Capturing Old VHS Porn Tapes to Digital Formats
I've been having quite a good time over the past 2 years or so, trying to digitize old VHS porn tapes to save on computer, and sometimes to even make "authored" DVDs, playable on my stand-alone DVD/Blu-Ray player hooked up to the TV.
It doesn't take radical equipment to do this. I have an old VCR (a 4-head Sylvania VHS/DVD combo) that I bought from a friend for $10, and a $30 el-cheapo video capture "dongle" (a 'kworld' external USB unit) that I bought from NewEgg.com, if I recall. One challenge for me is that I run the Linux operating system rather than Windows or Mac OSX, so I held my breath to see if I could find Linux drivers and a capture program that would work with the kworld dongle. Well, sure enough, the Linux standard 'v4l' driver worked just swell, and I soon found two programs that could actually do the video capturing. Interestingly enough, it appears that a lot of Windows users can't get the thing to work for them, so I feel particularly lucky (OK, "blessed") to be able to get mine to work so easily.
One problem I've found with old VHS tape is what is called "sticky gate" syndrome. You wouldn't think it possible, but old magnetic tape can absorb humidity from the air and actually swell a tiny amount, causing it to bind up and not play when going through a VCR. This seems to happen to about 1 out of 4 tapes that I come across, particularly if the tape is older than 10 years (which is about all of them at this point). Symptoms are skipped frames, horizontal or vertical sync problems, or the tape being spit out prematurely by the VCR because the increased resistance to tape transport makes the VCR think the tape has reached its end. There's two techniques I've used to try to counteract sticky gate syndrome: 1. bake the VHS tape (yes, you read that right), and 2. clean and lubricate the VHS tape cartridge itself (but not the tape).
When I say "bake," what I'm actually doing is putting the VHS cassette in an old metal ammo can (any just-big-enough metal enclosure will do), then putting the ammo can on a sheet of aluminum foil on my back patio. The patio gets full sunlight most of the day, and the aluminum foil reflects more sunlight up onto the can from underneath, getting it even warmer than it normally would. Oh, I also put a couple of silica packets (the kind you often find in packaging for cameras and electronic equipment) into the ammo box on top of the tape cassette to absorb moisture. Other folks who have successfully used this technique say that they get good results "baking" the tape for around 8 hours at a constant 160-180 degrees F. My ammo box setup probably only gets to around 130-150, depending on the outside temperature and cloud cover, so I give it extra time, usually more like 16-24 hours. The folks who are really into capturing old tapes often go so far as to build their own homemade baking boxes, usually just a simple plywood box with a hair dryer (with some type of thermostat) as the heat source, and a meat thermometer probing into the box to monitor the inside temperature. I'm too lazy at this point to go that far, plus here in Texas we get tons of sunshine during the warm months and it's free. Obviously, if you live in Alaska or Iceland, you're going to probably have to build a box.
How well does heating and drying out the tape work? Well, for me the results were iffy. However, recently I've combined baking with cleaning and lubricating the inside of the cassette, and I've had some success combining the two techniques. So, how do I clean and lubricate the inside of the cassette? In a word: CAREFULLY. There are usually 5 small metal screws that hold the two halves (upper and lower) of the cassette together, plus there are two tiny springs for the tape reel lock mechanism, plus usually three or four small metal posts that act as sliders or rollers for the tape when it's playing. Take out the 5 small screws, then SLOWLY and CAREFULLY pull the top of the cassette away from the bottom (with the flip-up access door facing you), while the bottom is solidly being held down on a flat surface like a table or desk. If you do this carefully, you won't lose or disrupt the reel lock mechanism pieces or the metal slider posts. Once you get the top off, note carefully the path of the tape out to the area under the access door, going between both reels, and how it winds around and between the posts. Take a photo if you need to. When you put the rascal back together, you've got to exactly duplicate the tape path. I got it wrong one time, and wondered why my tape kept binding and trying to stretch when I played it. Anyway, at this point you can gently and carefully remove the two tape reels and set them aside. Lay them in the same orientation (top side up as in the cassette, left reel on the left so the tape faces you) as they were in the cassette. Now: take a paper towel or clean cotton cloth, spray some liquid cleaner or similar alcohol-based cleaner on the the towel or cloth, getting it nice and wet. I would avoid the foaming cleaners, but then I've never tried any. They *might* work just fine, but I'm using a clear liquid cleaner in a see-through bottle. So, now with the tape reels out, you'll see the small circular areas on the cassette bottom half where the reels "ride." Clean this area thoroughly, and try not to get cleaner on anything else, just the black plastic bottom and the raised side areas directly around where the reels rest. Let the cleaner dry. NOW, this is the weird part: I actually take a SMALL dab of Crisco shortening (you know, that white stuff in a can) on one finger, and CAREFULLY lubricate just the bottom and sides of the two areas where the reels ride. A SMALL DAB of Crisco is usually enough to lubricate both reel areas. The goal is to get the plastic shiny, but have no visible white gobs of Crisco. We are LIGHTLY lubricating that rascal, not shellacking it with lubricant. If you get too much on there, you run the risk of it getting on the tape itself, and perhaps even getting it on the read/record head of the VCR. This, of course, would be a not very happy event. So watch yourself, Buster, it's not like you're lubricating your love tool for a hot session with your honey. EASY DOES IT. PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT lubricate the tape reels themselves! Leave 'em alone!
