HowTo Wire Radio Speakers to Audio-In on TV-VCR Combo

[JeffM]

They say at least some VCRs won't record audio
unless there is a video signal.
I have no direct experience with this,
and have no idea how wide spread it is,
but this seems more likely a culprit than anything else.

Actually, the problem that I found was **playback**.
Without any video, the AGC of the TV set muted the audio.
When I hit the VCR's Menu button to throw some text onto the screen,
I could then hear the audio.
With my black & white TV, I didn't need to do this.

 

[JeffM]

Well, its true for the BrokSonic...

As it turns out I called the company supporting BrokSonic[...]
they told me recording would in fact be mute without a video signal.

If you had 2 VCRs
(or *something* that can put out video on an RCA jack),
you could plug that into the Video input
that pairs with the audio input you are using.
My VCRs actually have 2 sets of external inputs
(L1 & L2; channels 001 & 002).

 

[Michael Black]

Well, its true for the BrokSonic...

As it turns out I called the company supporting BrokSonic[...]
they told me recording would in fact be mute without a video signal.

If you had 2 VCRs
(or *something* that can put out video on an RCA jack),
you could plug that into the Video input
that pairs with the audio input you are using.
My VCRs actually have 2 sets of external inputs
(L1 & L2; channels 001 & 002).

I just got one of those used the other day at a garage sale,
one of the sets of input jacks is right on the front panel.

It struck me that since they make that set so accessible,
they might have made sure it could be used to record without
a video signal. Those front panel jacks look so tempting. (I
gave it a try to make sure it works the other day, but
it's not hooked up so I can't immediately see if the theory
is correct.)

One thing worth adding to the discussion is that the mono audio
signal is recorded directly onto the tape, so it has all the
badness of a tape recorder with a slow moving tape.

But a stereo vcr uses a subcarrier, and the signal is applied
to the tape via the video heads (which of course is rotating to
"increase" the virtual speed of the tape), so the audio recording
is superior to the mono recording, and likely superior to a lot of
home recording equipment. Certainly compared to using some other
method to make a really long recording.

Michael

 

[Don Bowey]

On 8/30/07 5:48 PM, in article 46d76556$0$32492$4c368faf@roadrunner.com,

On 8/30/07 1:25 PM, in article
46d727bd$0$18914$4c368faf@roadrunner.com,

Hello Don,
Thanks for your time and your sage advice. Take a look at the images
of
the
board for the radio and let me know what you may make of them per the
following...

If your AM radio uses an audio output transformer, find the
connections
from
it to the speaker, and see if both wires go directly to the speaker.
If
they don't then one of them is probably connected to the systems
"common"
somewhere. Connect it to the shell of your male RCA jack. If one
is
not
connected to common, connect it to the shell of your male RCA jack.


//SpeakerWire
http://metromilwaukee.com/images/radio/speakerwire.jpg

//ObliqueView
http://metromilwaukee.com/images/radio/obliqueview.jpg

//TopView
http://metromilwaukee.com/images/radio/topview.jpg


<%= Clinton


On 8/30/07 9:42 AM, in article
46d6f389$0$19607$4c368faf@roadrunner.com,


I like to record the Coast To Coast AM radio program which airs on
local
radio from 12am to 5am nightly. I have a TV-VCR combo that will
support
recording an external source.

In the front of the TV-VCR there are two female RCA [1] inputs,
one
input
labeled Video and the other input labeled Audio. In the rear of
the
TV-VCR
there are -- two pairs -- of RCA inputs, one pair labeled Audio in
and
Audio
out and the other pair labeled Audio in and Audio out.

I know I can set the TV-VCR to Line 1 to record input from an
external
device. Can somebody help explain to me how to wire the speakers
(output)
of
an AM radio to interface with the TV-VCR to enable recording radio
programming (input) to the VCR?

<%= clintonG

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCA_connector

Okay searching the web I just learned the speaker wires transmit
power
and
not a 1:1 audio signal as I ignorantly presumed.

The speaker wires carry an audio signal (an AC voltage) to a low
impedance
speaker (probably about 8 Ohms). The speaker impedance (similar to,
but
more complex than resistance) presents a load on the voltage,
producing
a
current flow in the speaker wires. The product of the voltage and
current
is power.

Forum discussions say I
must use an amplifier inline i.e. AM radio speaker wires -->
amplifier -->
TV-VCR Audio In.

