Tony wrote:
"Richard Steinfeld" wrote in message
...

The most awesome way that I know of to record off the air is with a Video
Cassette Recorder (hi-fi, stereo).

...

The fidelity is outstanding, just a couple of dB short of the Compact
Disk's S-N ratio. In my experience, the FM station does not exist that
comes anywhere near transmitting this dynamic range.


Very practical. But there is fairly heavy companding applied to hide the
head switching noise so I suspect they might not be that good for some type
of material, for example high quality piano music. And the only way to edit
is to transfer to another medium.


All true. With transmitted broadcast classical music, I didn't hear any
detriment -- but on one program, I found audio artifacts in the picture!
The sound of a slamming gate must have been overmodulated (the end of
_The Life and Crimes of William Palmer_ (did I remember correctly?).

The piano example would be a good test, I agree. I'm not suggesting this
for audiophile work, but who knows. I've never seen this used. Lack of
experience doesn't prevent from making grand prounouncements.

Richard