Hey all, last night I spent like 6 hours trying to do this right...but no luck. Every time I record the track back into my computer from the vcr, the sound of the beat I bounced is so low you can barely hear it. What is it im doing wrong?? I tried recording the beat at a high volume to where it clips, but that didnt work either, any tips??

have you tried running rca out from vcr through amplifier unit then run that into the computer?



Also, check your recording levels on your computer. Generally if you turn up the source and it distorts from gear down the line, it usually means volume down the chain isn't turned up...'generally'.

Worst scenario, you got bad outs on your vcr or bad ins on your computer input.

Another thing I've seen before, bad cables that somehow channel wave invert cancel shit...so that the music sounds super quiet and sounds weird in cans...like the stereo is going 'inside' your head. I hope that makes sense...in that instance, i tried a different cable and was golden.

By amplifier unit do you mean an audio interface? If so then yes, and with the recording levels, you mean in the daw im recording into or the computer itself? I have the volume turned all the way up on my interface, but most of it is just loud hiss, but I dont think the hiss is the problem. It seems the beat records into the vcr at a low volume, and when I try to turn it up in my daw (audacity) it just makes it clip heavily and distorts it, doesnt get to the original volume of the beat. Ive also tried another set of cables, it didnt really make any difference

For the amplifier, I meant like an old stereo amp you'd see in one of those huge stacks with the dual cassette deck, the huge tuner, etc or a dj mixer (they usually have an amp in there) but thinking about it, i think the best thing you could do is do what any good trouble shooter does.

Split the system in half.

Change something right in the middle that might result in something different than your original issue. Move towards the half caused the change if there was one and split it in half and repeat, going from macro to micro.

That's all trouble shooting is. You keep cutting possible issues in half until you realize what the problem is, or you literally get down to component testing and find a blown cap or whatever. Halve it as far as you can go until you get to something you can fix.

some VCR's only record audio when there is a video signal.

if your VCR is not HIFI, the 'oldschool' HIFI, then theres no point trying to get the VCR effect out of it.

You may need to boost the signal so the vcr gets the signal loud and clear. If you live near a stereo repair store, you could pick up a 2nd vcr for dirt cheap, because perhaps your current one just can't do the simple task you need it to. If your 2nd vcr gives you the same results, then you can pick up a used hifi stereo amp to boost it. A DJ mixer can be another option.