VIDEO SIGNALS

Composite

Definition
A type of video signal in which all information -- the red, blue, and green signals (and sometimes audio signals as well) -- are mixed together. By default, most electronic devices that hook up to your television send a "Composite" Signal.

The cable has 3 jacks: yellow,white,and red. One jack sends the audio (left), the second the stereo (right), and the third the video, respectively.

Examples
This is the type of signal used by televisions in the United States.

Advantages


Disadvantages
RGB video produces sharper images than composite video does.

S-Video (Y/C Video)

Definition
Short for Super-Video, a technology for transmitting video signals over a cable by dividing the video information into two separate signals: one for color (chrominance), and the other for brightness (luminance).

To use S-Video, the device sending the signals must support S-Video output and the device receiving the signals must have an S-Video input jack. Then you need a special S-Video cable to connect the two devices.

Examples
Transmits a television signal from a device such as a Camcorder, VCR, or a game machine (PSX/Saturn/SNES etc.)

Advantages
When sent to a television, this produces sharper images than composite video , where the video information is transmitted as a single signal over one wire. This is because televisions are designed to display separate Luminance (Y) and Chrominance (C) signals.

Disadvantages

BetaCam

Picture Definition Examples Advantages Disadvantages