Your forum discussion group is, in my experience, wrong on this one


I don't really understand how power can become audio when amplified

You should discard this idea. Further study, if wanted, will
explain
the
conditions much better.

but if
that's all that it is I know I am using an older table top AM-FM
radio
which
will need to have an amplifier to record the radio's audio using
the
TV-VCR.

No external amplifier is needed.

Your recorder's audio input has a very high impedance, which means
the
signal audio voltage will drive it easily.

If your AM radio uses an audio output transformer, find the
connections
from
it to the speaker, and see if both wires go directly to the speaker.
If
they don't then one of them is probably connected to the systems
"common"
somewhere. Connect it to the shell of your male RCA jack. If one
is
not
connected to common, connect it to the shell of your male RCA jack.

Connect one end of a low power, 100,000 Ohm resistor (radio shack?)
to
the
other speaker wire. Connect the other end of the resistor to the
center
pin
of the RCA jack.

Turn the radio volume down low, and plug the RCA jack into the audio
input
of your recorder. While recording, turn the radio volume up to a
usable
level.


So what might be your recommendation for the least expensive
amplifier?
I'll
be calling Radio Shack to learn what may be learned. Thanks for
your
time...

<%= clintonG






I can't tell if the transformer shown is a power transformer or an
audio
output transformer. If you can't trace the wire by eye, or check it
with
an
Ohmmeter....... Hmmm!

Do you have a Volt/Ohmmeter? If yes, then first measure for voltage
(AC
and
DC) between the outer shell of the audio input jack, and each of the
radio
speaker wires. If there is no voltage, then measure for resistance
between
the same points. If there is no voltage and no continuity (n low
resistance) then it doesn't matter which wire goes where.

Otherwise..... Do you have a soldering iron?

Have soldering iron and good at soldering but no meters.

Ok. Won't need soldering iron then.


What does the large
obstructive metal shield wrapped around the transformer imply?

That there is a honking big get-hot transistor mounted on it, needing to
shed it's heat to the surroundings.

Load the
SpeakerWire.jpg and ObliqueView.jpg links above. Any inference
regarding
the
determination of transformer type which may be deduced?

No, I can't see enough detail to be sure. If you can't see if the
speaker
wires are connected to it (or that the AC power is wired to it via the
power
switch), let's ignore it.

Your comments
regarding my reply to a headphone hack as suggested by Meat Plow?
Doesn't
sound plausible or consistent with what I've learned from your earlier
comments. Jees, this topic deserves to be blogged for posterity!


Actually, if you could put in a jack that opens the path to the speakers
when a plug is inserted, that would be ok and you might like it because
the
speakers would be off while you are recording. Or just add a jack in
parallel with the speakers, but the speakers will be on while you
record.

A jack is optional hardware. However, see below.

Since we have no schematic, no meter, and don't know how the amplifier
output interfaces the speakers, and don't know whether the radio or
recorder
is AC/DC, there is a safety hazard in going further with the simple
plan.

Instead, go to radio shack and buy their el-cheapo 8 Ohms to 1000 Ohms
audio
transformer. Connect the 8 Ohm connections to the speaker wires (with
or
without a jack), and connect the 1000 Ohm transformer wires to the RCA
plug
for connection to the recorder. That is not only safe, but the quality
of
the sound may be a bit better.

No 8 Ohm to 1000 Ohm audio transformers to be found in stock by any
electronics or audio shops around Milwaukeeville. Typical for this
deadbeat
region. So working both angles here and with the Meat Plow mic --> amp
suggestion but at stand still with TV-VCR which just won't record for me
using Line 1 or Line 2 from Audio In noting all other recording is
a-okay.
Stumped for now but appreciate the time and attention. I'm going to work
this out one way or another...

Just a thought - Are you sure a VCR will record audio without the presence
of video?

Duh. As it turns out I called the company supporting BrokSonic TV-VCR combo
later this morning and they told me recording would in fact be mute without
a video channel. So this project has crashed and burned for the moment and I
have to try to cobble together other equipment. Thanks so much for your time
and efforts...

Some projects go that way. You did well in any case.

