bill@neothings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.neothings.com


02 - Y/C Video

Posted in Neothings by bill on the April 10th, 2006

Y/C video, aka S-video, uses a separate line for the color information. The Y luminance signal (the black and white information) looks almost exactly the same as composite video, and in some cheap equipment, it is exactly the same. It will always have the same sync pulses, video levels, and timing. The C chrominance signal contains the color information. The benefit is better color resolution, but no better black and white (Luminance) resolution. Y/C has some advantages when used all the way through the system, as with S-VHS tape decks connected to satellite receivers. The improvement over a good composite video signal is marginal, but some people still swear by it.
The connector is a Euro style 4 pin DIN, and most cables are premolded, although you can buy connectors with solder-able pins. Internally, S-Video cable is two mini coax cables. The biggest problem is finding a suitable dual coax that will fit in the backshell. Chances are you won’t be making any long runs of Y/C video anymore.

Leave a Reply