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Tim64
Super Member
I use my vhs hifi to record stuff off my computer and this is how I have it set up. Your vcr must be a stereo unit with line inputs and outputs. Your sources audio out (tape out) goes into the vcr's audio in. The vcr's audio out gets plugged into the amp or receivers line in input DO NOT PUT IT IN THE TAPE LOOP IN it will feed back. So no monitoring what is being recorded but that's no big deal. So we need a video signal to plug into the video input of the vcr so it will track the tape correctly. I use a Nintendo with analog rca out and just put a cartridge in and it plays the demo for a signal. I run the video out to my tv to verify the video signal, Now your all set to record your audio source, I use a Sony HiFi machine and it does a excellent job of recording and those sealed tapes at the thrift store are as fresh as the day they were made if still sealed in the shrink and I have payed as little as a quarter each and normally a buck a tape for Fuji Tdk Maxell and Polaroid. Have fun with it.
likebike23
Addicted Member
That's funny you are asking that now. I just hooked up my old Panasonic hi-fi VCR to do just that. I had to connect stereo rca jacks to the in and out on the back of the VCR and into the vcr1 in/out on my AVR. The thing is, when you record, the default is for the VCR to look for what channel you have selected. I needed to press the INPUT button to select line 1 as my source. Line 1 is the rca jacks on the back which I'm connected to. Works good now. Good luck, and hope that helps.
@Tim64: I was unaware of connecting a video source. Is that step absolutely necessary? I am recording right now and it seems ok.
@Tim64: I was unaware of connecting a video source. Is that step absolutely necessary? I am recording right now and it seems ok.
MaxxVolume
Lunatic Member
I used to do quite a bit of audio recording on higher-end Panasonic and JVC decks, creating some pretty high-quality (almost indistinguishable from the source CD) 6-hour party tapes for my outdoor BBQ parties. Many of the better-quality decks did not require a video carrier signal, you could just record the audio portion directly to tape.
bronco billy
New Member
Usually VCR's can not record audio signal alone; so you need a video signal too.
I remember I've used a video game console on demo mode hooked to "video in" of VCR and a radio receiver hooked to "audio in" some years ago.
This configuration and the programming capability of VCR let me record radio programs when I was sleeping or I wasn't at home.
Changing the radio receiver with a CD or some other source you can record anything on the audio track of a VHS tape.
A very different thing is if you want record audio on video track...
Tim64
Super Member
Where I ran into trouble with no video signal was if I tried to play the tape on a different VCR it would not track correctly producing audio drop outs. Since providing a video signal this is no longer a problem.