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Composite video adapts the format of an analog picture signal which is then combined with sound signals and subsequently modulated through an R F Carrier. It is a composite signal from three different sources called the Y, U and V, which are combined with sync pulses. Y represents luminance; U and V carry the hue and saturation, which together constitutes the chrominance. So, U and V together carry the information on the color signals. Composite video is also often called the CVBS, which is an abbreviation for Colour, Video, Blank and Sync.
S-video is known as "separate video" and sometimes also wrongly addressed as the "super video". This is also a video analog signal that carries the information in two different signals, namely the chroma, which means colour; and luma, which means luminance. It carries standard definition video in a single cable, and does not combine it with audio signals. Both S-video and Composite Video are different from each other in various aspects.
Comparison chart
| Composite Video | S-Video | |
|---|---|---|
(61 ratings) |
(84 ratings) | |
| Type | Analog Video Connector | Analog video connector |
| External | Yes | Yes |
| Introduction (from Wikipedia) | Composite video is the format of an analog television (picture only) signal before it is combined with a sound signal and modulated onto an RF carrier. | Separate Video, more commonly known as S-Video, also called Y/C, and sometimes incorrectly referred to as Super Video, is an analog video signal that carries video data as two separate signals: Luma (luminance) and chroma (color). |
| Video signal | NTSC, PAL, or SECAM video | NTSC, PAL, or SECAM video |
| Pins | 1 Plus Shield | 4 or 7 |
| Connector | RCA connector, 1/8 inch Jack plug, etc. | Mini-DIN connector |
| Hot pluggable | Yes | Yes |
| Picture Signals | Up to 576i (~768x576) | Carried through 2 separate signals |
| Low pass Filter | Required | Not Required |
| Picture Clarity | Good | Excellent |
| Usage | Decreased usage due to low picture clarity | Increasingly in consumer durables |
History and Evolution
Composite video was extensively used in the 1980s, in older versions of game consoles, VCRs and television sets. In the year 1987, the S-Video cable standard was used for the first time in JVC's S-VHS. In the late 1990s larger television sets started incorporating S-Video, making it compatible with video game consoles, DVD players and satellite receivers.
Cost
The cost of installing composite video used to be far cheaper than the more advanced S-Video. The cables and adapters required for installing the latter, were substantially dearer. These days since both have been replaced by HDMI, the cost difference is not as significant.
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Functional Differences and Picture Quality
Composite video is an analog signal, and carries the video or picture through a single, low quality signal. In comparison, S-video carries the picture through two signals, namely the chroma (colour) and luma (luminance). This video signal is of far better quality than what composite video has to offer. In composite video, the luminance signal is low pass filtered to prevent any cross talk between the color sub carrier and the luminance information. This luminance information is essentially high frequency. However, S-video keeps the two signals separate, so that this act of low pass filtering is not required. This automatically provides a wider bandwidth for luminance and also brings down the intensity of the colour cross talk issue. This helps in offering better picture clarity by keeping the information from the original video source intact.
The following video compares the video quality for composite and S-Video cables tested with GameCube and N64:
Composite and S-video Connectors
Both S-video and composite video depend on analog based video signals. Both of them work on PAL, NTSC, and SECAM coding standards. However, their connectors are different from each other.
S-video signal generally uses a cable with 4-pin mini-DIN connector which is somewhat similar to the regular mini-DIN cables. Alternatively, simple cables can also be used, but they do not offer superior picture quality. The prices of connectors are pretty reasonable, however the quality of the pins are weak and may bend with extensive usage. Before the advent of these cables, simple plugs capable of carrying S Video signals were used for the same purpose.
A picture of S-Video connectors
Composite video, on the other hand, uses typical yellow RCA connector or a 1/8 inch jack plug, especially when used in consumer durables. When the same signal is used in gaming devices, there is a single composite output cable with 4 connectors.
One end of an RCA connector cable to carry composite video signal.
There are special cables that can connect to an S-video output jack (for example, from a laptop) and feed the signal to a TV that has a composite input port.
StarTech Video to Composite Video Adapter Cable, for sale on Amazon for less than $10
Usage
Initially, composite video was used in larger television sets and earlier versions of VCRs. This was steadily replaced by S-Video, due to its better picture quality , It is being extensively used as a popular alternative for televisions, high end VCD players, video game consoles and graphic cards. Though composite video offers good signals, S-video is more popular for its better picture clarity.
References
About the Author
Nick Jasuja has over 15 years of technology industry experience, including at Amazon in Seattle. He is an expert at building websites, developing software programs in PHP and JavaScript, maintaining MySQL and PostgreSQL databases, and running Linux servers for serving high-traffic websites. He has a bachelor's degree in Computer Science & Engineering.
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