Fill both channels from mono source?

[RowRowYourBoat]

This "new" VCR I bought ($8 at Goodwill) has a mono output. So, I get nothing on the right side of my speaker set.

Can I use an RCA splitter to fill up both the right and left channels? It's not real stereo, but it would be less annoying, right?

[netmask56]

Yes it will 'centre' the sound for you. Ideally you would pass the mono signal through a splitting amp or resistive network that provides two outputs but what you suggest should work OK. Try it and see....

[Cornucopia]

Simple Y-cable should do the same thing, probably for less cost. Slight impedance mismatch, but never really noticeable. Has worked for decades.

Scott

[RowRowYourBoat]

Splitting amp? I noticed that audio from the stereo VCR is louder and clearer than that of the mono VCR with my little Y splitter. Is this why? I'm not doing this properly?

[KarMa]

There is a Hifi track and a linear mono track on most VHS tapes. Your cheap vcr is listening to the linear mono, while your stereo VCR is able to listen to the Hifi stereo track on the tape. Most cheap VCRs can only listen to the lower quality mono track.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Do what Cornucopia wrote, all you need is a Y.

[RowRowYourBoat]

Yes, I have two little zip-lock bags full of the two forms of RCA Y-adapter. That's not the problem, now. While good enough for the tapes we recorded with our old VHS camcorder, you can hear the difference on commercial tapes, and I have a box of those to archive.

I guess I have to keep patrolling Goodwill for stereo VCRs....