Care and Handling of Audio and Video Tape
(Sony Tech Port Article)

Particles. Binders. Base films. Backcoatings.

At Sony, we do everything we can to prepare our tape for archival storage. The rest is up to you. To get the longest archival storage, just follow a few simple guidelines. After all, you spent time and money capturing your programs onto tape. So make sure your footage will be there when you need it!

If you're comfortable, chances are your tape is comfortable, too. Stay within 59° to 77° F and 40% to 60% relative humidity. Because tape can expand or contract, stay away from sudden temperature changes, even within the recommended range.

Look at the pack of wound tape. If there's "stepping" or other signs of uneven winding, the whole tape should be rewound. Where possible, rewind at slower speeds. Be sure to rewind tapes completely after each use to maintain high performance.

Stacking cassettes one on top of the other can warp their shells. Always store cassettes upright, on either their sides or ends.

Use adhesive tape or end-stoppers to hold the loose ends down. Otherwise, changes in temperature can cause the entire pack of tape to loosen.

Put labels only where they belong. And don't put new labels over old. Improperly placed labels can interfere with cassette loading, degrade the cassette alignment or even peel off inside the recorder mechanism!

You don't want tape layers to start sticking together. So "exercise" tapes at least once every three years.

Tapes get recorded by magnetic fields. They also get erased. So keep your tapes away from loudspeakers, electric motors and other magnetic sources -- even toys.

Whenever possible, give tape 24 hours to adjust to climate changes. If condensation does occur, wipe off dew from the case and cassette shell or reel and allow the tape to dry naturally. When it's dry, make a working safety copy.

Because of their high mass, D-1 and D-2 large cassettes need special attention. Before shipping, confirm that there's no slack in the tape and that it's evenly wound on the reel. Ship with plenty of cushioning bubble-pack. After receiving, inspect for cleanliness, tape slack, wind integrity and cassette damage. If you suspect a problem, contact the shipper.

This information is from a Sony Tech Port Article