- Under Construction -
I'm currently working on putting examples and descriptions of tape restoration processes.
Also check out my blog post about Archival and Restoration too.
Mold
Tapes stored in high-humidity environments can also be susceptible to mold contamination. Careful physical removal of the contamination needs to be done before a transfer can be attempted.
Humidity
Moisture can interfere with analog tape. It is particular, with Ampex brand formula 456 from the mid-1980s to early 1990s. Ampex 456 is famous for this condition and is often called 'sticky shed'. Sticky because it can bog down the friction points where the tape is supposed to glide across stationary guides or heads and shed because the iron oxide can flake off causing information loss and quite a mess sometimes.