Give me your VCR techniques!

[LimpyLoo]

VCRs seem to be responsible for some bangin' results. Let's hear it, fam.

Are you having success with stereo? Better results with certain settings, habits, etc?

also, can you record in AND out at the same time, like the feature ('monitor'?) on some tape machines?


Cheers.

[tape smoke]

i havnt been having good results with a newer ultra light weight super modern vhs recorder. its way to hissy and doesnt give the magic sound. I think it would be best to get an old 90s legacy hifi with digital rewind fast forward wheel, 2 recording speeds and line thru monitor features, and an audio input level control. it seems that early 90s home stereo gear really has the most banging sound. when I use 70s or 80s gear, it always has a waaay different sound of completly different dynamics, and if you use the same techniques as with the 90s equipment it wont sound good, you need to use 70s and 80s techniques.

[IIIII]

here's a tip... if you get a weird buzz, turn the tv off

[modulr]

I think a lot of folks who record to VHS are using Hi-Fi VHS VCRs which is different than regular VHS VCRs. You can get something like a Sony SVO-1620 for cheap on ebay... and those have record level controls with meters. Or you can get a Super-VHS recorder. SVHS kinda equals oldskool ADAT minus 6 tracks. Main thing, you want control over the input level.

[LimpyLoo]

My VCR won't record audio! If I try to record stuff on it (audio only) it records blue screen and hiss, but no audio. Really frustrating, as it's a nice VCR: hi-fi, a couple different tape speeds, stereo, 19 heads...

FML. Didn't mean for this to be a troubleshooting thread, but any ideas?

[p.s. I've scotch-taped-down all the VHS tapes...]

Could it possibly have to do with SAP (or whatever it's called)?

[blavatsky]

if I recall I was not getting any audio either when I tried this - i had to hunt down the online manual for the VCR somewhere, and there was a remote-only setting to switch the audio input mode that fixed it.

[P00K]

Yolimp
Hifi will take away the hiss and some wobble
Just make sure it has stereo ins ..if you want to record in stereo
I prefer recording to tape "hot in order for it to saturate. On a non-Hifi vhs. Just preference. Tho. Sometimes hifi have limiters..and noise suppression

it takes time if there are no meters. Trial and error is part of the fun and once you have LEVELS & your settings set..EP SP LP.you have something unique. Go to your closest thifty store and grab one....

eBay for a VCR?..I would lose interest..

EDIT
try sending the video from a PlayStation or a video RCA into the jawn. It might trigger the mawphuqa to record the audio..... that's what I'm saying about those hifi units.
They try too hard

[LimpyLoo]

EDIT
try sending the video from a PlayStation or a video RCA into the jawn. It might trigger the mawphuqa to record the audio..... that's what I'm saying about those hifi units.
They try too hard

I've heard from a couple sources that some VCRs need a video source to trigger any recording. Anyone experience anything like this?

this is a good 101 resource: http://homerecording.com/vhs.html

and this will save you hours of searching for optimal results: http://homerecording.com/vhstests.html

P.S. I just bought a remote off eBay for my VCR that appears to be the only way to change a couple settings on the thing (like SAP)...

[Slumlord88]

I have a sony hifi stereo vhs, 2 inputs,no remote, works perfect.

I dont have it hooked up to the tv...
I figured out if u press the record button twice i can change to ep/sp and then i just started recording live onto a used tape...not much to it.

It does have a "reality regenerator" button on it, maybe thats the secret!

[hseiken]

SAP stands for Secondary Audio Programming and was in use in broadcasting mostly. On old program broadcast (maybe still new ones), you could hit the SAP on the TV input and a different language of the same program could be heard. VHS is the same way...it has two audio channels that are selectable. However, I believe you have to record both at same time. I've never had any motivation to play with SAP, though I did get a tape recording of a laserdisc where the guy that recorded it for me put the commentary on the SAP channel.

If it's separately recordable, this might double the time you have to record a tape for.

[LimpyLoo]

SAP stands for Secondary Audio Programming and was in use in broadcasting mostly. On old program broadcast (maybe still new ones), you could hit the SAP on the TV input and a different language of the same program could be heard. VHS is the same way...it has two audio channels that are selectable. However, I believe you have to record both at same time. I've never had any motivation to play with SAP, though I did get a tape recording of a laserdisc where the guy that recorded it for me put the commentary on the SAP channel.

If it's separately recordable, this might double the time you have to record a tape for.

Yeah, I'm just troubleshooting because my VCR won't record audio. I have heard that when SAP is on it can cause issues with recording audio. I also learned that on some VCRs (such as mine) the only way to turn it off is with the original remote with a SAP button.

It is quite frustrating. I also went out and bought a hi-fi stereo VCR at Goodwill 3 days ago. Of course it didn't work and I had to return it and I couldn't find another one.

Wow, I never thought mixing onto a simple VCR would become so expensive and complicated.