Electronics

Videotape certifiers allow users to identify and potentially fix defects that have occurred in their cassettes. The machines are sometimes called inspectors or detectors, and almost always come with a cleaning function. Television stations and video rental stores in particular to turn to videotape certifiers to prolong the life of their tapes and assure top viewing quality.

When a business uses a high volume of videotapes, they must take measures to protect the quality of the cassettes so they can use and reuse them for as long as possible. Purchasing new tapes can become expensive. Moreover, dirty tapes impair the video and audio and may cause snow.

How Do Videotape Certifiers Work?
Videotape certifiers work by first cleaning and polishing the entire length of the tape with a specialized tissue. All dust and debris are wiped away. The certifier then examines the tape and finds any tears, wrinkles or other defects, alerting the user to their exact location. He or she can then decide if it is worth trying to repair the cassette or if there are too many errors to bother.

Some certifiers offer optional features such as erasers or printers for a paper record of the error report. They can range in cost from $5,000 to $25,000. Videotape certifiers can be an enormous asset that can save businesses hundreds or thousands of dollars.