Owner's manual (PDF): SLV-N55
Got the Sony SLV-N55 VHS Transfer Bundle? This guide gets the VCR hooked up to any TV, old or new, and then walks you through copying your tapes to a Windows PC or a Mac with the USB capture adapter in the box. Watch the video, or follow the written steps below. The same VCR steps work for the Sony SLV-N77 and SLV-N88.
Video Chapters
- 0:00 Intro
- 0:19 What's in the box
- 0:45 Which jacks to use
- 1:07 Older TV with AV jacks
- 1:21 HDMI TV with the converter
- 1:44 First power-on and TV input
- 2:08 Play a VHS tape
- 2:28 What you need to copy tapes
- 2:59 Connect the USB capture adapter
- 3:25 OBS: add the VCR
- 3:58 OBS: settings and test
- 4:24 Record a tape
- 4:46 Mac: QuickTime
- 5:15 Quick fixes
Models This Guide Covers
- Sony SLV-N55 (shown in the video)
- Sony SLV-N77 and SLV-N88 (same owner's manual, same rear jacks and first-time setup; the N88 adds a dial timer)
Step 1: Check What's in the Box
Your bundle has the VCR, the Sony remote with two AA batteries, the USB capture adapter (a small black stick with red, white, yellow and black plugs on short leads), a red, white and yellow RCA cable, and an AV-to-HDMI converter with its HDMI cable and USB power cord.
Step 2: Find the Right Jacks
On the back of the VCR, use the left column of jacks, LINE OUT: red for right audio, white for left audio, yellow for video. These feed both your TV and the capture adapter. Leave LINE IN 1 empty (it's for recording from another device), and skip the round RF antenna connectors.
Step 3: Connect to Your TV
Older TV with red, white and yellow jacks: run the RCA cable from LINE OUT to the TV's AV inputs and match the colors. HDMI-only TV: plug the RCA cable from LINE OUT into the converter's INPUT jacks, run the HDMI cable from the converter's OUTPUT to an HDMI port on the TV, and plug the converter's USB power cord into a wall plug or a USB port on the TV.
Step 4: First Power-On and TV Input
Plug the VCR into the wall. The display shows Auto while it sets the clock and channels on its own, so don't press any buttons until it finishes. If the clock shows dashes, that's fine for playing tapes. Slide the switch at the top of the remote to VIDEO so it controls the VCR, then press INPUT on your TV remote and pick AV, or the HDMI port you used.
Step 5: Play a Tape
Push a tape into the slot, window side up. If the record tab is broken off, it starts playing by itself; otherwise press PLAY. If you see lines or snow, press the TRACKING +/− buttons on the front. Press EJECT on the left side of the front panel to take the tape out.
Step 6: What You Need to Copy Tapes
A Windows PC or a Mac with a free USB port (USB-C only? use a small USB-C to USB-A adapter). On Windows you'll use OBS Studio, which is free; on a Mac, QuickTime Player is already installed. Tapes copy in real time, so a two-hour tape takes two hours, and you'll need about 1 to 2 GB of space per hour of video.
Step 7: Connect the USB Capture Adapter
Unplug the RCA cable from the TV or converter and leave the other end in the VCR's LINE OUT. Plug the red, white and yellow plugs into the matching jacks on the capture adapter's leads, and leave the black S-video plug empty. Plug the adapter into a USB port on your computer: the green light comes on and Windows sets it up on its own. No driver disc is needed.
Step 8: Set Up OBS Studio (Windows)
- Open OBS Studio. If the setup wizard appears, choose Optimize just for recording.
- In the Sources box, click + and pick Video Capture Device. Name it VCR and click OK.
- Set Device to USB Video, and set Resolution/FPS Type to Custom, Resolution to 720x480 and FPS to 29.97.
- Check Use custom audio device and choose USB Digital Audio. Click OK.
- Right-click the VCR source and choose Resize Output (Source Size) so the picture fills the frame.
- Open Settings → Output. The Recording Path is where your videos are saved. Set the Recording Format to Hybrid MP4 and click OK.
- Press PLAY on the VCR to test: you should see the picture, and the audio meter in the mixer should move.
Step 9: Record a Tape
Rewind the tape to the start. Click Start Recording in OBS, then press PLAY on the VCR. When the tape ends, click Stop Recording, then press STOP on the VCR. Click File → Show Recordings to open the folder with your new video.
Step 10: On a Mac, Use QuickTime
Open QuickTime Player and choose File → New Movie Recording. If asked, allow access to the camera and microphone. Click the small arrow next to the red record button and choose USB Video under Camera and the USB audio device under Microphone. Click the red button, then press PLAY on the VCR. When it's done, click stop, then File → Save. Your video goes to the Movies folder.
Troubleshooting
- Picture is black and white: unplug the capture adapter and plug it back in. In OBS you can also double-click the source, click Configure Video and set the video standard to NTSC_M.
- No picture in OBS or QuickTime: make sure USB Video is selected, and close any other app that uses the camera.
- No sound in the recording: check that USB Digital Audio (or the USB audio device on a Mac) is chosen.
- Rolling lines: press TRACKING +/− on the VCR.
- A store-bought movie won't record: many are copy-protected. Your home movies are fine.
- Remote not working: slide the switch at the top to VIDEO and check the batteries.
Need the full manual? Download it free: Sony SLV-N55 / N77 / N88 owner's manual. More walkthroughs are on our Setup Videos page. Still stuck? Contact us or leave a comment on the video.
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Teklinq is not affiliated with Sony, the OBS Project or Apple. Sony, OBS Studio and QuickTime are trademarks of their respective owners.