URGENT! Can't adjust tracking on a video tape. What to do?

Question

We just discovered an old video tape that we need for a funeral tomorrow. We are going to burn it to DVD. HOWEVER, often, thru the middle of the screen horizontally. Our VCR/DVD has NO tracking adjustment on it. PLEASE! What can we do to help this situation? Thanks so so much.

Answer 1

Tracking is inherent in all players. It was necessary to make tapes from other machines and duplicators playable in yours. Some models tried to do it automatically too. But there are bound to be a manual way somehow. On my JVC you press and hold the channel up or down to skew back and forth. Key - You have to hold it down to take effect while the tape is playing.

Answer 2

Usually not much, you have just discovered the fatal flaw of videotape and that is the life span is usually less than 10 years before the picture starts to degrade because of elements.  Also if the tape has been viewed and rewound over and over again, this will also decrease the lifespan.

There is pretty much nothing you can do, I'm sorry

Answer 3

Usually the channel up/down buttons on a VCR will adjust the tracking...Try that.