larry@ihuxf.UUCP (06/27/83)
I disagree with the idea of dup'ing tapes by patching the video to video and audio to audio. I can see no visible difference in the picture quality compared to straight RF patching - but there is a definite advantage in the audio! Since there aren't any record level controls, the audio channel is ``auto-level'' controlled. For the most part this works fairly well until you get into a part of the picture where everything is quite - and suddenly someone speaks. The auto-gain circuit has been trying to find the audio, so it has boosted the record level WAY up (taping a lot of hiss), now on the first word, the auto-gain circuit sees it is up far too high and drops the level WAY down making the second word too quite - eventually things work out, but I for one find it much too agrevatting. When you tape via the RF, then the record level is apparently determined from the more constant video level and there isn't the audio level over/undershoots. -- Larry Marek ihnp4!ihuxf!larry