# Video cassette quality **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 16, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-cassette-quality/207707 "2003-10-16T02:12:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-cassette-quality/207707/1 "2003-10-16T02:12:56Z")
I am a huge fan of the Verve. I had finally bought all their CDs, so I thought I’d buy their video “The Verve, The Video 96-98”. If it had been on DVD I would have, but it doesn’t appear to be. I didn’t think this would be a problem. However, I watched the video as soon as it came in the mail. It started off with some crackling noise and fuzz on the screen but I thought I could deal with it. Then the noise got louder and more constant as the video went along. Now what I want to know, is if all the videos would be of this same mediocre quality, or if I could try to get a new one from [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) or Virgin records. I don’t think any new videocassettes would have been made since 98, but I’m not sure. I would also appreciate any answers about how long and how well videos of any kind hold up. ---
**Author:** ![Saranga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Saranga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saranga)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-cassette-quality/207707/2 "2003-10-16T06:13:10Z")
Video cassettes certainly degrade over time, especially if they have not been touched. There are several reasons for this: 1. The media itself is not capable of maintaining the same strength magnetic charge for several years. 2. As a tape lays wound and unwatched, each segment of tape is in close contact with 2 other segments of tape with their own magnetic charges, which interfere with each other. I once purchased a used vhs tape from a rental store and was amazed that the quality was as good as it was. This was a title that had been out-of-print for over 15 years. I have also bought unopened, older tapes that have had the same problem you describe, deteriorated quality. I own a very high-end VCR which cleans up the picture quite a bit, but it does nothing for the sound. There just isn’t enough data there to work with I guess. My advice is that if this item is really OOP, you have a lost cause. You can try finding a used one, but I doubt the audio will be up to par. I know that CDs which are OOP in the states are sometimes still produced elsewhere. See if you can find a recently produced title. Or wait for the DVD 😉 ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-cassette-quality/207707/3 "2003-10-16T14:59:21Z")
Around 15 years they turn to fuzz. It depends on the quality of the cassette & the recording speed & how they are stored & if people put them on the dash in the car in full sun.