Re: [ARSCLIST] Vinegar syndrome audio tapes

[David Lennick <dlennick@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I wonder if it has to do with the vintage of the tape? As mentioned, I was
given a batch of tapes stored in film cans recently. All are vinegary, and all
were recorded around 1951-2. And all are Scotch 111.

dl

"Casey, Michael T" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> We have just found a collection of Scotch 111 tapes with vinegar
> syndrome. The tapes test between the 1 to 1.5 levels using the IPI A-D
> strips (the color reference provided with the strips does not seem very
> accurate and it is difficult to be precise). This is below the
> autocatalytic point and below the critically endangered level, but the
> tapes clearly have the problem nonetheless. The collection consists of
> 76 tapes recorded by ethnomusicologist Alan Merriam in 1951 in the Congo
> and accessioned here in 1966. The tapes have been stored in Scotch 111
> cardboard boxes, no plastic bags, in the ATM vault which maintains
> temperatures around 68F with 45% RH. These levels have become more
> consistent over the past few years--for the previous 30 years I can't
> say, but I think storage conditions were close to this although less
> consistent. Before the 1985 move into our present space conditions were
> probably not very good. We have tested 8 reels and they all show roughly
> the same level of VS. We have transferred around 35 reels so far--all
> smell like vinegar, but all are playing back fine with a little edge
> curling on a few of them. We are taking a few precautions--the playback
> machine (Studer 810) is situated by itself away from other things in the
> studio, we are wiping down the entire machine periodically, and we are
> careful about putting our MRL tape up on the machine even though it is
> polyester. ATM staff are meeting today to talk about how to store the
> collection.
>
> We have over 2,300 reels of 111 at the ATM and don't know how many of
> those are a problem, but I'll probably put together a survey. We've
> transferred many tapes on 111 over the past few years and haven't
> noticed VS until now. We have considered it stable and it has not given
> us many problems.
>
> The Music Library at IU has collections of Sarkes Tarzian tape
> exhibiting vinegar syndrome as well, with some tapes testing around 1
> but others testing at about 1.5. We also have this tape brand and
> suspect that it has VS.
>
> I would appreciate hearing from anyone else who has encountered vinegar
> syndrome problems with audio tape.
>
> Mike
>
> ---------
> Mike Casey
> Associate Director for Recording Services
> Archives of Traditional Music
> Indiana University
>
> (812) 855-8090
> micasey@xxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Co-chair, ARSC Technical Committee