how to the get sound of 80's VHS ?

Johnisfaster · Post by **Johnisfaster** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:29 am

been going through my VHS collection lately. really love the sound of music on VHS. would I be able to get that sound if I just recorded to a VHS tape or is it more complicated than that? I mean maybe it came down to the original format that they recorded on or something.

timothyallan · Post by **timothyallan** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 5:07 am

Nope, i know a few people who do that, just make sure the heads are clean and go for it. Record onto VHS, then record it back out again and bingo

Johnisfaster · Post by **Johnisfaster** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 5:30 am

timothyallan wrote:Nope, i know a few people who do that, just make sure the heads are clean and go for it. Record onto VHS, then record it back out again and bingo

okay so then the question comes down to this, should I use a limiter before it hits the VCR so as not to clip? do VCR's have a nice sounding clip? maybe some do maybe some don't?

timothyallan · Post by **timothyallan** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 5:33 am

it's tape dude, it sounds better when you push it

Homebelly · Post by **Homebelly** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:10 am

Kind of related...
I loved the sound of ADAT...
I also miss my TASCAM 8 track cassette machine some times...

logic_user99 · Post by **logic_user99** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:25 am

Oh man! I never thought of doing that... I have an old VHS machine knocking around somewhere! I am TOTALLY digging that bad boy out.

Best post of the day so far!

Johnisfaster · Post by **Johnisfaster** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:50 am

edited.

oblique strategies · Post by **oblique strategies** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:27 pm

Johnisfaster wrote:been going through my VHS collection lately. really love the sound of music on VHS.

I like your aesthetic!

Homebelly wrote:I also miss my TASCAM 8 track cassette machine some times...

I have one of these, I've had it forever. Just put it new new rack

What a great machine!

ethios4 · Post by **ethios4** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:42 pm

It's fun to lay the tape-recorded version against the original for random flanging effects. Nice!

longjohns · Post by **longjohns** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:11 pm

depending on the signal path of the vcr, you should be able to leave it on record and use an external audio FX device in live

I did that with a reel to reel, worked well. you adjust the timing in the plugin..(based on distance between record and playback heads)

oblique strategies · Post by **oblique strategies** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 1:25 am

OT: have any of you see The Tim & Eric Awesome Show: Great Job? They have segments that look exactly like old a worn-out VHS tape recording. I haven't had a VHS for some years (but plan on picking one up), & had forgotten that look. It truly is awesome!

Johnisfaster · Post by **Johnisfaster** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 2:23 am

dude I've had a massive collection of VHS for years. you get them at thrift stores around here for $1-4 and they never skip like DVD's

and of course all my favorite movies as a kid are easy to find on VHS

TRS80 · Post by **TRS80** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 2:34 am

Some studios around here used to use HiFi VHS as they're mastering deck back in the 80s. Really good sound. Cheap tape. Long play. Good deal.

Also a good solution if you want to record live music in clubs- bands, djs. Old school, cheap, sounding good.

steko · Post by **steko** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:13 am

VHS-TECINFO

Just remembered Head Switching Noise...

Love tape saturation

porfiry · Post by **porfiry** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:14 am

oblique strategies wrote:OT: have any of you see The Tim & Eric Awesome Show: Great Job? They have segments that look exactly like old a worn-out VHS tape recording. I haven't had a VHS for some years (but plan on picking one up), & had forgotten that look. It truly is awesome!

+1, they are masters of getting that look and sound. They're probably just using VHS machines, like maybe even camcorders. Tim and Eric are Public Access as hell, yo.

As for stereo higher-end VHS machines though, tons of people used the ones with L/R record gain knobs to make their stereo masters in the 90s...I think it was an accepted format at a number of pressing plants. Very nice sound, cheaper and probably better in a way than DAT.

EDIT: TRS80 FTW.

EDIT AGAIN: I forgot...when the Flaming Lips put out The Soft Bulletin in 1999 and took their weird new show out on the road, they were running all their backing tracks off VHS decks. Real loud.

how to the get sound of 80's VHS ?

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