DIY Audio & Video

Tutorials, FAQs, Calculators and Examples
for Speaker Boxes, Crossovers, Filters,
Wiring, Home Automation, Security & more

How to connect Cable Box To VCR To TV Using Composite Wires

Click here for help identifying the different types of wires and connectors

Click here for help identifying connectors on the back of components


Click here to see this wiring diagram

Wiring Instructions:
  • Connect one end of the Composite Red (Right)/White (Left)/Yellow (Video) cable to the Cable Box connector labeled Composite, Audio/Video, Output or TV and the other end to any Input Composite connector on the VCR.
  • Connect one end of the Composite Red (Right)/White (Left)/Yellow (Video) cable to the VCR connector labeled Composite, Audio/Video, Output or TV and the other end to any Input Composite connector on the TV.
  • To watch a VCR/VHS tape, put in the tape and press Play. Select the Input on the TV that corresponds to the label next to where you connected the Composite cable from the VCR.
  • To watch Cable, turn on the VCR and press the TV/Video selector on the VCR to select TV. Use the same TV Input that you use to watch tapes on the VCR.
  • To record a Cable show on a VCR/VHS Tape, turn on both the VCR and the Cable Box. Put in the VHS tape to record in the VCR. Change the Source on the VCR to by changing the Input on the VCR to Auxiliary or by changing the TV/Video selector on the VCR to select TV. Select the Input on the TV that corresponds to the label next to where you connected the Composite cable from the VCR. Verify you can watch cable on the TV to verify everything is selected correctly. To record the tape, select Record on the VCR when you want to start Recording and then stop when you want to finish recording.

Note: These instructions do not include any additional customizations you may have made.

Select the components below to add them to the diagram.

No TV No Receiver No TV Source No CD No Computer
TV A/V Receiver Cable Box CD Player Computer
Input Selector Satellite SACD Player
No VCR No DVD Player No DVD Recorder No Game System No Record Player
VCR DVD Player DVD Recorder Game System Record Player
VCR/DVD Combo BluRay Player TiVo / DVR

Start Over with a new diagram

Wiring Diagram     Resize Diagram: 100%

Instructions for using this page:
  • Click the buttons at the top to add Audio/Video components to the diagram.
  • Click add or remove to add or remove outputs from a component.
  • Use the first drop down list on each component to connect to a different component.
  • Use the second drop down list to change the type of wire. More stars below means better quality wire.
Types of Wires
that can then be bookmarked or shared with others or copy the URL below.