S-Video

Separate Video is a method of transferring video signals for home entertainment devices like TVs, VCRs, DVD players and Game Consoles. Also known as Y/C, S-VHS or Super Video S-Vido uses a Mini Din connector, with 4 pins and one plastic key.

Quality

S-Video will take a standard definition signal and will separate the lighting from the coloring signals, and sends each down independent signal/ground pairs. this will provide higher clarity and less 'noise' than standard composite video. S-Video will support resolutions of 480i and 576i.

Better than

S-Video will have a sharper and clearer video signal than composite video and will likely be better than a coaxial cable type connection from a VCR or DVD player.

Not as good as

If your video device has Component, or a digital output like DVI or HDMI, DisplayPort, they will be higher quality. But for standard definition signals S-Video is only outdone by component video

Applications

• Televisions
• VCRs
• DVD players
• Game Consoles (like Xbox, Playstation, and Gamecube)
• TV Out from many desktop or laptop computers
• Some cameras or Video cameras have S-Video

Conversions

Simple conversions reqire only a passive adapter or cable, there is no active conversion simply different pinouts of the same signals. Complex conversions require active circutry to convert the signal, to change it to the new signal. These often only work one-way.

Simple

• S-video to S-video (Besides the standard cables) There are S-video Extension cables
• S-Video to Composite video. It will only be at composite quality, but they will be comaptible.

Complex

• S-video to VGA If you want to view your S-video source on a computer monitor, you can get a TV tuner
• Computer to S-Video If you want to output your computer screen to a TV, you can either get a video card with TV out or get a TV to PC converter.

See all video connections