{"id":4298,"title":"NYMDI Videotape Restoration Program","kind":"biblio","url":"https://www.videohistoryproject.org/nymdi-videotape-restoration-program","version":"7e2d6ced8fdf98dc02b2f8d8e257b03298521a7d8b46417159dcc54dd58bafaa","modified":"2026-09-13T19:42:08.2192841+00:00","credits":[{"role":"Author","name":"Tony Conrad"}],"authorKeys":["Tony Conrad"],"subjects":["Preservation Texts"],"metadata":[{"label":"Publisher","value":"New York Media Decentralization Institute","url":null},{"label":"Place","value":"Buffalo, New York","url":null},{"label":"ETC archive","value":"ETC1084","url":null}],"citations":{"page":"\u0022NYMDI Videotape Restoration Program.\u0022 Video History Project, Experimental Television Center, 2026. https://www.videohistoryproject.org/nymdi-videotape-restoration-program.","publication":"Tony Conrad. NYMDI Videotape Restoration Program. New York Media Decentralization Institute. .","risUrl":"https://www.videohistoryproject.org/citation/4298.ris"},"links":[{"label":"Scanned document","url":"https://archive.org/details/ETC1084","relationship":"linked document; contents not retrieved","contentType":"application/pdf"}],"sections":[{"name":"body","source":"VHP record body","generated":false,"characters":2309},{"name":"summary","source":"existing VHP generated summary","generated":true,"characters":620}],"content":{"section":"body","source":"VHP record body","generated":false,"text":"NYMDI VIDEOTAPE RESTORATION PROGRAM As a service to the media field, the NY Media Decentralization Institute has initiated a twofold videotape restoration program. 1. Sponsorship of research concerning videotape restoration methods, with reprint distribution service. 2. Development and implementation of a practical procedure for the restoration of old 3/4\u0022 videocassettes which are no longer playable. In 1987 Tony Conrad devised a simple videotape rejuvenation procedure which was used to recover several \u0022lost\u0022 artists\u0027 videotapes made on reel-to-reel 1/2\u0022 tape in the 1970\u0027s. Alarmed that many open reel tapes may be falsely diagnosed as \u0022dead,\u0022 when a simple treatment could \u0022bring them back to life,\u0022 Conrad distributed an instructional circular to a listing of 1970\u0027s video makers. His notes were subsequently published by The Independent and were also mailed out to a group of dance-tape archivists. In 1989, Conrad\u0027s procedure will be included in a monumental guide to archival sources being prepared by Rick Prelinger in NYC. Since 3/4\u0022 tape began to prevail over 1/2\u0022 open reel in the mid-1970\u0027s, the problems with videotape aging will shortly be dominated by a need for simple and inexpensive 3/4\u0022 cassette rejuvenation. The difficulty in processing 3/4\u0022 tape is primarily one of access to the tape, which cannot be removed from the cassette housing except with great care, effort, and risk. The present program will develop a device to treat old 3/4\u0022 tapes inside their cassettes, as inexpensively as possible. The resulting unique service will be used to reliably process archival videotapes. Please write to be placed on our mailing list, for service information and research reprints. The New York Media Decentralization Institute is a not-for-profit research association whose purpose is to promote and encourage an understanding of the media arts and the media industry, as they interact with American society. Its activities include the study and production of media programs, the sponsorship of conferences, seminars, and research on media topics, and the publication of reports, newsletters, and other materials concerning media, to the public. The Institute is not an educational institution, and does not conduct educational courses nor grant degrees. Tony Conrad, no date. After 1987.","offset":0,"nextOffset":null,"totalCharacters":2309,"complete":true},"rightsUrl":"https://www.videohistoryproject.org/terms-service"}