I need a VCR anyways, and was just wondering if anyone knew of a very good one with respect to HIFI recording and playback. I have some vinyl records (which to me sound better than from my DAC), which I'd like to try recording to VHS cassette 🙂
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It's better to listen vinyl directly. Panasonic hifi vhs is said to be among the best. JVC also. You have to find a second hand unit in good condition.
As an ex service tech I would caution against using a consumer type Hi-Fi VCR for any form of reliable long term use for audio archiving.
The process relies on the ability to record two relatively low frequency FM carriers onto the tape such that they are effectively buried deeper into the magnetic material of the tape. The video signal is then recorded over the top but because of the energies and frequencies of the video carrier, the audio carrier is still recoverable... when everything is in good condition.
Yes, the results could be 'good' but the machines were always prone to problems with wear, not just of the upper drum (heads) but also of the stationary lower drum. Its a super critical system that relies on the alignment of many things being correct.
Definitely curiosity value only these days imo.
The process relies on the ability to record two relatively low frequency FM carriers onto the tape such that they are effectively buried deeper into the magnetic material of the tape. The video signal is then recorded over the top but because of the energies and frequencies of the video carrier, the audio carrier is still recoverable... when everything is in good condition.
Yes, the results could be 'good' but the machines were always prone to problems with wear, not just of the upper drum (heads) but also of the stationary lower drum. Its a super critical system that relies on the alignment of many things being correct.
Definitely curiosity value only these days imo.
I never owned a hifi VCR, but did not some have modes that allowed recording audio only, and using areas normally slotted for video so as to get a really high quality recording? This would qualify as a dim memory on my part.
I need a VCR for testing VHS cassettes I am selling. Some have some pretty good resell value. Don't know which one to buy. Not in a hurry to buy one, was wanting to keep an eye out for one that sounded good and was built well. I'll even look for commerical unit if I need to -- they sell commercial units on ebay as well.. Just curious how well VCR can record vinyl. Heard it was supposed to be pretty good. I dunno.
Yes, these are the ones I am referring to. The audio is impressed onto an FM carrier and laid down onto the tape using heads on the rotating drum. It is a technique known as 'Depth Multiplex Recording'.
Magnetic tape recording😀epth-multiplex audio | video equipment
Edit... must be something in the link that looks the same as a smilie. It seems to work though.
I own a Panasonic NV-F70, labelled as Blaupunkt RTV-810 HiFi, with exactly these properties. I bought it in 1991, and it still works today, due to it's rugged all-cast chassis and tape transport. The only issue it has been showing was a blown PSU caused by a voltage surge. I managed to repair it sucessfully.
Best regards!
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