 

[911 Was An Inside Job]

On 8/31/07 9:46 AM, in article 46d845cd$0$18997$4c368faf@roadrunner.com,


On 8/30/07 5:48 PM, in article
46d76556$0$32492$4c368faf@roadrunner.com,

On 8/30/07 1:25 PM, in article
46d727bd$0$18914$4c368faf@roadrunner.com,

Hello Don,
Thanks for your time and your sage advice. Take a look at the
images
of
the
board for the radio and let me know what you may make of them per
the
following...

If your AM radio uses an audio output transformer, find the
connections
from
it to the speaker, and see if both wires go directly to the
speaker.
If
they don't then one of them is probably connected to the systems
"common"
somewhere. Connect it to the shell of your male RCA jack. If one
is
not
connected to common, connect it to the shell of your male RCA
jack.


//SpeakerWire
http://metromilwaukee.com/images/radio/speakerwire.jpg

//ObliqueView
http://metromilwaukee.com/images/radio/obliqueview.jpg

//TopView
http://metromilwaukee.com/images/radio/topview.jpg


<%= Clinton


On 8/30/07 9:42 AM, in article
46d6f389$0$19607$4c368faf@roadrunner.com,


I like to record the Coast To Coast AM radio program which airs
on
local
radio from 12am to 5am nightly. I have a TV-VCR combo that will
support
recording an external source.

In the front of the TV-VCR there are two female RCA [1] inputs,
one
input
labeled Video and the other input labeled Audio. In the rear of
the
TV-VCR
there are -- two pairs -- of RCA inputs, one pair labeled Audio
in
and
Audio
out and the other pair labeled Audio in and Audio out.

I know I can set the TV-VCR to Line 1 to record input from an
external
device. Can somebody help explain to me how to wire the speakers
(output)
of
an AM radio to interface with the TV-VCR to enable recording
radio
programming (input) to the VCR?

<%= clintonG

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCA_connector

Okay searching the web I just learned the speaker wires transmit
power
and
not a 1:1 audio signal as I ignorantly presumed.

The speaker wires carry an audio signal (an AC voltage) to a low
impedance
speaker (probably about 8 Ohms). The speaker impedance (similar
to,
but
more complex than resistance) presents a load on the voltage,
producing
a
current flow in the speaker wires. The product of the voltage and
current
is power.

Forum discussions say I
must use an amplifier inline i.e. AM radio speaker wires -->
amplifier -->
TV-VCR Audio In.

Your forum discussion group is, in my experience, wrong on this
one


I don't really understand how power can become audio when
amplified

You should discard this idea. Further study, if wanted, will
explain
the
conditions much better.

but if
that's all that it is I know I am using an older table top AM-FM
radio
which
will need to have an amplifier to record the radio's audio using
the
TV-VCR.

No external amplifier is needed.

Your recorder's audio input has a very high impedance, which means
the
signal audio voltage will drive it easily.

If your AM radio uses an audio output transformer, find the
connections
from
it to the speaker, and see if both wires go directly to the
speaker.
If
they don't then one of them is probably connected to the systems
"common"
somewhere. Connect it to the shell of your male RCA jack. If one
is
not
connected to common, connect it to the shell of your male RCA
jack.

Connect one end of a low power, 100,000 Ohm resistor (radio
shack?)
to
the
other speaker wire. Connect the other end of the resistor to the
center
pin
of the RCA jack.

Turn the radio volume down low, and plug the RCA jack into the
audio
input
of your recorder. While recording, turn the radio volume up to a
usable
level.


So what might be your recommendation for the least expensive
amplifier?
I'll
be calling Radio Shack to learn what may be learned. Thanks for
your
time...

<%= clintonG






I can't tell if the transformer shown is a power transformer or an
audio
output transformer. If you can't trace the wire by eye, or check it
with
an
Ohmmeter....... Hmmm!

Do you have a Volt/Ohmmeter? If yes, then first measure for voltage
(AC
and
DC) between the outer shell of the audio input jack, and each of the
radio
speaker wires. If there is no voltage, then measure for resistance
between
the same points. If there is no voltage and no continuity (n low
resistance) then it doesn't matter which wire goes where.

Otherwise..... Do you have a soldering iron?

Have soldering iron and good at soldering but no meters.

Ok. Won't need soldering iron then.


What does the large
obstructive metal shield wrapped around the transformer imply?

That there is a honking big get-hot transistor mounted on it, needing
to
shed it's heat to the surroundings.

Load the
SpeakerWire.jpg and ObliqueView.jpg links above. Any inference
regarding
the
determination of transformer type which may be deduced?

