Understanding Video Output types

 What are the types of outputs we can expect and the semi technical way they are described?

First of all there are two types of ways that the Video is sent or produced for Screen viewing. We are talking about this as people more and more run Live and Video on demand Internet Streaming, they will  need to know the basics of formats and viewing types.

• Progressive
• Interlaced

Progressive is to be viewed on Computer screens, including most of your cell type phones such as Blackberries, IPhones, smartphones etc.

Interlaced are always viewed on Television type monitors as they have scan rates that are typically 720x480 at 29.97 frames.

of course, there is much more detail to this but this will get you out of the woods with a basic understanding.

Now for the typical types of sources you will see in the Video world.

The first is Composit video which is typically consumer video and is the baseband for viewing.

1. Composite Video - Your VCR or low end cable box will give you Composite Video. They use RCA jacks for both Video and two for Audio. the Audio output is typically called "Unbalanced Audio" (that is the terminogy, balanced and unbalanced Audio). Note that sometimes you might find a BNC output for Composite it is becoming rare.
    
2. S-Video - Next is S-Video, or Super Video which is a 4 pin round or barrel connector that is use for the Pro-Sumer or Pro Consumer market. The pins consist of 1 being Color (Chrominance), 2 being Intensity (Luminance) and the 3rd and 4th are grounds.
   
   

   Pin out
   Looking at the female connector
   Pin 1	GND	Ground (Y)
   Pin 2	GND	Ground (C)
   Pin 3	Y	Intensity (Luminance)
   Pin 4	C	Color (Chrominance)

3. Component - it is High Quality Analog by nature. 3 RCA or BNC connectors for producing the picture. 1 is for Color Red, 2 for the Color Blue (the Green is derrived or decoded from the blue and red outputs) and the the Y or Luminance. Many Cable boxes, XBOX, and DVR's and the like for the consumer are using this format.
   The audio is the same, two separate  cables and I am not certain if they are Balanced or Unbalanced and we will update this article later on to be more accurate for you detail buffs.
    
4. HDMI - This format sits in the middle and all that i can tell you that it is still is for the the Pro Sumer market and the video and audio are combined in the one cable.
5. DV - is the last that is a digitized Consumer Pro Sumer Audio and Video coming down one cable. It uses typical television broadcast format 720x480 with a 29.97 format that is Interlaced.
   
   Balance and Unbalanced Audio Tip - Decks that use Component output the audio is often using an XLR connector and that is typically balanced audio.  However there is no reason that an unbalanced audio source cannot be used alongside a component video signal.   Balanced audio is considered to be a cleaner signal and thus is used at the professional level