VHS video HiFi Stereo

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  • LazyPooky
    Site owner

    ADMINISTRATOR
    Level 35 - Rockin' Poster
    • Oct 2007
    • 7737

    #1

    VHS video HiFi Stereo

    We have an old video tape with LEFT channel German and RIGHT channel (original) English. As far as I know a video tape has only 2 channels, but I'm not an expert in video tapes.
    Magnรบs: - I have fans of all ages and I don't think it's weird when older people like LazyTown. LazyTown appeals to people for many different reasons: dancing, acrobatics, etc.
  • GlanniMan
    Insane Latibรฆr Fan
    SPECIAL MEMBER
    Level 13 - Purple Panther
    • Sep 2023
    • 259

    #2
    Originally posted by LazyPooky

    We have an old video tape with LEFT channel German and RIGHT channel (original) English. As far as I know a video tape has only 2 channels, but I'm not an expert in video tapes.
    That was a common practice for having 2 dubs on VHS, but having 2 completely separate tracks is very rare.
    The only one I know of is a tape of "Felix the Cat: The Movie" that has English on the HI-FI track, and Mandarin Chinese on the MONO track.

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    • LazyPooky
      Site owner

      ADMINISTRATOR
      Level 35 - Rockin' Poster
      • Oct 2007
      • 7737

      #3
      Originally posted by GlanniMan

      That was a common practice for having 2 dubs on VHS, but having 2 completely separate tracks is very rare.
      The only one I know of is a tape of "Felix the Cat: The Movie" that has English on the HI-FI track, and Mandarin Chinese on the MONO track.
      I looked up the technology but indeed you have the HiFi rotating head (stereo) and the linear head (stereo/mono). The latter was also used in cassette recorders, a steady head. In VHS video recorder the linear head track was also used to have a carrier signal so when you had different audio on the left and right HiFi tracks it switched one of them to both channels. So that way you could choose between the original sound or the dub, but unfortunately always mono of course.

      What it seems like, the VHS HiFi track was far better in quality than the linear track. I never knew that. It was in the 80s I think.

      For some reason VHS HiFi is booming in Russia now ๐Ÿ˜„
      https://www.audiosciencereview.com/f...e-crappy.64209


      other info here:
      https://www.tapeheads.net/threads/vhs-audio-modes.58570
      Magnรบs: - I have fans of all ages and I don't think it's weird when older people like LazyTown. LazyTown appeals to people for many different reasons: dancing, acrobatics, etc.

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      • boredjedi
        Master
        SPECIAL MEMBER
        MODERATOR
        Level 35 - Rockin' Poster
        • Jun 2007
        • 8160

        #4
        This is bringing back memories. 4 track Hifi heads. The tracking. What a difference in audio quality between standard VHS audio and the introduction of HiFi.
        Rather like comparing Cassette tapes to Reel to Reel.

        My remaining VCRs

        Click image for larger version  Name:	VCR-VHS.jpg Views:	0 Size:	293,5 KB ID:	211855

        Still have a VCR head cleaner too

        Click image for larger version  Name:	VCR-HeadCleaner.jpg Views:	4 Size:	136,7 KB ID:	211856


        Good video. Go to 9:12 for details on how the VCR head/drum, audio and tape works

        http://eighteenlightyearsago.ytmnd.com/

        Note


        • boredjedi
          boredjedi commented
          Editing a comment
          In that video go to 11:09 for the Audio system. Both standard tape audio and the Hifi (at 11:44)
      • chuft
        Stepher
        SPECIAL MEMBER
        MODERATOR
        Level 33 - New Superhero
        • Dec 2007
        • 4491

        #5
        Do you live in a home or a museum
        l i t t l e s t e p h e r s

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        • Buzz
          Buzz commented
          Editing a comment
          nah...you never know when you might need it (>_<)
      • boredjedi
        Master
        SPECIAL MEMBER
        MODERATOR
        Level 35 - Rockin' Poster
        • Jun 2007
        • 8160

        #6
        Originally posted by chuft
        Do you live in a home or a museum
        Yes

        http://eighteenlightyearsago.ytmnd.com/

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        • GlanniMan
          Insane Latibรฆr Fan
          SPECIAL MEMBER
          Level 13 - Purple Panther
          • Sep 2023
          • 259

          #7
          Originally posted by chuft
          Do you live in a home or a museum
          If only you knew how many people still actually use VHS today.
          Count me as 1.

