How to Transfer Audio From a Videotape to a Cassette

Many people use hi-fi VCRs as audio-only decks due to their superior sound quality. You can tape radio features, speeches, or concerts and dub highlights onto compact cassette.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cassette Decks
• Hi-fi VCRs
• Pair Of Interconnects

1. Connect left and right audio outputs on VCR to receiver, integrated amplifier, or pre-amplifier, or directly to cassette deck. Use any line-level input (anything not labeled Phono).

2. Switch the Source or Input control on the receiver, integrated amplifier, or pre-amplifier to input for VCR.

3. Switch the Monitor or Listen control on receiver, integrated amplifier, or pre-amplifier to output for cassette deck (so that you hear the tape as it records).

4. Choose the best tape for the project. (See "How to Buy Blank Cassettes" under Related eHows.)

5. Turn on the best noise reduction your deck has (such as Dolby C), if you will be playing the tape on the deck.

6. Put your VCR in Record/Pause mode.

7. Play the chorus or loudest part of the material to be recorded.

8. Adjust the recording level to be as high as possible without "going into the red" (or whatever indicator your recorder has to show oversaturation).

9. Turn down the recording level very slightly.

10. Listen to the videotape and press the counter reset at the beginning of material to be recorded.

11. Rewind tape to before 0:00 and begin play.

12. Begin recording instantly before counter on VCR reaches 0:00.

Tips & Warnings

• Monitor levels during recording; make subtle adjustments slowly.
• Broadcast content is generally copyrighted material and illegal to tape.