U-Matic Video Tape & Baking Service

The transferring price of U-Matic tapes now includes the baking of the tape. In the past we would bake the tapes on a case by case basis, but after numerous decks going down b/c of bad tapes, we no longer will transfer U-Matic tapes prior to baking. If you prefer to not have your tape baked, then you will need to go to another company, we can no longer risk damaging another deck, since they are very expensive and almost impossible to get repaired at a reasonable price.

U-Matic Tape Transfer to Digital - Pricing

U-Matic - $50 per tape/baking included

Video tape baking is a process used to temporarily restore video tapes that have become unplayable due to a condition known as "sticky-shed syndrome" (SSS). This condition is caused by the deterioration of the binder in the magnetic tape, which absorbs moisture over time, making the tape sticky and prone to sticking to playback heads, causing playback issues.

Why Tape Baking is Needed

Sticky-Shed Syndrome: The binder in the tape absorbs moisture, causing the tape to become sticky and potentially damaging playback equipment.
Temporary Restoration: Baking the tape removes the moisture, temporarily restoring the tape's playability long enough to transfer its contents to a digital format.

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What types of analog media can have sticky shed syndrome?

Sticky shed syndrome primarily affects certain types of magnetic audio tapes, but it can also affect other analog media formats that use similar binder materials. Once the media begins to experience sticky-shed syndrome, then tape baking may be the last resort. Here are some analog media formats that can be susceptible to sticky shed syndrome:

Magnetic Audio Tapes: This includes reel-to-reel tapes, cassette tapes, and video tapes (VHS, Betamax, etc.). As mentioned earlier, certain formulations of magnetic tapes manufactured during the 1970s and 1980s are particularly prone to sticky shed syndrome.

Magnetic Video Tapes: Formats such as VHS, Betamax, Video8, Hi8, and others can be affected. Though not as common as with audio tapes, some formulations of video tapes from the same era may experience similar issues.
Computer Data Tapes: Magnetic tapes used for computer data storage, such as those used in tape backup systems or for data interchange, can also be susceptible to sticky shed syndrome if they were manufactured using the same problematic binder formulations.
Floppy Disks: While not as common, some older floppy disks used a magnetic medium with a binder that could degrade over time, potentially leading to a form of sticky shed syndrome. However, this is less common compared to magnetic tapes.
Other Magnetic Storage Media: Any other form of magnetic storage media that uses a similar binder formulation could theoretically be susceptible to sticky shed syndrome, though it's primarily associated with tapes.

It's important to note that not all tapes or other magnetic media will develop sticky shed syndrome. The issue primarily arises with tapes manufactured during a specific time period using certain binder formulations that are prone to degradation over time. If you have analog media from this era and suspect it may be affected, it's best to consult with a professional for proper assessment and potential restoration.

Read what our customers are saying about us!

“They were able to provide a truly amazing slide show for a life celebration that my whole family was thoroughly impressed by. Everyone was asking for their info as we all have memories that we need to have archived to pass on to our next generations. I couldn't recommend them any higher!”

— Andre B. Dublin, CA

“Sean and Andrea were great to work with. They took my old VHS cassette tapes, digitized them, and uploaded the mp4 video files to a secure server. Communication was excellent, price was fair and I'll certainly be back again. Thanks!”

— Robyn H. Oakland, CA

“They transferred 8mm film and a few old prints to digital video format and jpeg format. Unlike many similar online services, this business does all transfer work in house. So there's less risk of your precious family analog memories getting lost in transit.”

— Timothy M. North Berkeley, CA

Audio Transfer - FAQ

We can transfer micro-cassette tapes, audio cassette tapes, mini-disc, DAT tapes, 1/4 inch reel to reels that have a diameter of 7/10 inches.
We can output to playable CD (80 minutes) or computer file mp3, wav or AIFF.
Sticky shed syndrome is a common occurrance with audio reel to reel tapes. If your tapes are showing signs of sticky shed syndrome, then we will let you know and suggest “baking” of the reels in order to get the best results from the transfer.
Yes, we can repair the audio cassette tapes, the cost is $15 per tape.
You will not be charged for blank media.
We can create track markers on commercially made audio tapes/reels, and we can do our best to create track markers on live musical recordings that don’t have clear track endings.
Yes, we give back all audio cassette tapes and reels once the project is complete. If you want us to recycle your tapes/reels, then just let us know.