VCR Troubles....Anyone Have any ideas?

[Lollipop's Mom]

I think it is just a toasted VCR, but thought I would ask. When I record something from TV or my camcorder, it will not record sound. It has not been disconnected at all, its the exact same as it has been for 2 years, but suddenly will not record sound.
Its a VERY basic older panasonic VCR - can anyone think of any settings that might have been switched on/off that would make it do this?? Thanks.

 

[Barb D]

Could the audio cable have become loose?

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Checked that....doubled checked it and triple checked it.... LOL. Thanks.

 

[the kabuki]

Have no clue, but day after Thanksgiving sales are coming up...could get a good price on VCR (do they even sell them anymore??)

 

[FroggyinArk]

if you have pets they might have bitten through a connector cable at some point,other wise vcrs are cheep now,,, just replace it.,

 

[MICKEY88]

do you have sound when you play a store bought tape ??

 

[MICKEY88]

Could the audio cable have become loose?

push the audio cable in all the way, then back it out just a tad....

trick I learned when I worked for Ritz camera...

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Well I have sound from other tapes, its just when I am recording. Its not a matter of buying one, but I need one by noon tomorrow as I am on a deadline and need to transfer stuff from my camcorder tonight!! I have to run out tomorrow and buy one I guess.

 

[MICKEY88]

if you play your tape in the camcorder is there sound..??

are you connecting the audio cable from camcorder to vcr, properly..

again push all the way in, then back it out a tad.. sometimes when rca cables are pushed in tight they short out

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Yes, it plays sound fine....from the camcorder and from tapes...it just wont record the sound.

 

[MICKEY88]

double check the cable from the camcorder to the vcr, make sure the connection is not pushed in all the way, also if the vcr has 2 jacks and you only have one cable it makes a difference which jack you use...

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Checked and double checked....you see I leave it in there plugged in at the back because I do this about once a week. I just hook up my camcorder. Also, it wont record audio from the tv either......so I think its just toasted.

 

[MICKEY88]

it's definitely possible, I've just never heard of that happening,

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Yah I know.....I thought maybe my daughter reset something in the controls, but its such a basic VCR there really isn't anything to 'reset'. Oh I just don't need this tonight! And I live 35 mins from a store that even sells VCRs, so its a quick trip out there in the morning, back to transfer the tape, then off to fedex it by noon. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I have so much to do tomorrow without this hassle!! lol.

 

[MICKEY88]

if you connect the camcorder and just play it thru the vcr to the tv is there sound..

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Yes, when I play it there is sound.

 

[MICKEY88]

good luck with your new vcr purchase

 

[MICKEY88]

WOW just checked walmart online, they have a vcr for 39 dollars

 

[MICKEY88]

random thought hit me this morning driving in to work,

did you try cleaning the head in the vcr ?