Now, re-assemble the cassette. I like to fast-forward and rewind the tape a couple of times through before I try to play it again.
DISCLAIMER: if you fuck up your tape or VCR trying my procedures here, I DISCLAIM ANY RESPONSIBILITY. You're on your own, Bunkie. Philosophically, however, you may feel there's not much to lose, as you don't use your old VCR any more, and the damned tape is unplayable as it is anyway. You may not be able to replace that particular tape if you completely destroy it, but good used VCR's are available all day long on eBay for $100 bucks or less. Why not give it a shot?
Anyway, I've got a couple of good buddies here on xHamster who have sent me some old, very rare amateur (and a few commercial) porn tapes from the 80's and 90's, stuff that you just can't find any more, anywhere. Seriously, if I could find this stuff on disc, digital file or VOD now, I'd rather buy it than go through the work involved in trying to capture from an old tape. But a lot of this stuff is long gone, out of print, out of mind, etc. etc. Ethically, I say buy what you can, home capture what you can't. Me, personally, I'm looking for the full-length version of Homegrown Video #364, the scene with Debra, Tim and Steve. A friend sent me an HGV compilation tape with only 6 minutes of the original scene; I had the full scene on VHS back in the early 90's. I'd buy the damned thing if I could find it. HGV doesn't sell it anymore, and so far I haven't found a source for people buying/selling old adult VHS. But maybe I will eventually. Anyone out there in HammieLand have it?
Have an old tape that you'd like to digitize for posterity? I may be able to help, time permitting. Contact me.
It doesn't take radical equipment to do this. I have an old VCR (a 4-head Sylvania VHS/DVD combo) that I bought from a friend for $10, and a $30 el-cheapo video capture "dongle" (a 'kworld' external USB unit) that I bought from NewEgg.com, if I recall. One challenge for me is that I run the Linux operating system rather than Windows or Mac OSX, so I held my breath to see if I could find Linux drivers and a capture program that would work with the kworld dongle. Well, sure enough, the Linux standard 'v4l' driver worked just swell, and I soon found two programs that could actually do the video capturing. Interestingly enough, it appears that a lot of Windows users can't get the thing to work for them, so I feel particularly lucky (OK, "blessed") to be able to get mine to work so easily.
One problem I've found with old VHS tape is what is called "sticky gate" syndrome. You wouldn't think it possible, but old magnetic tape can absorb humidity from the air and actually swell a tiny amount, causing it to bind up and not play when going through a VCR. This seems to happen to about 1 out of 4 tapes that I come across, particularly if the tape is older than 10 years (which is about all of them at this point). Symptoms are skipped frames, horizontal or vertical sync problems, or the tape being spit out prematurely by the VCR because the increased resistance to tape transport makes the VCR think the tape has reached its end. There's two techniques I've used to try to counteract sticky gate syndrome: 1. bake the VHS tape (yes, you read that right), and 2. clean and lubricate the VHS tape cartridge itself (but not the tape).
When I say "bake," what I'm actually doing is putting the VHS cassette in an old metal ammo can (any just-big-enough metal enclosure will do), then putting the ammo can on a sheet of aluminum foil on my back patio. The patio gets full sunlight most of the day, and the aluminum foil reflects more sunlight up onto the can from underneath, getting it even warmer than it normally would. Oh, I also put a couple of silica packets (the kind you often find in packaging for cameras and electronic equipment) into the ammo box on top of the tape cassette to absorb moisture. Other folks who have successfully used this technique say that they get good results "baking" the tape for around 8 hours at a constant 160-180 degrees F. My ammo box setup probably only gets to around 130-150, depending on the outside temperature and cloud cover, so I give it extra time, usually more like 16-24 hours. The folks who are really into capturing old tapes often go so far as to build their own homemade baking boxes, usually just a simple plywood box with a hair dryer (with some type of thermostat) as the heat source, and a meat thermometer probing into the box to monitor the inside temperature. I'm too lazy at this point to go that far, plus here in Texas we get tons of sunshine during the warm months and it's free. Obviously, if you live in Alaska or Iceland, you're going to probably have to build a box.
