How to Use a VCR for Extended Recording of Radio Talk Shows

Is there anything worse than driving to work enjoying your favorite morning talk show when right in the middle of a hilarious skit or in-depth interview--you arrive at your destination and you have to leave your car, and the radio, until you get back in it at the end of the day? By that time, the show is long over and you will never know how the skit played out. If that sounds like you--then here is an old school solution for you. Here is how to use a VCR for extended recording of radio talk shows.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• VCR
• Composite audio cables
• Stereo receiver

1. Know that conventional audio tapes come in 60-minute and 90-minute varieties. That is the combined length of BOTH sides of the cassette. With a maximum of only 45 minutes, using audio tapes is no good if you want to record a radio talk show which can sometimes last up to 4 hours. That is where using VCR tapes comes in extemely handy. Set on the SLP setting, VCR tapes can record up to 12 full hours of excellent quality audio! Plus, you can set the VCR's timer so you never miss your favorite radio show.
2. Purchase (or find) a set of composite audio cables (these are the RCA cables that have red and white connectors on the ends). Odds are you already have about a dozen pairs since they come with virtually every piece of audio or video equipment.
3. Take one end of the composite cables and plug them into the back of your audio receiver in the "Audio Output" ports. If you look closely you will see that the ports are color coded to match the ends of the composite cables, so the red cable gets plugged into the red port and the white cable into the white port.
4. Take the other end of the composite cables and plug them into the "Audio Input" ports on your VCR. Some VCR models feature more than one input, but in truth, it does not really matter which one you use. Just remember which input you used so you can tune your VCR to that line, or else you will only record dead air!
5. Tune your VCR to the proper line, meaning, if you plugged your audio cables into "Audio Input 1" or "Line 1" then just use your remote control to tune to Line 1 or Aux 1, whichever your VCR uses.
6. Turn your receiver on and press "record" on your VCR. It will now record your radio program. If you want to set the timer to start the recording, refer to the instruction manual that came with your VCR, as each one features a different method for setting a timed program. Just remember to always program the VCR to record the line to which you have the composite cables connected to.
7. Listen to your VCR tape by plugging in another set of composite cables, this time connecting the VCR's "Audio Out" to one of the open "Audio Inputs" on the receiver. Then, just tune the receiver to the port you are using (such as AUX or VCR) and press play on your VCR (after you rewind the tape of course!). Now, just sit back and pick your show back up where you left it earlier this morning!