Sound only in left speakers when recording from Hi-Fi VHS

[stingerman187]

I've captured VHS footage recorded in SP mode to DVD (VHS->Composite out->DV cam->(PC) AVI->mpg->DVD) with no problems until now. I did the process as usual but when I went to edit the footage I noticed there was only sound coming from my left speakers of my PC. So I went to the source AVI file and played it back and sure enough sound was only being played on the left speakers.

The source tape is Hi-Fi, recorded in SLP, and is being played back on a Hi-Fi VCR. For kicks I turned the VCR to a TV channel and captured direct to the PC (using AV cables connected to a miniDV cam; which is connected to the PC with a firewire cable) through that and it captured perfectly in stereo, playing through both speakers.

I hooked the AV ables up to my older VCR and put the tape in there and tried it again. Sound played perfectly through all my speakers. I suppose I could use that one if I need to, but because it's older the picture isn't that great. I'd prefer to play it on my new VCR if possible.

Why won't it record in stereo? Or at least play through all my speakers? Could it be because it's an SLP tape and not SP? I greatly appreciate any help you guys are able to give me.

Thanks,
-Eric

[stingerman187]

Oh and I forgot to add, there is nothing wrong with the speakers themselves, as I played other MPG2, AVI, and DVDs fine right after. I also tested out and burned to DVD 10 seconds of this material and it's still the same thing. It's converting over and even authoring in "stereo" but the end result is crappy mono VIA one speaker (obviously if the capture is only coming out through one speaker that's how the end result will be).

Anyone have an idea?

[coyote]

This may seem like a stupid question, but what was the original recorded in......stereo? surround?

I have had this problem when I accidentaly recorded a show in mono and then patched it to my pc. The pc was only getting sound to one channel.

When I tried it with a different vcr it got from both channels. I figured the reason for it was that the original vcr I was using was sending out the sound in stereo and since there was no right channel to the signal I only got sound out of the left. And that the second vcr I used was older and mono, so when I outputted the signal, it was sent to both channels because there was no differentiation from left to right.

[stingerman187]

I'm not too sure what the tape was recorded in, I won it on e-bay. When I play the tape back on the VCR a little thing lights up that says "Hi-Fi"...if that helps. It's actually 2 concerts on one tape that some guy filmed himself, so you'd think the tape would be in stereo, right? If not is there a way to get it to be?

[capvid0429]

Try adjusting the tracking. Sometimes the stereo will kick in.