That’s unusual, as the mix setting on my Panasonic industrial S-VHS decks blended them across both channels. Came in really handy for a couple projects, as I couldn’t really do any fancy audio mixing back in the 90’s.
That’s probably what mine does too. When I tried the mix setting on the other Hi-Fi tapes, it just sounded like a combination of linear and Hi-Fi. I assumed it was linear on one channel and Hi-Fi on the other, but it just as easily could have been a mix sent to both channels, which would make more sense anyway.
It’s maddening how many video labels didn’t bother with proper labeling on the audio. Only a couple studios like Universal even bothered to mention the linear audio using Dolby noise reduction once Hi-Fi was standard.
I would be willing to take a shot at a beta transfer if you want to buy a copy and send me the tape.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/THE-TERMINATOR-Schwarzenegger-on-BETAMAX-Tape-BETA-NOT-VHS/163313673890
Due to work being done on my house, it will be a few weeks before I can hook my betamax back up though.
Thanks, but before I spend any more money I want confirmation that it really is Hi-Fi. The Betamax sleeve doesn’t say Hi-Fi on it and neither does the HBO Video-labeled sleeve. The only one that says Hi-Fi is the Thorn EMI-labeled sleeve, and the copy I have doesn’t seem to have anything but a linear track.