How Do I Hookup VCR to TV?

[Lyngal]

I can't figure the out the hookup. TV is Samsung UN32EH4003V, VCR is SONY SLV-N500. VCR has only a 2 plug wire--one red, one black. TV only as two available plug-in's--the second and third out of five; the first, fourth, and fifth are already in use (DVR & DVD). Is it even possible to hookup my VCR to the TV? (I could email pictures of the backs of the TV and VCR if that would help). Thank you

 

[CountMike]

VCR and TV should have same type of input/output for it to work. Older VCR typically had composite and/or Svideo outputs and TV should have same thing as input. Red and Black were usually reserved for sound while yellow was usually composite while Svideo had different (multi point, at least 3 contacts) connector. Otherwise, Svideo and composite have same video signal. Svideo has also Chroma signal that is not always necessary.

 

[Paperdoc]

Normally there are two options for connecting a VCR to a TV. The first is using a coaxial cable ("cable TV") cable from the VCR's TV Out connector to the TV's Ant In connector. BUT you probably have the TV's Ant In already in use.

The second method is to use a different cable and connector set, and this is probably what your post mentions. On the back of your VCR is a set of three round connectors probably with the label Line Out. The top two of them are for the two channels of stereo sound (Left and Right), and the bottom one is for Composite Video. The most common type of cable used for this is a group of three cables in one, with male "RCA" connectors on each end. Each of these looks like a metal collar around the outside, and a single metal shaft sticking out in the centre. Most often their insulating collars are coded with Red, White and Yellow. When using that system, RED is used for the Audio Right, White for Audio Left, and Yellow for Composite Video. Now over on your TV, you will find similar jacks as inputs, but the Composite Video connector is a little confusing. There probably are FIVE RCA female connectors there, not three. Two of them will still be Stereo Audio Left and Right. But then there are three other with a label like Component Video Y, Pb, and Pr. The trick is that the one labeled for Component Y is also used for your Composite Video from the VCR, and you simply do NOT connect anything to the Pb and Pr jacks on the TV.

Now, you don't have a cable with three lines in Red / White / Yellow. If you want to use just what you have - Black and Red - you can as long as they have those male RCA connectors on both ends of the cables. The actual cables are both technically the same, so it does not matter which color goes to what, but you just must match them. AND this will not get stereo audio to your TV, because you have only one audio cable to use.

So, do this. Plug the Red connector on one end of your cable into the Composite Video Out jack on your VCR, and then plug the other end of the Red cable into the Component Y socket on the back of the TV. Now use the Black cable to connect the VCR's Audio Left Out connector to the TV's Audio In Left connector. On the TV your menu system will have a way to select which signal input is being used. Choose the Composite Video option to see what the VCR is sending it.

Because this connection cable cannot carry both stereo audio signals, you MAY be able to make adjustments on the VCR and TV. Some such machines in their menus allow you set whether it handles audio as two stereo signals or just a single mono audio channel. IF you have that choice, choose Mono audio AND take note of whether that signal will be on the Left or Right connector of each machine. Make sure to arrange your Black cable to use those connectors so the Mono Audio signal get through.