I'm working on an unusual art project and ran into a puzzling problem for any VHS/RCA buff out there:
- I want to record a digital HDMI signal onto VHS (weird, I know! bear with me!) -- more on the signal flow below
- When I record the signal using a VCR, I only get a black-and-white recording
- But when the signal just passes through from source to the VCR to a TV, it's in color
- When I play back any old VHS tape on the same VCR using the same RCA cables, the playback on the TV is in color too (meaning: it can't be the cable connection between the VCR and the TV)
- I have tried this on 3 separate VCRs; all produce the same problem. The VCRs only have composite (yellow-red-white) inputs/outputs; they are regular American NTSC VCRs (2x Sony, 1x Toshiba)
Any advice on what could cause recording to be in black-and-white ... while the pass-through is in color?
Signal Flow:
1. The HDMI comes from a Mac; I'm downscaling it to 480i59.97 using a
Decimator MD-MX
(I have tried downscaling to other resolutions like 480p59.97, 720i, etc - same black-and-white recording problem)
2. The downscaled HDMI goes into a HDMI->RCA converter. I've tried both of these:
-
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QB8JV8V/
-
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TWPXH9C/
3. From the RCA converter, it goes into the VCR via regular composite cables
4. Another RCA cable goes from the Video OUT of the VCR to a TV with RCA inputs
5. When all connected, a color picture + sound correctly flows from the Mac to the TV. When I record and then play back the recording from the same VCR with the same cable connections, the playback works ... but the recording is in black and white.
Any thoughts on what might cause this? I'm so baffled, and curious!