How well does heating and drying out the tape work? Well, for me the results were iffy. However, recently I've combined baking with cleaning and lubricating the inside of the cassette, and I've had some success combining the two techniques. So, how do I clean and lubricate the inside of the cassette? In a word: CAREFULLY. There are usually 5 small metal screws that hold the two halves (upper and lower) of the cassette together, plus there are two tiny springs for the tape reel lock mechanism, plus usually three or four small metal posts that act as sliders or rollers for the tape when it's playing. Take out the 5 small screws, then SLOWLY and CAREFULLY pull the top of the cassette away from the bottom (with the flip-up access door facing you), while the bottom is solidly being held down on a flat surface like a table or desk. If you do this carefully, you won't lose or disrupt the reel lock mechanism pieces or the metal slider posts. Once you get the top off, note carefully the path of the tape out to the area under the access door, going between both reels, and how it winds around and between the posts. Take a photo if you need to. When you put the rascal back together, you've got to exactly duplicate the tape path. I got it wrong one time, and wondered why my tape kept binding and trying to stretch when I played it. Anyway, at this point you can gently and carefully remove the two tape reels and set them aside. Lay them in the same orientation (top side up as in the cassette, left reel on the left so the tape faces you) as they were in the cassette. Now: take a paper towel or clean cotton cloth, spray some liquid cleaner or similar alcohol-based cleaner on the the towel or cloth, getting it nice and wet. I would avoid the foaming cleaners, but then I've never tried any. They *might* work just fine, but I'm using a clear liquid cleaner in a see-through bottle. So, now with the tape reels out, you'll see the small circular areas on the cassette bottom half where the reels "ride." Clean this area thoroughly, and try not to get cleaner on anything else, just the black plastic bottom and the raised side areas directly around where the reels rest. Let the cleaner dry. NOW, this is the weird part: I actually take a SMALL dab of Crisco shortening (you know, that white stuff in a can) on one finger, and CAREFULLY lubricate just the bottom and sides of the two areas where the reels ride. A SMALL DAB of Crisco is usually enough to lubricate both reel areas. The goal is to get the plastic shiny, but have no visible white gobs of Crisco. We are LIGHTLY lubricating that rascal, not shellacking it with lubricant. If you get too much on there, you run the risk of it getting on the tape itself, and perhaps even getting it on the read/record head of the VCR. This, of course, would be a not very happy event. So watch yourself, Buster, it's not like you're lubricating your love tool for a hot session with your honey. EASY DOES IT. PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT lubricate the tape reels themselves! Leave 'em alone!
Now, re-assemble the cassette. I like to fast-forward and rewind the tape a couple of times through before I try to play it again.
DISCLAIMER: if you fuck up your tape or VCR trying my procedures here, I DISCLAIM ANY RESPONSIBILITY. You're on your own, Bunkie. Philosophically, however, you may feel there's not much to lose, as you don't use your old VCR any more, and the damned tape is unplayable as it is anyway. You may not be able to replace that particular tape if you completely destroy it, but good used VCR's are available all day long on eBay for $100 bucks or less. Why not give it a shot?
Anyway, I've got a couple of good buddies here on xHamster who have sent me some old, very rare amateur (and a few commercial) porn tapes from the 80's and 90's, stuff that you just can't find any more, anywhere. Seriously, if I could find this stuff on disc, digital file or VOD now, I'd rather buy it than go through the work involved in trying to capture from an old tape. But a lot of this stuff is long gone, out of print, out of mind, etc. etc. Ethically, I say buy what you can, home capture what you can't. Me, personally, I'm looking for the full-length version of Homegrown Video #364, the scene with Debra, Tim and Steve. A friend sent me an HGV compilation tape with only 6 minutes of the original scene; I had the full scene on VHS back in the early 90's. I'd buy the damned thing if I could find it. HGV doesn't sell it anymore, and so far I haven't found a source for people buying/selling old adult VHS. But maybe I will eventually. Anyone out there in HammieLand have it?
Have an old tape that you'd like to digitize for posterity? I may be able to help, time permitting. Contact me.
9 years ago
