Using a monophonic VCR for playback - disconnect right channel for capture?

[justin81]

Hello,

I have a 15+ year old NTSC VHS EP mode tape that absolutely positively will not track on any VCR I try - except the machine it was recorded on back in 1996 - an Emerson. The recording is in the EP mode, plus I feel that the Emerson VCR itself may be mis-aligned, so I pretty much have to use the original VCR to play back the tape without issue.

Trouble is, the VCR is not stereo, it's monophonic and only utilizes the left channel (white) composite inputs and outputs.

My original capturing setup is as follows:

JVC deck S-Video and L/R composite audio -->DataVideo TBC --> ATI Capture Card.

I'll be substituting in the Emerson for playback.

My question - should I disconnect all the right channel connections? Obviously, nothing will be coming from the Emerson except left channel. But what about output from TBC to capture device? Should I leave the cable plugged in?

[hech54]

I recently had to record a VHS tape twice because I left my cell phone sitting on top of the VCR by mistake.
I re-recorded "audio only" the second time around since only the audio was damaged by the cell phone.
As long as you make a straight capture both times they should be easy to sync up later.

[RowMan]

I would just use a splitter in order to feed the left and right inputs of the capture device. Or, your capture software may have some sort of "mono" setting to get sound on both left and right channels without using an audio splitter.

[jagabo]

RCA Y adapters:
http://www.amazon.com/RCA-AH25-Y-Adaptor-Cable/dp/B00005T3G9/
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103709