After Image Explained (page 2)
Q. Do you know of a mid-priced ($3K to $4K) Hi8 or S-VHS camcorder that will record from a line-level audio input while still using the camera for video input into the recorder section?
If not, is there a decent way to pad down a line level signal to match it to a microphone level input?
Ronnie Day
Dallas, Texas
A. Sorry, Ronnie; I can't think of a single consumer-level camcorder that will do this. Maybe our readers can.
Padding down the signal (reducing the voltage from mike-level to line-level) can sometimes contribute noise, but this is minimal with a good quality attenuator. I've had good luck with Radio Shack's in-line attenuator (part #274-300, $3), or you could try Comprehensive Video's high quality IL-16 ($50). Short of that, a number of small mixers like the Shure M267 or the Azden CAM-3 (both of which can run on batteries and have mic level outputs) will do the job.
Q. I want to buy two wireless mikes (on different frequencies) and plug them into a "Y" adapter. The
base of the Y will go into the camera. Will this configuration give me each mike on a different
channel?
Steve Bauer
Hollywood, California
A. Yes, if your camcorder has an external stereo mike input. You'll need to find a "Y" connector that has mono inputs on each part of the Y, and a stereo mini phone plug at the other end. If your camcorder doesn't have a stereo mike input, you can still mix the outputs with a mono Y connector and record them on your mono channel.
Q. My old Go.Video twin deck VCR makes wonderful copies except when I edit. At each edit pause it
puts a few seconds of glitch on the tape. Can I do anything about this?
Jack Diamond
Arleta, California
A. Sorry, Jack. Go.Video constructed their early decks without a flying erase head on the video drum. These are good dubbing decks, but because of the missing flying erase head, your edits will include glitches. Aside from this, there's probably nothing wrong with your deck.
Recently, Go.Video included flying erase heads in some of their units, making them capable of clean edits.
Q. I tried using S-VHS tapes in my VHS machine once and it looked promising. Is an S-VHS
tape superior to top-of-the-line VHS tapes?
Steven W. Roark
Corsicana, Texas
A. Apparently, some people believe that top-of-the-line VHS tapes can do the same job as S-VHS tapes - that's why cartridge hole punchers are available. These gizmos allow VHS tapes to record an S- VHS signal. But the fact remains that S-VHS tapes do have finer, more densely packed oxide coatings than standard VHS tapes. This allows recording of higher frequencies, resulting in the greater picture detail of S-VHS.
However, you need to know that manufacturers design standard VHS tape to work best with standard VHS circuitry. The difference an S-VHS tape makes may be difficult to see, and probably not worth the extra cost.
