How can I transfer my VHS home movies to DVDs using a DVD recorder?

Did you try plugging the video + audio outputs of the VCR into the inputs of the DVD recorder? Video = yellow or svideo, audio = red + white cables Hit "play" on the VCR and "record" on the DVD-R.

Plug the output from your VCR into one of the inputs on the DVD-recorder. Connect the DVD-recorder to your TV as normal. Set the TV to the input that the DVD recorder is on, and set the DVD recorder to use the input that the VCR is on. Put your VHS tape into the VCR and hit play. If you see the movie on your TV, you're all set. Put a blank DVD-R into the DVD recorder, start the movie on the VCR, and hit record on the DVD recorder. When finished, hit Stop on the DVD recorder and then finalize the DVD-R (otherwise it won't be playable on other DVD players.) That's it. You should now have a playable DVD with your home movie on it. Repeat as needed.