Audio and video connector
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Audio connectors and video connectors are electrical connectors for carrying an audio signal or video signal, either in an analog or digital format. Analog A/V connectors often use Shielded cable to inhibit RF interference and noise.
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[edit] Audio Only
Audio connectors are electrical connectors designed and used for audio frequencies. They can be analogue or digital. Common audio connectors include:
- Single-conductor connectors:
- Banana connectors
- Five-way binding posts and banana plugs for loudspeakers
- Fahnestock clips on early breadboard radio receivers.
- Multi-conductor connectors:
- DB25 is for multi-track recording and other multi-channel audio, analog or digital
- DIN connectors and mini-DIN connectors
- RCA connectors, also known as phono connectors or phono plugs, used for analog or digital audio or analog video
- Speakon connectors by Neutrik for loudspeakers
- TRS connector also known as tip-ring-sleeve plug, phone plug, jack plug, mini-jack, and mini-stereo. This includes the original 6.35mm (quarter inch) jack and the more recent 3.5mm (miniature or 1/8th inch) and 2.5mm (subminiature) jacks, both mono and stereo (balanced) versions.
- XLR connectors, also known as Cannon plugs, used for analog or digital balanced audio with a balanced line
- Digital audio interfaces and interconnects:
- ADAT interface (DB25)
- AES/EBU interface, normally with XLR connectors
- S/PDIF, either over electrical coaxial cable (with RCA jacks) or optical fiber (TOSLINK).
[edit] Colour codes
white RCA/TS | analogue audio, left channel; also mono (RCA/TS), stereo (TRS only), or undefined/other |
black RCA/TS/TRS | |
grey RCA/TS/TRS | |
red RCA/TS | analogue audio, right channel |
orange RCA | SPDIF digital audio |
For computers:
green TRS 3.5mm | stereo output, front channels |
black TRS 3.5mm | stereo output, rear channels |
grey TRS 3.5mm | stereo output, side channels |
gold TRS 3.5mm | dual output, center and subwoofer |
blue TRS 3.5mm | stereo input, line level |
pink TS 3.5mm | mono microphone input |
There are exceptions to the above:
- Hosa cables use grey and orange for left and right analogue channels.
- RadioShack cables sometimes use grey and black for left and right.
- Older sound cards had non-standard colour codes until after PC99, prior to that there were no colours at all.
[edit] Video Only
Video connectors carry only video signals. Common video-only connectors include:
- Component video aka YPbPr (3 RCA or BNC; or D-Terminal)
- Composite video (1 RCA, Antenna socket, or BNC)
- DB13W3 ("13W3" computer video connector)
- DMS-59, single connector carrying two DVI and two VGA
- Musa, British connector used in broadcasting and telecommunications
- PAL connector, formerly common in Europe
- S-Video (1 Mini-DIN)
- SDI - Broadcast grade digital interface over BNC cables
- VGA connector A type of D-sub connector standard on most video cards
- Mini-VGA Found on some laptop computers
- 5 BNC Connectors can also be used to carry the VGA signal as R, G, B, HSync, VSync
- Digital Visual Interface (DVI) A hybrid analog/digital connector commonly found on PC graphics cards and LCD monitors
- Mini-DVI Found on some Apple laptops
- Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA)
- RGBI interface
- RGB interface
[edit] Colour codes
yellow RCA/BNC | composite video |
red RCA/BNC | red or Pr/Cr chrominance |
green RCA/BNC | green or luminance |
blue RCA/BNC | blue or Pb/Cb chrominance |
white BNC | horizontal sync |
black BNC | vertical sync |
Newer connectors are identified by their shape and not their colour.
[edit] Multiple signals
Some connectors can carry both audio and video signals simultaneously:
- HDMI is a new digital standard
- Digital Media Port a connector proposed by Sony on its audio/video products
- DisplayPort digital connector
- Unified Display Interface (UDI)
- F connectors are used with RF modulators for televisions without direct inputs
- SCART, now the most common in Europe
- TRS connectors with more than one ring, or Sony's hybrid RCA with a TRS pin
- Coaxial cable/RG-6/RG-59/Cable television (CATV)
Other composite connectors carry video, power, and USB:
- ADC, now-defunct Apple Display Connector
[edit] See also
- High-end audio cables
- Audio and video interfaces and connectors
- Category:Digital display connectors
- Category:Computer and telecommunication standards
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