Optimal tracking for video != optimal tracking for audio

[miamicanes]

Over the past few days, I've discovered that most of my tapes with hi-fi audio have different tracking settings that produce optimal video OR optimal hi-fi audio... but not at the same time, and that most of them have no common ground at all -- the hi-fi audio is overwhelmed by noise when the picture is ideal, and still buzzes when the tracking is adjusted as far towards its audio ideal as I can get away with without losing the picture completely.

Is it possible that my VCR might just need to have its heads re-aligned (and maybe cleaned) professionally? Or is this just the norm when dealing with old tapes, and tapes recorded on crap VCRs? If it IS the norm, are there actually any VCRs designed to allow independent tracking adjustments for the two sets of heads? And if it's NOT the norm, and something that a visit to a repair shop might fix... any suggestions how to go about finding someone who's actually qualified to do it properly?

[JohnnyMalaria]

The Hi-Fi heads are in the same drum as the video heads. The audio is recorded first and then the video is recorded in the same place on the tape but not as deep into the magnetic layer. Hence the audio and video are recording in the same area rather than a separate track like the basic VHS audio.

So it seems like your heads need cleaning/replacing.