How to Hook Up a DVD Player Through a VCR

DVD players are usually designed to work with home theater systems. In addition, some brands combine DVD players and VHS players into a single unit. People who don't want an expensive theater system, and whose VCRs continue to function well, can connect their DVD player through the VCR in order to look at both without having to constantly switch cables on their TV. You'll suffer only a minimal loss in picture quality, and it will save you a considerable amount of hassle.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• TV VCR DVD player Audio-video cables

1. Check the back of your VCR. You should see a trio of cable input jacks under the label "Line In," "Video In" or "In From Antenna." One jack should be yellow, one should be red and one should be white. The yellow jack is for the video signal, and the white and red jacks are for the audio signal. Ideally, your VCR will have two sets of these three input jacks. if it doesn't, check the front of the VCR. Many brands put a second set of jacks there.

2. Look at the back of your DVD player. You should see a similar set of three cable jacks--one yellow, one white and one red--under the label "Line Out" or "Video Out."

3. Connect a set of A/V cables--three cables color-coded yellow, red and white--to the corresponding "Video Out" jacks in the DVD player. Connect the free ends to the corresponding "Video In" jacks on the VCR.

4. Check your VCR's controls. There should be a control button labeled "Line," "Input," "L1" or "L2." (Check the remote if you can't find one on the VCR itself.)

5. Press the "Line" button whenever you wish to watch the DVD player. It will switch the VCR back and forth between the cable or satellite feed (or the rabbit ears if you don't have cable), and the DVD player.

6. Put a DVD in the DVD player and press "Play."

Tips & Warnings

• Both VCRs and DVDs have "Input" and "Output" cable connections that use the triple A/V cables. Make sure you're putting the cables in the correct jacks (the Output jacks on the DVD and the Input jacks on the VCR). If you get confused, just remember that the DVD signal is going "out" from the DVD player and "into" the VCR.
• These instructions assume that your VCR has at least two sets of A/V input jacks. If it only has one, then you will need to switch back and forth whenever you want to watch your DVD player. Simply disconnect the three A/V cables leading in from the cable or satellite box, and plug in the A/V cables coming from the DVD player. Reverse the process when you are done watching the DVD.