Thank you so much for this very informative video. I'm running into exactly the problems you outlined while trying to transfer old Hi8 tapes of my parents, and you've saved me hundreds of dollars and countless hours of wasted time. Now I know exactly what I need to do.
Thanks for your help. My camera would not play back. I got 2 q-tips and taped them together. I then wrapped the tips with a Carl Zeiss lens wipe. Playback looks digital now. Wow!!
It's not just that the tapes are old. Those tapes were made without freon the main binder to make the tape. This is a great video. Not to many tutorials on deep cleaning a camcorder. Thanks
I have old 8mm tapes I’m trying to transfer for my family. It was going well unfortunately the audio is really really low like -40-50dbs. Obviously I can bring it up but there is so much noise and some audio is just completely too quiet to ever be able to make out. Do you have any suggestions?
Great video!! I purchased the swabs, but neither Etsy nor Amazon have the Audio 456 THC-2 solution. Is there another solution I can use or is the answer rubbing alcohol?
@@TheMediaNerdMT All other tapes play fine and player looks very clean so didn't bother, I've heard other's who've gotten the same error say their tape came out of the cassette so it's made me afraid of fast forwarding past that point, do you think it would be fine?
You could carefully try and use QTips. The fibers of the QTips could get caught on the head. So you have to be very cautious or you’ll ruin the head. If I were you, I’d just get the swabs.
A lot of people recommend using a piece of paper (like printer paper). Tear off a strip and fold it up into a small square that is about the size of the side of the drum, add rubbing alcohol to the piece of paper. Enough to douse it, but don't put it in the camcorder dripping wet. Don't touch the drum with your fingers but place the paper on the drum and use either another finger or a q-tip, something to spin the drum manually, applying light pressure to the paper on the drum. Spin the drum 3-4 times. I've used all 3 methods...the item in the video, paper and a cleaning tape. They all work good but I prefer to use the cleaning tape first, cause that goes around all the posts and everything. It's all personal preference, as long as it works.
I just purchased a 90s Grundig 8mm camera that has a lot of dust on the lenses inside. It makes the picture look a bit grainy and even makes it difficult for the camera to focus properly. Is it an easy amateur task to open it up and give it a clean?
![[How To] Best Way To Clean Tape Heads On Any Camcorder](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wfKcMoWL0pU/mqdefault.jpg)
![[How To] Best Way To Clean Tape Heads On Any Camcorder](/img/tr.png)
For someone who's just getting into the world of Camcorders, this video is a godsend. Thank you for your help!
You’re welcome! I’m glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching!!!
Thanks
Thank you very much! I greatly appreciate your support!
Thank you so much for this very informative video. I'm running into exactly the problems you outlined while trying to transfer old Hi8 tapes of my parents, and you've saved me hundreds of dollars and countless hours of wasted time. Now I know exactly what I need to do.
I am really glad that my video helped you! That's what it is all about! Thanks for watching!!!
Thanks for your help. My camera would not play back. I got 2 q-tips and taped them together. I then wrapped the tips with a Carl Zeiss lens wipe. Playback looks digital now. Wow!!
Great work!
It's not just that the tapes are old. Those tapes were made without freon the main binder to make the tape.
This is a great video. Not to many tutorials on deep cleaning a camcorder.
Thanks
Thank you for the info and the thoughtful comment!
It worked! THANK YOU!
Glad it helped! You are welcome! Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the tutorial and the links!
Happy to help! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the instruction. One question: is the tape head for sound separate? or does all information from the tape come from the big tape head?
Yes, I do believe that the sound is separate from the main head but I could be wrong.
I have old 8mm tapes I’m trying to transfer for my family. It was going well unfortunately the audio is really really low like -40-50dbs. Obviously I can bring it up but there is so much noise and some audio is just completely too quiet to ever be able to make out. Do you have any suggestions?
If you put the digitized film into an editing program like Final Cut Pro, you can work on the audio and apply noise filters.
Great video!! I purchased the swabs, but neither Etsy nor Amazon have the Audio 456 THC-2 solution. Is there another solution I can use or is the answer rubbing alcohol?
Purchase 100 percent rubbing alcohol
@@TheMediaNerdMT awesome, thank you!
One of my tapes about an hour in stops playing and flashes "R.EMG/"Eject" how do I fix this?
Maybe try fast forward past that part and then continue playing it. Could just be a bad part of the tape. I assume you tried cleaning your player.
@@TheMediaNerdMT All other tapes play fine and player looks very clean so didn't bother, I've heard other's who've gotten the same error say their tape came out of the cassette so it's made me afraid of fast forwarding past that point, do you think it would be fine?
Is there an Alternative to the swabs because I don’t really feel like spending $30 on a pack for only one or two of them thanks
You could carefully try and use QTips. The fibers of the QTips could get caught on the head. So you have to be very cautious or you’ll ruin the head. If I were you, I’d just get the swabs.
A lot of people recommend using a piece of paper (like printer paper). Tear off a strip and fold it up into a small square that is about the size of the side of the drum, add rubbing alcohol to the piece of paper. Enough to douse it, but don't put it in the camcorder dripping wet. Don't touch the drum with your fingers but place the paper on the drum and use either another finger or a q-tip, something to spin the drum manually, applying light pressure to the paper on the drum. Spin the drum 3-4 times. I've used all 3 methods...the item in the video, paper and a cleaning tape. They all work good but I prefer to use the cleaning tape first, cause that goes around all the posts and everything. It's all personal preference, as long as it works.
I taped two q-tips together. I then wrapped the end with a Carl Zeiss lens wipe. I then used a twist tie to secure the lens wipe. Worked like a charm.
@alanw.4511 That is a smart idea, thanks for the tip. You got any on fabricating lock nuts for pinch rollers?
@@thedadtris I cleaned the rollers with the same lens wipe set up.
I bought a Chamois cloth instead of a swab, still fine? And what what a cut piece of paper. I'm using 99% isopropyl alcohol
I think what you purchased would be fine. Good luck!
@@TheMediaNerdMT Thank you! Just got some tapes of my great-grandparents that made the head dirty.
Kinda funny that the TRV140's wrist strap was replaced with one from a Video8 or early Hi8.
Thanks for watching
I just purchased a 90s Grundig 8mm camera that has a lot of dust on the lenses inside. It makes the picture look a bit grainy and even makes it difficult for the camera to focus properly. Is it an easy amateur task to open it up and give it a clean?
I have know idea. Sorry.