No, I can't see enough detail to be sure. If you can't see if the
speaker
wires are connected to it (or that the AC power is wired to it via the
power
switch), let's ignore it.

Your comments
regarding my reply to a headphone hack as suggested by Meat Plow?
Doesn't
sound plausible or consistent with what I've learned from your
earlier
comments. Jees, this topic deserves to be blogged for posterity!


Actually, if you could put in a jack that opens the path to the
speakers
when a plug is inserted, that would be ok and you might like it
because
the
speakers would be off while you are recording. Or just add a jack in
parallel with the speakers, but the speakers will be on while you
record.

A jack is optional hardware. However, see below.

Since we have no schematic, no meter, and don't know how the amplifier
output interfaces the speakers, and don't know whether the radio or
recorder
is AC/DC, there is a safety hazard in going further with the simple
plan.

Instead, go to radio shack and buy their el-cheapo 8 Ohms to 1000 Ohms
audio
transformer. Connect the 8 Ohm connections to the speaker wires (with
or
without a jack), and connect the 1000 Ohm transformer wires to the RCA
plug
for connection to the recorder. That is not only safe, but the
quality
of
the sound may be a bit better.

No 8 Ohm to 1000 Ohm audio transformers to be found in stock by any
electronics or audio shops around Milwaukeeville. Typical for this
deadbeat
region. So working both angles here and with the Meat Plow mic --> amp
suggestion but at stand still with TV-VCR which just won't record for
me
using Line 1 or Line 2 from Audio In noting all other recording is
a-okay.
Stumped for now but appreciate the time and attention. I'm going to
work
this out one way or another...



Just a thought - Are you sure a VCR will record audio without the
presence
of video?

Duh. As it turns out I called the company supporting BrokSonic TV-VCR
combo
later this morning and they told me recording would in fact be mute
without
a video channel. So this project has crashed and burned for the moment
and I
have to try to cobble together other equipment. Thanks so much for your
time
and efforts...

Some projects go that way. You did well in any case.

I am down but not out -- all the way -- I had this entire thing setup in my
bedroom with a combo cassette-DVD audio box outputs to a stack of an old
Marantz stereo amp with TV sending video to a VCR which also records the AM
radio program for me. All of a sudden an anomaly occurs while I'm listenting
to the playback the next day; about 10-20 minutes or so into a 5 hour
program the audio goes out and stays out for long periods occassionally
cutting back in for a minute or two and then out again for a long period if
not for the remainder of the program..

I called the radio station to ask if they were having any transmission
problems they could confirm and all seemed well on their end.
Troubleshooting backwards all is working -- except -- the audio cuts on when
recording on that VCR.

I have the TV-VCR combo and the old tabletiop radio down here in the cave
(my computer space) so I thought I would give it the ol' college try and
replicate something downstairs here. Maybe I'll just try to find a cheap VCR
at a rummage sale and integrate with the equipment we've been discussing --
or most likely -- simply replace the VCR in the setup upstairs.

I've been using a DVD-Cassette-AM-FM Radio combo audio unit that was quite
pricey to output the radio program leaving it turned on to the AM station
24x7. I've been worring about burning that unit out and would rather just go
back to on and off on a nightly basis with the old table top which is not a
great loss. Your comments about the Radio combo as used? Do they have any
history of "expiration" simply by leaving the radio on 24x7. Foolish me,
that's what I thought "solid state" meant for so long, that the "state" was
engineered to be left operationally enabled rather than on and off and on
and off.

The point is for all interested in this topic then...

To what end would fooling around with the VCR which seems to cut out its
audio recording capability when recording?

What risk if any when operating one of the contemporary audio combo units
(Sanyo) leaving the radio on 24x7 as it has been for at least the past 1-2
years? Counting myself lucky at this point.

 

[911 Was An Inside Job]

Well, its true for the BrokSonic...

As it turns out I called the company supporting BrokSonic[...]
they told me recording would in fact be mute without a video signal.

If you had 2 VCRs
(or *something* that can put out video on an RCA jack),
you could plug that into the Video input
that pairs with the audio input you are using.
My VCRs actually have 2 sets of external inputs
(L1 & L2; channels 001 & 002).

