Sony VO-5630 - Mechanism works, but why no AV output?

[Cluster]

I've been lucky enough to get my hands on a Sony VO-5630 UMatic recorder, but I cannot get any audio or video output out of it. Is there a specific setting that I need to set, or is the unit broken?

Description:

I have tried connecting the unit to an LCD TV via RF (no channels detected by TV) and video out (to composite port on TV). No output detected by the TV in either case.

I'm testing the unit with an NTSC tape recorded in 1995. It loads the tape fine, spools turn, fast forward/rewind works, and I can see the level meters move to the audio, but I cannot get any picture or sound out.

Is there some trick or special requirement to getting output?

Thank you,

[aramkolt]

The "RF Out" on that is for dropout compensation and is the raw signal coming off of the heads. This is meant for use in conjunction with an external dropout compensator which were built into some standalone TBCs of the time. "RF Out" is exactly what VHS_Decode would use as an input, or what you'd look at to adjust the guides to get a flat/consistent RF envelope using an oscilloscope.

Your unit does have composite out and Dub out if the pictures I see online are correct - so you'll want to use one of those, or use the RF Out with VHS_Decode. Dub out would be used in conjunction with composite out and RF Out all going into a timebase corrector that supports all of those inputs for the highest quality which is probably less high quality than VHS_Decode. There aren't a whole lot of those TBCs out there that have all 3 though, but the ones that come to mind are the For.A FA-300 (though seems only the NTSC version actually had Dub input) and there's also one or two from DPS/Leitch. You'll also have some issues actually finding a Dub cable which is possible to make.

If you're looking for ease of use and passable quality, composite plus a regular timebase corrector is probably fine, but next I'd probably go with VHS_Decode if you want to put in more effort since finding a compatible TBC with "Dub In" and cables is going to be quite difficult.

VHS_Decode has quite a learning curve and requires quite a lot of hard drive space, so if you're looking for something that is easy to do, VHS_Decode will likely frustrate you unless you like a challenge.

https://youtube.com/shorts/2uKEY5430...-U_2NOPaYJzD7A

[aramkolt]

Audio will only come out of the Red/White jacks - those you can hook up to your TV separately or connect to Headphones/computer speakers with an RCA to 1/8 inch audio jack Y cable.

[Cluster]

Thank you for your very comprehensive answer aramkolt.

I am more trying to verify that the unit works rather than trying to get the best quality out of it. My understanding from handling many VHS and Beta VCRs is the mechanism tends to jam or belts degrade, rather than the electronics themselves failing.

This UMatic unit outputs nothing on composite to a normal TV, and there is no sound output either, which has me concerned this unit does not work. But it may just be the case that I need additional hardware/software to get anything out of it. I'm rather keen to see if it works as it certainly looks good, with the motors working, tape playing, and level meters working.

[timtape]

These days we cant expect it to be like when these machines and tapes were current, and parts and service technicians were plentiful etc. It's vintage technology now. Potentially, there are many more problems now than there used to be.

True, a lot of the problems these days can be mechanical, but when it's electronic it can get very complicated.

Re the picture, some UMatic tapes have developed problems. Just a brief play of one faulty tape can contaminate the video heads and block all signs of a picture, on that tape and with any subsequently played tapes, even good tapes. Knowing how to safely clean the video tape path and heads is just part of the deal these days. Do you have those skills?

[Cluster]

Thank you for the replies. Turns out there was something wrong: The Hitachi LCD TV that I was plugging the Sony into. For whatever reason it could not handle the composite output, and I guess if the TV couldn't display any video it also ignored audio signals too.

I found a Casio PAL pocket TV and connected it up. Picture was B&W and jumpy as the source tape is NTSC, but it showed my Sony was generating valid output.

Finally, I sourced a ~2012 era multi region Toshiba TV and now have perfect video and audio output from it. The video and audio quality is superb for the era, and I'm very happy to have bought a fully working UMatic player.

In regards to head contamination and old tapes, the source tape I have is a music video on a Sony tape. Seller on eBay claimed it was stored in climate controlled conditions, and it indeed works very well.

[timtape]

That's great, however you seemed to give the impression that the problem was in the Umatic deck, not in the monitor. In retrospect the monitor's composite input should have been tested beforehand using a known good composite source such as a DVD player, VCR, camcorder etc.

Congrats on that Umatic tape having played well, but it is only one tape. You might find this site useful for information on problem Umatic tapes. Specs Bros have been around a long time and are well respected in the industry.

http://www.specsbros.com/white-paper...cassettes.html

[Cluster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by timtape

That's great. In retrospect the TV's composite input should have been tested beforehand using a known good composite source such as a DVD player, VCR, camcorder etc.

That's the strange thing, I have used this Hitachi TV with many VHS and Beta VCRs and never had a problem. DVD players too. Composite input worked every time. But the Sony UMatic is different. Higher bandwidth that the TV couldn't handle? Shrug.

[timtape]

I'm not clear what you are saying. Are you saying the TV works still works fine now on other composite sources?

[Cluster]

The Hitachi LCD TV I was using to test the U-Matic player showed no signal via composite input from the player. As I had previously used the Hitachi as a monitor for VHS, Beta, and DVD players, I assumed there was something wrong with the Sony.

It was only after I connected the Sony to a vintage LCD pocket TV did I notice the Sony was producing composite output, so I then used a Toshiba LCD TV as the monitor and all works well.

So the Hitachi TV does not like something about the Sony's composite output, but works with other sources.

[timtape]

Thanks for the clarification.