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While garage sale-ing recently, I found some old VHS tapes - I've now decided I want to start a personal archive and digitize these types of obscure tapes
(programming.dev)
I got an Elgato capture card and a VCR off of EBay and have already digitized three tapes I've found at garage sales.
Any advice for cleaning up the image and audio? I recall there were VCR cleaners but never was confident of their efficacy.
The spinny thing is the head drum. The divots are electromagnetic heads, usually four for video in a HiFi deck. Be careful when cleaning them as they are fragile. Avoid using any kind of material that may snag in their narrow gap. I like to use a strip of white paper wetted with isopropanol, holding it against the drum and turning it with the other hand. Repeat that till the paper comes away clean.
Oh this is great advice.
I also recommend softly holding whatever moistened but not dripping medium you're using up to the cleaner head divot line and spinning the head itself with your other hand.