As it turns out I do have another old VCR that remains operational and I'm
not referring to the VCR with audio cutting in and out as discussed with Don
above (sometimes wish we could consolidate this threads). So you're implying
just having another VCR inline will output a video signal the TV-VCR combo
insists on without neccessarily having a picture involved. Hmmmm

Get this, I was going to blog all this and send pics and "documentation" to
George Noory now hosting Coast to Coast AM which is the program I've been
recording every night but it dawned on me his producer would not give -- us
with attribution to all of course as I wouldn't have it any other way -- our
15 minutes when teaching everybody how to record the program on all this old
sh!t we've got stacked up around the house. Teaching the other ignorati
would likely cut into their revenue they earn on their streaming playback
service. Dogs. A woof and a pox on their house

 

[Jasen Betts]

I am down but not out -- all the way -- I had this entire thing setup in my
bedroom with a combo cassette-DVD audio box outputs to a stack of an old
Marantz stereo amp with TV sending video to a VCR which also records the AM
radio program for me. All of a sudden an anomaly occurs while I'm listenting
to the playback the next day; about 10-20 minutes or so into a 5 hour
program the audio goes out and stays out for long periods occassionally
cutting back in for a minute or two and then out again for a long period if
not for the remainder of the program..

I called the radio station to ask if they were having any transmission
problems they could confirm and all seemed well on their end.
Troubleshooting backwards all is working -- except -- the audio cuts on when
recording on that VCR.

you have a VCR to record with? .... you can record the whole AM band on that. just plug
a loop antenna into the video in socket...

for playback use a loop antenna wound round a am radio.

Bye.
Jasen

 

[Don Bowey]

you have a VCR to record with? .... you can record the whole AM band on that.
just plug
a loop antenna into the video in socket...

for playback use a loop antenna wound round a am radio.

Bye.
Jasen

Try reading from the top of the string so you will understand what is trying
to do.

 

[JeffM]

JeffM wrote

So you're implying just having another VCR inline
will output a video signal the TV-VCR combo insists on

Yup.
If you understood a bit about the nature of a video signal,
http://www.google.com/images?q=blanking+pedestal+detail
you would know that because 25% of it is just blanking pulse,
it is a very reliable way to get signal-strength data
for the Automatic Gain Control to use.

The circuitry is designed to give you minimally-irritating results,
by blanking and muting when no valid signal is being received.

without neccessarily having a picture involved.

Well, the picture will be there *if* you use a TV to listen.
....and it doesn't matter that there is zero correlation
between the content of the audio & video
(well, *if* you don't overload the audio input with a too-strong
signal).

This reminds me of the radio guys
who do an alternate commentary of e.g. the Rose Parade.
Folks get the visuals on their TVs but mute the sound on those
then turn on the radio to listen to the clowns.

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

you have a VCR to record with? .... you can record the whole AM band on that. just plug
a loop antenna into the video in socket...

Bullshit. The VCR needs the video sync to record properly, if at
all. Without sync, the speed varies widely, causing the playback
frequncies to be all over the place.

--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[Chris]

