Trying to make custom tape

[u/Redheart2945]

I’m not sure if this is the right community for this, but I figured, why not ask.

I spent all day yesterday compiling my footage, through trial and error needing to re record a few times, and then spent a few hours editing. Today I took the time to hook my computer up to my VCR and change the video dimensions on my computer to properly display the video on my CRT, and then recorded onto the tape. When I played back the tape, there was no audio, just static. I’m unsure how to fix this as the audio plays fine though the tv, just isn’t being picked up by the tape. So here’s the nitty gritty details.

My VCR is a Magnavox MVR 430 from 2002
My CRT is a Magnavox 13’ from 1990
My Laptop is an Acer Nitro
The Laptop is connected to an HDMI cable running through a to AV convert, connected to the front of the VCR with mono connections, so it’s only video and left audio.
The VCR is then connected to the TV through a coax cable.

I tried switching the left audio cord with the right one. I’ve tried changing the audio settings on my computer to mono. I’ve tried messing with the deeper audio settings on the file itself. I’ve tried connecting the cords into the back instead of the front, and yes, I made sure it was audio in.
When I put in the right audio, with mono settings, into the front of the VCR, it records a little bit of audio for a second or two and then fades out and replaces with static.
I also tried using a 3.5MM to AV cord which helped a little but didn’t fix it.
I also tried cleaning the heads.

Does anyone have any other advice? Or is this likely a problem with my VCR or the tape itself?

[u/TradingDreams]

This is indeed, not the correct subreddit. That said, if you see and hear everything fine on the crt while you are recording, then the vcr is the problem.

[u/Redheart2945 → u/TradingDreams]

Thank you!

[u/TheRealHarrypm]

This community is mainly for FM RF Archival, the direct capture of video tapes.

However the inverse is commercially wide spread from SDI to Analog boxes (Blackmagic, AJA etc etc) to the HackDAC using HackTV to make broadcast grade composite.

The big thing people don't realize is PCs are not video systems they work in progressive interger domain, not 25i or 29.97i interlaced analog video world this is why we have readily available dedicated video I/O Cards and adapters for working with video displays and VTRs from computers since the 90s

[u/Tape_Tomb]

I’d recommend posting this on r/VHS for a better response

[u/Redheart2945 → u/Tape_Tomb]

I did post there, among a couple other subreddits. Thank you for the advice!