Linear Audio Blip on VHS tapes in EP mode (VCR issue)

[robjv1]

I'm having a little bit of an annoying problem with my linear audio. This is a new problem (I have previous captures of the same tapes with the same deck that do not display issues). It only appears when I'm playing an EP speed tape and in the linear audio track. If you have ever watched a tape where the person recording the tape switched it from SP to EP mode or back and forth on an older VCR then you know what sound I am referring to -- the audio sounds slightly modulated -- it's kind of a chirp noise.

It does appear to be somehow mechanical and not the actual tape -- as I can play a tape and it will not display the issue in the same position twice. Most of the time they tend to come at least 4 minutes apart, but there were many exceptions to the rule. It does NOT appear in tapes recorded in SP mode with linear audio and it does not have a corresponding problem with HI-FI audio either.

I'll include a few second clip of just the chirping noise from various parts of the the tape (it happens 4 times and the clip is replayed once, for a total of 8 instances) and then a slightly longer one where you can hear the noise just at the end.

Does anyone know what would cause this or the potential solutions? Is possibly an alignment issue with the audio heads? It's not such a big deal now, I'm just wondering if it will get progressively worse.

audio%20blip.mp3

audio%20blip2.mp3

[buckethead]

If the tapes play fine on a different vcr, that would eliminate the issue of the tape being stretched. Start by cleaning or replacing the pinch roller and inspect all drive belts and tires.

Hope this helps.

[lacywest]

If the sound was like 11 seconds apart ... I'd say your using the hobby shop of a military base and Radar Tower ... is the culprit.

King Salmon Air Force Station ... used a old Radar Dome Facility for the hobby shop ... and the new Radar Dome tower was not very far away.

Birds and other stuff ... would get zapped by the beam ... and if we recorded on to Cassette tape stuff in the hobby shop ... we would have a chirp ... every 11 some seconds ... on our recordings.