On 8/31/07 9:46 AM, in article 46d845cd$0$18997$4c368...@roadrunner.com,

On 8/30/07 5:48 PM, in article 46d76556$0$32492$4c368...@roadrunner.com,
On 8/30/07 1:25 PM, in article
46d727bd$0$18914$4c368...@roadrunner.com,
Hello Don,
Thanks for your time and your sage advice. Take a look at the images
of
the
board for the radio and let me know what you may make of them per the
following...
If your AM radio uses an audio output transformer, find the
connections
from
it to the speaker, and see if both wires go directly to the speaker.
If
they don't then one of them is probably connected to the systems
"common"
somewhere. Connect it to the shell of your male RCA jack. If one
is
not
connected to common, connect it to the shell of your male RCA jack.
//SpeakerWire
http://metromilwaukee.com/images/radio/speakerwire.jpg
//ObliqueView
http://metromilwaukee.com/images/radio/obliqueview.jpg
//TopView
http://metromilwaukee.com/images/radio/topview.jpg
<%= Clinton
On 8/30/07 9:42 AM, in article
46d6f389$0$19607$4c368...@roadrunner.com,
I like to record the Coast To Coast AM radio program which airs on
local
radio from 12am to 5am nightly. I have a TV-VCR combo that will
support
recording an external source.
In the front of the TV-VCR there are two female RCA [1] inputs,
one
input
labeled Video and the other input labeled Audio. In the rear of
the
TV-VCR
there are -- two pairs -- of RCA inputs, one pair labeled Audio in
and
Audio
out and the other pair labeled Audio in and Audio out.
I know I can set the TV-VCR to Line 1 to record input from an
external
device. Can somebody help explain to me how to wire the speakers
(output)
of
an AM radio to interface with the TV-VCR to enable recording radio
programming (input) to the VCR?
<%= clintonG
[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCA_connector
Okay searching the web I just learned the speaker wires transmit
power
and
not a 1:1 audio signal as I ignorantly presumed.
The speaker wires carry an audio signal (an AC voltage) to a low
impedance
speaker (probably about 8 Ohms). The speaker impedance (similar to,
but
more complex than resistance) presents a load on the voltage,
producing
a
current flow in the speaker wires. The product of the voltage and
current
is power.
Forum discussions say I
must use an amplifier inline i.e. AM radio speaker wires -->
amplifier -->
TV-VCR Audio In.
Your forum discussion group is, in my experience, wrong on this one
I don't really understand how power can become audio when amplified
You should discard this idea. Further study, if wanted, will
explain
the
conditions much better.
but if
that's all that it is I know I am using an older table top AM-FM
radio
which
will need to have an amplifier to record the radio's audio using
the
TV-VCR.
No external amplifier is needed.
Your recorder's audio input has a very high impedance, which means
the
signal audio voltage will drive it easily.
If your AM radio uses an audio output transformer, find the
connections
from
it to the speaker, and see if both wires go directly to the speaker.
If
they don't then one of them is probably connected to the systems
"common"
somewhere. Connect it to the shell of your male RCA jack. If one
is
not
connected to common, connect it to the shell of your male RCA jack.
Connect one end of a low power, 100,000 Ohm resistor (radio shack?)
to
the
other speaker wire. Connect the other end of the resistor to the
center
pin
of the RCA jack.
Turn the radio volume down low, and plug the RCA jack into the audio
input
of your recorder. While recording, turn the radio volume up to a
usable
level.
So what might be your recommendation for the least expensive
amplifier?
I'll
be calling Radio Shack to learn what may be learned. Thanks for
your
time...
<%= clintonG
I can't tell if the transformer shown is a power transformer or an
audio
output transformer. If you can't trace the wire by eye, or check it
with
an
Ohmmeter....... Hmmm!
Do you have a Volt/Ohmmeter? If yes, then first measure for voltage
(AC
and
DC) between the outer shell of the audio input jack, and each of the
radio
speaker wires. If there is no voltage, then measure for resistance
between
the same points. If there is no voltage and no continuity (n low
resistance) then it doesn't matter which wire goes where.
Otherwise..... Do you have a soldering iron?
Have soldering iron and good at soldering but no meters.
Ok. Won't need soldering iron then.
What does the large
obstructive metal shield wrapped around the transformer imply?
That there is a honking big get-hot transistor mounted on it, needing to
shed it's heat to the surroundings.
Load the
SpeakerWire.jpg and ObliqueView.jpg links above. Any inference
regarding
the
determination of transformer type which may be deduced?
No, I can't see enough detail to be sure. If you can't see if the
speaker
wires are connected to it (or that the AC power is wired to it via the
power
switch), let's ignore it.
Your comments
regarding my reply to a headphone hack as suggested by Meat Plow?
Doesn't
sound plausible or consistent with what I've learned from your earlier
comments. Jees, this topic deserves to be blogged for posterity!
Actually, if you could put in a jack that opens the path to the speakers
when a plug is inserted, that would be ok and you might like it because
the
speakers would be off while you are recording. Or just add a jack in
parallel with the speakers, but the speakers will be on while you
record.
A jack is optional hardware. However, see below.
Since we have no schematic, no meter, and don't know how the amplifier
output interfaces the speakers, and don't know whether the radio or
recorder
is AC/DC, there is a safety hazard in going further with the simple
plan.
Instead, go to radio shack and buy their el-cheapo 8 Ohms to 1000 Ohms
audio
transformer. Connect the 8 Ohm connections to the speaker wires (with
or
without a jack), and connect the 1000 Ohm transformer wires to the RCA
plug
for connection to the recorder. That is not only safe, but the quality
of
the sound may be a bit better.
No 8 Ohm to 1000 Ohm audio transformers to be found in stock by any
electronics or audio shops around Milwaukeeville. Typical for this
deadbeat
region. So working both angles here and with the Meat Plow mic --> amp
suggestion but at stand still with TV-VCR which just won't record for me
using Line 1 or Line 2 from Audio In noting all other recording is
a-okay.
Stumped for now but appreciate the time and attention. I'm going to work
this out one way or another...

