Loud rat-a-tat-tat sound while recording w/VCR

jillnadine · 6-Feb-2011, 7:17 PM

Folks in here solved my recording-with-VCR-and-converter-box issues - I now get a GREAT video recording (thanks!); that's big progress - however, there is an extremely loud, constant bullet-fast rat-a-tat-tat sound recorded along with the soundtrack for the actual show (the show's soundtrack is quietly in the background) - what's up with THAT? Zinwell ZAT-970A converter box w/Daewoo DV-T30N VCR and RCA ANT 121R antenna.

GroundUrMast · 6-Feb-2011, 9:13 PM

If you are using a cable like this to connect the converter to your VCR, consider using a cable set like this instead.

I am presuming that the model number of your VCR is actually DV-T3DN and that it is not capable of stereo recording or play back. If I am wrong, and you have stereo capability, a cable set such as this would be able to support stereo.

My thinking is that there is a problem with the video and audio being combined and sent over a common RF channel. This change would have you record from the line input rather than channel 3 or 4.

jillnadine · 6-Feb-2011, 10:55 PM

That is EXACTLY what I have -- the single combined cable rather than the split-out tri-color one (THANK YOU for including those links w/photos! VERY helpful to someone who doesn't know the terminology!) And you are most certainly correct on the model of VCR, it's just my poor eyesight

Right now I have the VCR connected to the Video/Audio in ports on the front of the TV for playback with one of the split-out tri-color cables, and there is only one slot on the back of the VCR that will accept that type of cable (labeled AUDIO & VIDEO In & Out); the single combined cable is currently connected to the converter box via the ANT IN port on the back of the VCR. The only other port on the back of the VCR is the single-line-cable RR OUT port, which is still connected to the back of the TV but probably doesn't need to be since I don't have cable anymore (I really don't know). There are VIDEO and AUDIO ports I could plug a split-out tri-color cable into on the front of the VCR. After all that, here is the QUESTION: Do I just leave all those other cables in place once I do that, or remove the single combined black cable completely?

Thank you, MUCH appreciated!!

John Candle · 7-Feb-2011, 5:48 AM

Record a tape and play it back in a different VCR. Is the Rat , tat , tat , sound still there??

GroundUrMast · 7-Feb-2011, 5:57 AM

After looking up the user manuals for the converter and VCR, I tried my hand at drawing the connections for you...

To record, you will need to set the VCR to record the line input, not the RF channel 3 or 4 the the TV will be tuned to. The manual I have downloaded is not clear about how to select that when setting up to record at a future time so I hope the on screen menu will help you with that.

jillnadine · 7-Feb-2011, 1:55 PM

I truly appreciate your help (I got the VCR as a hand-me-down and never had the manual to start with) -- your extra effort really makes a difference to we technically challenged folks in this world! THANK YOU!