D
Dex
New member
Important HiFi information for those of you considering using an HiFi VHS deck (or Beta, 8mm, etc. for that matter)...
1) Find one with audio level 'knobs.' If it doesn't let you set the recording volume, it's using ALC - auto level control - and will usually be compressing the hell out of whatever you put to the tape. If it does have the recording level control, it almost certainly still has compression or limiting (to prevent overload), so don't drive the levels off the end of the meters (and yes, the deck should have meters, of course).
2) Generally, the better the tape you use, the more secure the recording is. I've used cheap tapes and gotten fine results, but when doing something 'important' I always went out and bought an actual high grade [HG] tape. It doesn't necessarily make such a big difference to the sound, but it does to the tape's (and the recording's) longevity.
3) HiFi recording - AFM [Audio Frequency Modulated] recording - works by modulating the audio signal with the video signal. If you are recording no or unstable video, chances are your audio will end up having dropouts or not being there at all. Take an antenna with you, or plug in someone's video camera to the VCR you're using - good, clean video will ensure the stability of the entire signal on tape, including the audio.
On a side note, I'd avoid using the digital [PCM] tracks on Hi8 machines for really important audio - they're fine for TV, but they're really not of the quality you'd want for your masters.
D.
1) Find one with audio level 'knobs.' If it doesn't let you set the recording volume, it's using ALC - auto level control - and will usually be compressing the hell out of whatever you put to the tape. If it does have the recording level control
2) Generally, the better the tape you use, the more secure the recording is. I've used cheap tapes and gotten fine results, but when doing something 'important' I always went out and bought an actual high grade [HG] tape. It doesn't necessarily make such a big difference to the sound, but it does to the tape's (and the recording's) longevity.
3) HiFi recording - AFM [Audio Frequency Modulated] recording - works by modulating the audio signal with the video signal. If you are recording no or unstable video, chances are your audio will end up having dropouts or not being there at all. Take an antenna with you, or plug in someone's video camera to the VCR you're using - good, clean video will ensure the stability of the entire signal on tape, including the audio.
On a side note, I'd avoid using the digital [PCM] tracks on Hi8 machines for really important audio - they're fine for TV, but they're really not of the quality you'd want for your masters.
D.