Just a thought - Are you sure a VCR will record audio without the presence
of video?

Duh. As it turns out I called the company supporting BrokSonic TV-VCR combo
later this morning and they told me recording would in fact be mute without
a video channel. So this project has crashed and burned for the moment and I
have to try to cobble together other equipment. Thanks so much for your time
and efforts...- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

If you feel the need to do it this way, you can cobble together the
video signal by hooking the video to a TV or other source. If you're
feeling adventurous, you can make an NTSC test pattern generator from
a PIC. Absent the programming/debugging skills, you can purchase one
for $8 from Elm Electronics:

http://www.elmelectronics.com/

Their ELM304 is a PIC NTSC Video Generator made for exactly this
purpose:

http://www.elmelectronics.com/DSheets/ELM304DS.pdf

With a crystal, four resistors and a regulated +5V power supply,
you're done.

Good luck
Chris

 

[911 Was An Inside Job]

Try reading from the top of the string so you will understand what is
trying
to do.

It lives! The topic lives!

I don't fully understand what Line 1 or Line 2 actually are anyway?

I was starting to wonder if I could outsmart the TV with a cheap hack such
as tuning to Line 1 and patching Video out in the rear of the TV to Video in
on the front while recording the audio part which I've already worked out by
using a mic and amp to pass the sound from the table top radio.

Then moments ago I get an epiphany! (maybe)

I have one of the first Amiga 1000s sold in the US. This computer has an RCA
interface in the rear which outputs an NTSC signal to enable people to use
an NTSC monitor with the Amiga rather than the RBG monitor they were selling
off the shelf. The TV documentation says "Video Signal: NTSC Color."
I might be able to patch the Amiga'a NTSC Video out to the TV Video in while
recording on Line 1. Hmmmmmm

 

[911 Was An Inside Job]

JeffM wrote

Yup.
If you understood a bit about the nature of a video signal,
http://www.google.com/images?q=blanking+pedestal+detail
you would know that because 25% of it is just blanking pulse,
it is a very reliable way to get signal-strength data
for the Automatic Gain Control to use.

The circuitry is designed to give you minimally-irritating results,
by blanking and muting when no valid signal is being received.

Well, the picture will be there *if* you use a TV to listen.
...and it doesn't matter that there is zero correlation
between the content of the audio & video
(well, *if* you don't overload the audio input with a too-strong
signal).

This reminds me of the radio guys
who do an alternate commentary of e.g. the Rose Parade.
Folks get the visuals on their TVs but mute the sound on those

I'm learning a lot this last week. I may have a solution using my old Amiga
1000 as noted moments ago when replying higher in this threaded discussion

 

[Don Bowey]

It lives! The topic lives!

I don't fully understand what Line 1 or Line 2 actually are anyway?

I was starting to wonder if I could outsmart the TV with a cheap hack such
as tuning to Line 1 and patching Video out in the rear of the TV to Video in
on the front while recording the audio part which I've already worked out by
using a mic and amp to pass the sound from the table top radio.

Then moments ago I get an epiphany! (maybe)

I have one of the first Amiga 1000s sold in the US. This computer has an RCA
interface in the rear which outputs an NTSC signal to enable people to use
an NTSC monitor with the Amiga rather than the RBG monitor they were selling
off the shelf. The TV documentation says "Video Signal: NTSC Color."
I might be able to patch the Amiga'a NTSC Video out to the TV Video in while
recording on Line 1. Hmmmmmm

That should do it.

 

[911 Was An Inside Job]

That should do it.

No joy. The video is coming through just fine. Funny how my old Amiga games
are appealing all of a sudden. The mic picks up the audio from the table top
radio and sound comes through the amp that powers the mic and I can monitor
that audio output by the amp using headphones but the TV is not recording
the audio, only the video being sent by the Amiga.

I now wonder if I may have a bad cable as the headphones prove the audio is
coming out of the amp. When I try to integrate the amp with the TV using an
1/8" to RCA cable I can't get the TV to record the sound.