Stereo Audio on VHS? Only getting mono

[connorinspace]

Hello,

I am running a Panasonic AG-7400 into AJA Kona LHE with good results.

Except, I am only getting 1 channel of audio from the VCR. I've tested with the VHS release of Titanic for example, and only get audio output on Channel 1. Interestingly, when I switch from Normal to HD audio, the sound switches to only Channel 2.

My question: Is there something wrong with my VCR? Is there true left/right stereo I'm not capturing? Or are VHS tapes just generally Mono?

Thank!

[latreche34]

What do you mean HD audio? Are you changing audio settings in the VCR? if so it should be Hi-Fi Stereo, Normal is mono for most modern VCR's but there are some models from back in the day as well as pro models that have Normal or linear stereo.

[timtape]

Some Panasonic decks referred to hi fi stereo as HD. This deck also has stereo linear for a total of four channels.

[dpalomaki]

Not clear to me what you are hearing. Are you only getting audio from one of the two audio output jacks, or getting only one channel fed to both audio output jacks.

FWIW: Some Panasonic AG-series VCRs allow you to select audio output to be:
- HiFi stereo
- left HiFi channel only
- Right HiFI channel only
- Linear (normal) audio only [incase of a mono linear track]

- and may have a separate linear track audio I/O jack for use with dubbing or time code.

But I do not know what the AG-7400 capability is.

[connorinspace]

There are two audio settings: HD and NORM. Neither setting is outputting stereo (2ch) audio

[connorinspace]

There are two audio output jacks, labeled Ch1 and CH2. "NORM" audio setting gives me sound output on CH1 and nothing on CH2. "HD' settings give me output on CH2, nothing on CH1. So neither is outputting a stereo signal.

My question: Is this a mistake? Something wrong with VCR? Or is a mono output correct? Is there a true stereo track on the VHS tape I am not able to output?

And for clarity, a stereo track would be 2 distinct channels. A mono track duplicated to output on 2 channels is still mono.

[timtape]

Many older films and TV programmes were recorded in mono so even on stereo playback, left and right tracks should be the same or close to it on such tapes.

[dpalomaki]

If the AG-7400 behaves like most other VCRs, you should have audio out of both (CH1 and CH2) jacks. Stereo recordings should play in stereo, mono recordings should be same sound from both jacks. This applies to the linear track as well.

Do you have the user manual? I would check to make sure there isn't some hidden audio mapping setting somewhere not represented by a switch on the panel. Perhaps a setup menu somewhere.

You could try a self record/playback on a blank/scratch tape to see if the behavior is the same.
And try play the tape on another VCR to confirm the recordings if you haven't already..