VCR Playback Hissing Issue

[vcr4200]

So last summer, my Samsung VCR got contaminated with mould after I accidentally put a mouldy NTSC tape in it. My Dad managed to fix it with isopropyl alcohol and some cotton swaps, but then upon rewatching my captures after it got fixed, another problem occurred. There's a faint hissing sound from my captures that wasn't there before, here are two examples of a capture done before and after.

Before:
https://youtu.be/Hs2RkLktNgo?si=_AER76DtrTrkgGy7

After:
https://youtu.be/Hs2RkLktNgo?si=45-BeLoUVgtsw6a_

Is there a way to fix this?

[dellsam34]

I don't hear any difference between the two listening to the first few seconds of silence.

[vcr4200]

Sorry, I linked the same footage twice, here are the two examples:
https://youtu.be/mOPHkA-hZgo?si=atgNgVUDI5eVjPcG

https://youtu.be/Hs2RkLktNgo?si=I0st8-5Xbe6gc-Sf

[dellsam34]

They are different because one is HiFi stereo, the second one is linear mono. Select HiFi stereo with the remote control.

[vcr4200]

Just for the record, I have a Samsung SV-DVD545, and nowhere on the remote does it allow you to select Hi-Fi Stereo, unless I'm missing something?

Would it be worth getting a replacement of the same VCR/DVD deck?

[dellsam34]

Check the user manual, there should be a menu item somewhere. VCRs default to the linear audio track when the HiFi track is not been picked up, so the video drum could still be dirty.

Edit:

Google search:


[Attachment 91013 - Click to enlarge]

[vcr4200]

Okay, thank you. Just wondering, my tapes won't be contaminated with mould, will they?

[timtape]

The first YT clip seems to be HiFi but there is a higher than normal hiss, only in the right stereo channel. That may be due to your VCR or the tape played.

The "mono" track normally has much more background noise than the HiFi. The noise is most audible in quiet or silent soundtrack passages.

[dellsam34]

Okay, thank you. Just wondering, my tapes won't be contaminated with mould, will they?

Can't tell from here, But inspect them and most importantly clean the VCR.

[vcr4200]

Just a quick update, my Dad cleaned the VCR and the hiss is completely gone, I assume it's in Stereo now?

youtube.com/watch?v=oLsGiAdsiFs&feature=youtu.be

[dellsam34]

That's just linear mono, You can switch to HiFi using the remote control as explained in post #6.

[vcr4200]

Okay so I just had a test with E.T., (a tape in Dolby Surround), using the instructions as you said and I don't think I hear any difference in either the left or right audio channels.

https://youtu.be/aDlajY-BYMk?si=hoBn7Sp05wO8euTc

[dellsam34]

Dolby surround may need a special audio receiver from back in the day to decode the Dolby surround track, For HiFi stereo you should hear a slight difference between the left and right channels. Also you're too quick to change between audio modes, you have to give it few seconds to catch on.

[vcr4200]

So I've played Hot Shots which is in Hi-Fi Stereo and selected the right audio mode, but the same issue still applies.

[timtape]

Yes way too quick changing.

The HiFi track appears to be mono (not stereo) Some of your other uploads are also HiFi but mono. Probably when digitizing you had the VCR switched to L or to R instead of LR (stereo).

One upload I checked, Anna and the King is in true stereo. The stereo effect is very obvious especially in the opening music.

To avoid such audio mistakes in transferring, always listen on stereo speakers or headphones. Many older movies will of course be in original mono. In these cases the audio should be the same in L or R or LR.