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          • boredjedi
            Master
            SPECIAL MEMBER
            MODERATOR
            Level 35 - Rockin' Poster
            • Jun 2007
            • 8160

            #8
            I stand corrected on that whole VCR drum head configuration.
            I remembered it wrong. I opened up the Optimus player and
            there are only 4 heads. 2 video and the 2 Hifi heads.

            Click image for larger version  Name:	VCR-Interal-01.jpg Views:	0 Size:	441,9 KB ID:	211889

            The Fisher 6 head must have been just that. 4 video heads and 2 Hifi heads. No wonder that machine was so good.
            The amount of video heads means that it can handle EP and SP speeds better when pausing and such. So a 4 head
            machine (minus the HiFi heads) 2 heads dedicated to EP and 2 heads dedicated to SP.

            So the Optimus has the standard 2 video heads for all speeds and 2 HiFi heads.


            Anyway, I got it working. Turns out all it was was just build up gunk on the pins and rollers
            the tape cleaner couldn't handle. So it's working now. I don't think this model has belts.
            All gear driven. I'll have to see if I can dig up a schematic for it.

            Video Tape loaded

            Click image for larger version  Name:	VCR-Interal-02.jpg Views:	0 Size:	330,6 KB ID:	211890



            A quick video of the VCR and The Wall in action. Audio is from the TV speakers.




            Click image for larger version  Name:	VCR-Interal-04.jpg Views:	2 Size:	117,1 KB ID:	211893

            http://eighteenlightyearsago.ytmnd.com/

            Note


            • boredjedi
              boredjedi commented
              Editing a comment
              When I get around to it, I'll do an audio recording only of the HiFi audio from the Optimus and the Standard VHS Audio from the combo machine.

            • chuft
              chuft commented
              Editing a comment
              very cheerful
          • boredjedi
            Master
            SPECIAL MEMBER
            MODERATOR
            Level 35 - Rockin' Poster
            • Jun 2007
            • 8160

            #9
            Comparison DAW, VHS HiFi. Reel to Reel.

            3:37 The live audio recording comparisons
            4:25 is the conclusion. And I tend to agree with him on the audio quality.



            But pretty much the specs of the VHS HiFi is on par with CD audio specs.
            Long before CD's were around. All I remember is the movie soundtracks
            were pretty awesome. From Pink Floyd to Amadeus. Another channel
            called VHS HiFi the poor man's reel to reel.
            http://eighteenlightyearsago.ytmnd.com/

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            • boredjedi
              Master
              SPECIAL MEMBER
              MODERATOR
              Level 35 - Rockin' Poster
              • Jun 2007
              • 8160

              #10
              No service manual found yet but I did find the user manual
              and the Audio specs. The db and frequency response for the standard
              VHS audio is as expected.

              Click image for larger version  Name:	Optimus200.png Views:	0 Size:	114,9 KB ID:	211898
              http://eighteenlightyearsago.ytmnd.com/

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              • boredjedi
                Master
                SPECIAL MEMBER
                MODERATOR
                Level 35 - Rockin' Poster
                • Jun 2007
                • 8160

                #11
                Phew that search went better than I thought.
                Found my Stereo RCA to 1/8th jack wire.

                Pays to keep these wires around. Never know when ya need them again.
                I have a ton of different cables stored away.

                Click image for larger version  Name:	RCA-8thPlug.jpg Views:	0 Size:	310,1 KB ID:	211911

                I can record the HiFi audio directly to the computer. And do the Standard audio as well for comparison.
                http://eighteenlightyearsago.ytmnd.com/

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