Strange DVD recording problem

My DVD recorder is set to record on video 1. After awhile (variable, hours to days) it stops recognizing audio and instead the tv, when going through the recorder, emits a high pitched squeal. Video, but no audio. If it was always like this I would know I did something wrong. Instead, I do not know if I did something wrong, or if the unit is defective. Has anyone ever encountered this before. And while I don’t know the model number, it is a Sony.