Noise in VHS audio

[Cormanrocks]

Hey guys - wondered if you could help me. I've started to capture my VHS tapes to my PC using Nero 7. Got hiss. Wondered how to get rid of it (don't even know if it's the sort of thing you get rid of as you capture or after it's captured...?). I'm not very computer savy and need things "dumbed down" to be honest. I use an ADVC-100 to capture with and I've got a Panasonic Omnivision 4-head VCR (that's on the old side). Anyone want to take me through the steps? I'll love you forever.
P.S. - sorry if this question has been previously answered - I looked and didn't find it - so if it has, could I have the link, please?
Thanks again!

[redwudz]

If it's in DV-AVI format, you could save out the audio as a WAV in VirtualDub or VD Mod. Then drop that into the Audacity audio editor. Both are freeware. How to save as a WAV: https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=280779

With Audacity, you can go to their site for tutorials: http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php?title=Audacity_Wiki_Home_Page
It works similar to a word processor, cut and paste. Lots of filters available for cleaning up audio.

After processing, I use ffmpegGUI to convert it to AC3 for combining with the video during authoring to a DVD.

That's just one method. There are many more.

And welcome to our forums.

[bendixG15]

Might be mistracking ...did you try changing the audio channel playback in your VCR? Like from stereo to mono or norm or whatever selection you got ??

[Cormanrocks]

Hey guys, thank you both for the quick responses and thanks for the nice welcome. I appreciate that you guys are so knowledgeable and yet don't make me feel like an idiot . I haven't actually tried the audio channel on the VCR. I'm going to try it, but I'm also gonna download the freeware you suggested and play with it to learn it.
I'm actually curious if using an s-video cable instead of the usual two audio and one video cable connecting to the ADVC-100 might have a positive effect on the outcome or will it be about the same?
I'm just playing with a tiny piece of video (just a 60 second clip) I recorded off TV (a long time ago) until I get the outcome the way I want it.

[jagabo]

S-video only carries video. You will still need the audio cable(s). If your VHS deck has an s-video output it should provide a better picture than composite (yellow RCA).

[2Bdecided]

mono VHS sound tracks do hiss constantly.

stereo ones shouldn't if the tape is OK and the tracking is correct. If there are problems, the sound is more of a flutter than a constant hiss.

If you record tapes on a mono VCR, a mono track is all there is, even if played on a stereo VCR.

Cheers,
David.

[Cormanrocks]

Well, the VCR I had at the time was a stereo VCR. So maybe this tracking thing might be the problem after all. My current VCR, while pretty old, says "stereo" right on it, but sometimes when I put the tape in, it pops it right back out again, over and over. Maybe a new VCR would be my best bet. I've been working late so I haven't had time yet to try any of these suggestions, but will this weekend. Thank you all again for all the input. If anything else pops into your heads, I'd love to know. Thanks!