape into the new housing

[@marciesmith3689]

Okay, so taping up the tape won't work once I get the film taped up.??

[@TheMediaNerdMT]

@marciesmith3689 you can give it a shot. I really don’t know what you are dealing with unless you send me a picture. [e-mail]