Audio Problem

[rwalker66]

I was sent a VHS tape and I am using DVD MovieFactory 5 to convert it to a DVD for someone. I am doing this by connecting the VCR to my camcorder using the red, white, and yellow cables plugged into the "out" jacks on the VCR, which is then connected to the A/V input jack on the camcorder. The camcorder then converts AV to DV. The camcorder is connected to the computer by DV to firewire port. I have done this many times with no problems but when I tried it last night and I am viewing the video in the DVDMF capture window the sound is in mono, not stereo. The sound is only coming out of the left speaker.

I checked all connections, rebooted, everything, but can't get the sound to capture in stereo. Once it has captured and I play back the video using any program the sound is still just coming out of the left speaker. The speakers are fine as they play in stereo when I play previous videos, MP3's, etc, so it's not them. What do you recommend and think is wrong? Bad output jack on VCR? Bad cables? The only way for me to tell is to buy a new VCR or new cables. It's hard to find just a cheap VCR these days, what is left for sale is DVD/VCR combos starting at around $90. Also the cables are $40. I don't want to spend all this money and it turns out these things aren't even the problem. Have you heard of this problem before and what do you think it is? Thank you.

[DVDDoug]

The problem is most likley on the analog side. (The Video and left & right audio are all multiplexed together as the data is transfered over the Firewire connection.)

Maybe the tape only has sound on one channel. If it's a homemade tape, that's my first guess. Try a different tape.

Try hooking-up the VCR to your TV. If you get sound from both channels (with the same cables), there may be something wrong with the camera.

Try swapping the left & right (white and red) connections at the camera end. If the sound switches to the right channel, both camera channels are good and you have a problem with the VCR or cables. If the sound does not switch channels, then there is something wrong at the camera end.

Try swapping the left & right connections at the VCR end. If the sound switches to the right side, this proves that both audio cables are good, both camera channels are good, but you only have sound coming out from one VCR channel.

Also the cables are $40.

You're shopping at the wrong store! You should be able to find an audio/video cable at Radio Shack for around $10. A pair of audio cables should be even less. You might want to use high-end cables for your home theater system, especially if you have long cable-runs. But, as a back-up and/or for troubleshooting, any cable should do as long as it's shielded.

A quick online search turned-up CablesForLess.com.

[rwalker66]

Thanks for all the advice on things to try. It was a homemade tape, stuff my sister filmed with her VHS-C camcorder then put it on a VHS tape for me to make DVD's with. I found out the problem was with the VHS tape itself that I was sent. That's a relief, I thought it was a problem on my end. I put another VHS tape in and it DID show up in stereo in the DVDMF capture window. The sound also only came out of the left speaker on my TV so that's another way I figured out it was a tape issue. My sister has no idea why the tape was only in mono. She said the sound came out all of the speakers when she viewed it in surround sound at her house.

Thanks for the cable price advice too. I had just gone to Best Buy's website and the $40 cable was the only one there. I will know to check Radio Shack in the future if I need a cheaper one.