S-video Cable Question at DVinfo.net

Chris Boykins · April 18th, 2006, 07:03 PM

When I hook up my GL1 to a calibrated TV set. Do I use the Stereo Video Cable (red, white and yellwo cord) or is it better to use the S-Video connection. What's the difference?

David L. Holmes · April 18th, 2006, 07:56 PM

S-video is always prefered to the composite video input. S-video is a cable that seperates the colors of video (red, green, and blue) from the brightness signal for proper video reproduction. Composite video (the little yellow cable) is a combination video signal that has to reconverted to the three different color signals for display on the TV. It's kind of like using a digital to analog back to digital converter. Of course the best option would be a firewire hookup, then you would get a pure digital signal, but TV's don't have that option. Always use your S-video for the best image quality from your videocamera.

Webb Pickersgill · April 18th, 2006, 08:51 PM

Yes, ALWAYS use S-Video over Composite when you have the choice.

Don Palomaki · April 19th, 2006, 04:28 AM

Agree that s-video is the better way to do. The composite video signal contains the same two signals as the s-video cable but they are mixed (added) together to make one electrical signal. The process of separating these back into the original two signals needed by the TV set often results in some losses, expecially of fine detail.

The TV set uses the two signals (brightness, which is essentially a B&W image) and color difference (a modulated signal comprised of two color information signal streams) to form the image. The process is clever, designed to work with the technology available in the 1940s.

Chris Boykins · April 19th, 2006, 06:03 AM

David, Webb and Don. Thanks for the help. So I hook up one end of the s-video cable to my Gl1 and the other to the S-video component of the TV? Both ends of the s-video cable will look the same--correct? What type/model of s-video cable is needed? Maybe a link would help so that I don't buy the wrong one. Thanks

K. Forman · April 19th, 2006, 06:07 AM

As far as I know, S vid cables are all the same.

Greg Boston · April 19th, 2006, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Boykins

David, Webb and Don. Thanks for the help. So I hook up one end of the s-video cable to my Gl1 and the other to the S-video component of the TV? Both ends of the s-video cable will look the same--correct? What type/model of s-video cable is needed? Maybe a link would help so that I don't buy the wrong one. Thanks

Chris,

Both ends of the cable are the same, it makes no difference which end you hook to what. However, since you are asking about S-Video, I wanted to point out something that a lot of folks don't initially realize. That is, S-Video DOES NOT contain any audio information. You'l need to hook up separate audio cables to get sound.

regards,

-gb-

April 18th, 2006, 07:03 PM	#1
Chris Boykins Tourist Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Deleware, USA Posts: 4	S-video Cable Question When I hook up my GL1 to a calibrated TV set. Do I use the Stereo Video Cable (red, white and yellwo cord) or is it better to use the S-Video connection. What's the difference?

April 18th, 2006, 08:51 PM	#3
Webb Pickersgill Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 171	Yes, ALWAYS use S-Video over Composite when you have the choice. __________________ Webb Pickersgill Bassline Digital, LLC

April 19th, 2006, 04:28 AM	#4
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 3,323	Agree that s-video is the better way to do. The composite video signal contains the same two signals as the s-video cable but they are mixed (added) together to make one electrical signal. The process of separating these back into the original two signals needed by the TV set often results in some losses, expecially of fine detail. The TV set uses the two signals (brightness, which is essentially a B&W image) and color difference (a modulated signal comprised of two color information signal streams) to form the image. The process is clever, designed to work with the technology available in the 1940s. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

April 19th, 2006, 06:03 AM	#5
Chris Boykins Tourist Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Deleware, USA Posts: 4	Another question about s-video David, Webb and Don. Thanks for the help. So I hook up one end of the s-video cable to my Gl1 and the other to the S-video component of the TV? Both ends of the s-video cable will look the same--correct? What type/model of s-video cable is needed? Maybe a link would help so that I don't buy the wrong one. Thanks

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April 18th, 2006, 07:56 PM	#2
David L. Holmes Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Detroit, MI USA Posts: 94	S-video is always prefered to the composite video input. S-video is a cable that seperates the colors of video (red, green, and blue) from the brightness signal for proper video reproduction. Composite video (the little yellow cable) is a combination video signal that has to reconverted to the three different color signals for display on the TV. It's kind of like using a digital to analog back to digital converter. Of course the best option would be a firewire hookup, then you would get a pure digital signal, but TV's don't have that option. Always use your S-video for the best image quality from your videocamera.

April 19th, 2006, 06:07 AM	#6
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Melbourne/Palm Bay Fla Posts: 3,595	As far as I know, S vid cables are all the same.