-=> Quoting Frank Iuston to Rick Mcbroom <=-
 RM>> I see basic 4-head Hi Fi VCRs for $149 all the time. Try to get
 RM>> a head-drum assembly replaced for that price!
 FI> Hmmm, again ouch :)
 Really. I have a 1st generation Quasar Hi-Fi machine that works great,
 except no Hi-Fi audio. I had a repair shop look at it, and they gave me
 an estimate of $300.. it needs the head-drum replaced. Doesn't make any
 sense to spend that much on it, when I can get a brand-new machine for
 $200, one that'll outperform it in all regards.
 RM>> Without a video-sync signal on the tape, the Hi Fi audio tracks
 RM>> will be unstable, just as you describe.
 FI> Oh right, it seemed to work fine without a video-sync signal about
 FI> a year ago, might try that :)
 I'm surprised. The old Quasar machine has an "audio only" setting, which
 generated the video-sync signal. If you try recording audio only using the
 "line in" setting, the results are exactly as you describe. What brand is
 your machine, and how old is it?
 Both my newer VHS machines dispense with the "audio only" and "simulcast"
 functions. You get two choices, "line in" and "tuner". But because of the
 blue-screen feature, they work fine as audio recorders, using the "line
 in" setting with no video signal present.
 RM>> If you're lucky, you'll find that when in simulcast mode, the linear
 RM>> audio signal is still pulled in from the tuner. Why would you care?
 RM>> Well, it will let you use your deck as an audio recorder, yet have a
 RM>> usable video on the same tape.. albeit with linear sound only. Never
 RM>> seen a VHS deck that can do it, but it's quite common with Betamax.
 FI> That's okay as well, the VCR also has a mix switch which enables you
 FI> to listen to both linear tracks as well as each sub-track individually..
 I've never seen a need for mixing the linear and Hi-Fi sound. OTOH, the
 ability to isolate the L or R signal and route it to both speakers /does/
 come in handy, as it lets you put 12 hours of mono material on a single
 T-120. It's a bit tricky mastering a tape like that on a consumer machine,
 though! Still, it can be done.
 FI> ..so it isn't really a problem.
 Errr.. I think you might've missed my point. Which was, that if your VHS
 deck happens to operate like my Betamax, there's no need to do an audio
 /only/ tape. You can put video on the same tape. Perhaps the easiest way
 to illustrate is to list the contents of a sample tape;
       video: Tightrope (w/ Clint Eastwood)
              THX-1138
              The Flying Karamazov Brothers
              a bunch of Woody Woodpecker cartoons to fill out the tape
linear audio: the soundtrack for the above videos
 Hi-Fi audio: the Police- Regatta de Blanc
              "        "- Zenyatta Mondata
              "        "- Outlandos d'Amour
              "        "- Ghost In the Machine
              "        "- Synchronicity
              Hank Williams Jr.- Strong Stuff
              John Mayall- New Year, New Band..
 So, even though I've got 4-1/2 hours of high-quality audio on this tape,
 I've also got some interesting video. The one drawback is that the video's
 sound is linear, and rather low-quality. But that's not much of a problem
 with most movies, or a documantary, or such. IOW, I can have my cake, and
 eat it, too.  ;-)
... NP: MC-5 _Babes In Arms_ "Shakin' Street"        
--- GEcho 1.11+
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