If you’ve ever tried to watch an old VHS tape and found the image shaky, distorted, or filled with static lines, you’ve likely encountered a tracking issue. Tracking is the term for the alignment between the VHS tape's magnetic signal and the VHS player’s read head. When this alignment is off, the image quality suffers. Many people wonder how to fix tracking on a VHS tape, but the bigger question is why it's happening in the first place—and whether it's an early sign that your tape is going bad.

What Causes VHS Tracking Issues?

Tracking issues can happen for several reasons, but the most common one is the degradation of the VHS tape itself. Over time, the magnetic particles that store the video signal on a VHS tape can wear away or become misaligned, leading to visual distortions. Other potential causes include:

Wear and tear on the tape: VHS tapes are made of magnetic material that naturally degrades over time, especially if the tapes have been stored in less-than-ideal conditions.
Dirty or worn-out VHS player heads: Sometimes, the problem lies with the VHS player, not the tape. Dirty heads inside the player can cause tracking issues, but this is less common.
Misalignment between different VHS players: If the tape was recorded on one VHS player and you’re trying to play it on another, there might be compatibility issues. A different VHS player might align better with the tape’s signal, though this doesn't fix the root issue of the tape's degradation.

Can You Fix Tracking Issues?

VHS players often have manual tracking adjustment buttons that allow you to fine-tune the tracking to get a clearer picture. Here's how you can try to adjust the tracking:

Use the manual tracking buttons: These buttons are usually found on the VHS player itself or the remote control. Slowly adjust them while the tape is playing to see if the image improves.
Clean your VHS player: If the tracking buttons don't help, try cleaning the VHS player’s heads using a head cleaning cassette or a soft cloth.
Switch VHS players: Sometimes, a higher-grade VHS player will perform better with an old tape. Older or low-quality players may struggle to read degraded tapes accurately.

While these methods might improve playback temporarily, tracking issues are usually an indication that the VHS tape is already deteriorating. It’s important to act quickly if you want to preserve the content on the tape.

Tracking Issues: Your VHS Tape Is Going Bad

Tracking problems often signal that your VHS, or compact VHS-C tape, is starting to fail. No VHS tape was ever designed to last forever, and over time, they degrade due to exposure to heat, moisture, and magnetic interference. When tracking becomes a persistent problem, it’s likely because the tape’s magnetic coating is deteriorating.

Once a tape starts to degrade, the best course of action is to convert it to a digital format as soon as possible. If you wait too long, the content might become unplayable, no matter what VHS player you use.

Converting VHS Tapes to Digital

If you're dealing with persistent tracking issues, it’s time to consider converting your VHS tapes to a digital format. While you can try to capture the tape using a VHS-to-digital converter at home, a professional digitizing service will often yield better results.

Why choose a professional service?

Access to higher-grade VHS players: Professional digitizing companies use high-end VHS players that are better equipped to handle degraded tapes and correct tracking issues.
Better quality capture: Even if your VHS tape is already showing signs of wear, a professional service may be able to capture the content with better quality, minimizing the tracking distortions you’re seeing at home.
Long-term preservation: Converting your VHS tape to digital not only solves the tracking issue but also preserves your memories for the long haul, without the risk of further degradation.

VHS Players and the Impact on Tracking

The quality of the VHS player you're using can make a significant difference when it comes to tracking. High-end VHS players, often found in professional settings, are better at reading degraded tapes. These players have advanced tracking and head alignment systems that can smooth out some of the issues you might experience with a consumer-grade player. However, it’s important to understand that the real problem is usually the tape itself. While a better VHS player might improve the playback slightly, it won’t stop the tape from deteriorating further.

Act Now: Convert VHS to Digital

If your VHS tape is experiencing tracking problems, don’t wait for it to get worse. Every time you play a deteriorating tape, it risks further damage. The best way to fix tracking issues for good is to immediately convert VHS to digital. By digitizing the tape, you’ll preserve your memories in a format that won’t degrade over time—and you won’t have to worry more tracking issues.

Preserve Priceless VHS Memories

Tracking issues on a VHS tape are often an early warning sign that your tape is deteriorating. While you can try adjusting the tracking or using a higher-quality VHS player, these are only temporary fixes. The best way to preserve your VHS memories is to convert them to digital format. A professional digitizing company can often capture the content with better quality, even if the tape has started to degrade. Don’t wait until your priceless VHS tapes are unplayable—convert them to digital today.

Written by John Rahaghi