Static in Audio

[brmeyer]

I recently posted for some help capturing with my Hauppauge WinTV Go capture card and btwincap drivers. I got some excellent advice. I am more than satisifed with the video quality as well as the software programs that have been recommended on this site for both converting my file into MPEG format as well as authoring the DVD. I made my first DVD with success.

However, I am not pleased with the audio on the DVD. There is static present especially if the volume is increased. I went back and recaptured the same clip (from VHS) to see if I could improve the noise. I am using VirtualDubMod and enabled noise reduction. I lowered the line-in volume. When I played the captured clip, I could still hear some static. If I burn it again, I'm afraid I'll just get the same annoying static.

I find this unusual since I captured a clip off of another tape and couldn't hear much static at all. Is the audio dependent on the quality of the VHS recording? I'm assuming so. Any suggestions on how to solve my problem with the static?

Thanks,
Bryan

[Cole]

I had a very similar problem which turned out to be a specific VCR. Some of (but thankfully not all) VHS tapes recorded on this VCR also had the static on the soundtrack.

I can only assume that the VCR has become faulty on video/audio recording, as it is still a very good 'tape' deck for recording high quality audio.

Just as a suggestion, have you tried a VCR cleaning cassette? This may help if the VCR is at fault, but not for any tapes with static recorded onto the soundtrack.

Hope that this is helpful.

[brmeyer]

Cole:

Thanks for your response. The clips that had the static are from an old VCR I no longer own. The recordings were done back in 1992 (it seems like ages ago!) so it is possible that the tape has just deteriorated or perhaps the static was recorded into the clip.

The VCR with which I'm doing my capturing is relatively new. The clip that had no static was recorded on another newer VCR (on a different tape too) so I guess that's why it turns out well.

I thought maybe there was some setting on my computer I could change.

Thanks,
Bryan

[lordsmurf]

The JVC S-VHS line of players have audio filters. Switching to MONO audio will wipe out any fuzzies. You can then edit the audio in SOUNDFORGE to restore the richness found in stereo recordings.