VHS Woes

2005-05-14 11:37:18 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

I'm trying to record on VHS. THe problem is that my VCR is hella old and has separate plugs in the back for audio and and video, whereas the N64 RF switch has a single screw-jack that I can only assume combines audio and video into one.

Possible solutions aside from buying an entirely new VCR:

1) Is there some sort of adaptor or something that I can plug the screw-jack into and then have the separate audio and video wires come out of that? If so, how expensive is it and where might I purchase it?

2) Can I physically strip the covering off the screw-jack, allowing me to separate the two audio and video wires and plug those into the back of the VCR separately? (I have an extra RF switch, so I wouldn't be screwed if I messed up the operation).

3) Can I take a camcorder, point it at the TV screen, and record like that? This is not especially preferred because there are so many ways to mess this up...

Help!

Thread title:

StrangenessDSS

Edit history:

StrangenessDSS: 2005-05-15 12:19:19 am

2005-05-15 12:18:52 am

Sleeping Terror

The plugs your VCR has are one yellow for video and red & white for sound, right? Those are composite video. They're newer and better than the "screw-jack".

You need to buy a Nintendo composite video cable. You should be able to find one at any game store. The same one works for SNES, N64, and Gamecube.

Psychochild

2005-05-19 01:25:36 am

You can get one for the N64. Try looking around used game shops for the Composite video cables. I got one for my system, anyways.

In response to 3).... No. You can't. It won't be accepted (Mostly to crappy video quality above all). Just get the composite cables, they shouldn't go for too much (I know RF go for about 3 bucks at Gamestop last time I went), and record that way.

Spirit_Wolf

2005-05-19 01:55:40 am

I thought the N64 came with Composite as default, and you had to buy an RF ("screw-jack") adaptor. o.o Mine did, anyway. >_>

bushwacker

2005-05-19 04:09:44 am

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

The N64 did come with a composite, but it only has a screw-jack and none of the individual yellow, white, or red wires.

I bought a composite that has the individual ones, but it doesn't actually seem to work with my N64... I plug it into the back of the console, hook the yellow and white into the TV (my TV doesn't have a red plug), and stick the cable in as well, but nothing happens when I turn on the N64. I'll need to try sticking the plugs in the VCR and actually recording, though, before I can say that I bought a bad wire.

Radix

Edit history:

Radix: 2005-05-19 04:38:54 am

2005-05-19 04:37:26 am

I'm addicted to games

Quote:

The N64 did come with a composite, but it only has a screw-jack and none of the individual yellow, white, or red wires.

That's not composite, it's coax. You must have bought some weird n64 to get only that... I remember buying snes that it came with both, and I put away the composite in the attic somewhere because my TV at the time (ancient, blurry thing) didn't have composite inputs.

Quote:

but nothing happens when I turn on the N64.

Is the TV on the 'input' channel? You don't use channel 3 anymore. Same thing with the VCR. Is your VCR stereo?

Psychochild

2005-05-19 12:31:08 pm

Yeah, I had to buy my RF adaptor seperately. My N64 at least came with the Composite Cables.

bushwacker

2005-05-19 09:21:12 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

If not channel 3, then what? The cable I bought doesn't have a 3/4 switch like all the other ones I have...

And I don't know what a "stereo" VCR is. Sad

Radix

2005-05-19 09:27:37 pm

I'm addicted to games

I already said... the "input" channel. Your tv remote should have a button for it.

And a stereo vcr would be one that HAS the red input!

bushwacker

2005-05-19 10:35:57 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Oh, the INPUT channel. Why didn't you say so? Wink

Yes, I managed to switch it over to this magical "input" channel and everything finally worked. Radix, you are a man who knows his stuff Smiley

Andy_Olivera

Edit history:

Andy_Olivera: 2005-05-19 11:02:51 pm

2005-05-19 10:59:01 pm

Go out and buy a Y-cable(like this). This will let you hear all the audio on the VCR you're currently using(plug the red & white cables into one end and the other into the VCR)...

bushwacker

2005-05-20 12:38:09 am

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

I will buy no y-cables today, for I have successfully recorded! Grin

Now it's just a matter of recording a solid run...

Andy_Olivera

2005-05-20 02:01:11 am

Quote:

I will buy no y-cables today, for I have successfully recorded! Grin

Just something to consider. Good luck!