Stevizard,
Speaking of using VCRs, before I got my Minidisc recorder, I used a Hi-Fi Stereo VCR to record audio masters of my music. You use the fast speed, and get 2 hours of noise-free, near-digital sound. It's far cleaner than cassette. I would tape myself for several nights, then copy the good stuff to cassette, print some labels, and sell them to the drunk people.
A lot of the higher-end VCRs have special settings for recording audio, some even with adjustable input controls.
Just a thought.
Don