What Is S-Video (Separate-Video)? (2024)

FAQs

What does the S-Video stand for? ›

S-video (short for Separate-video despite the misconception that it might mean Super-video) is an analog video connection standard that transmits electrical signals over wires to represent the original video. If you have an older analog TV or DVD player, you might still want an S-video cable.

Composite video combines luminance and chrominance signals into a single channel. This simplifies cable connections but can lead to reduced image quality. S-video separates luminance and chrominance into two distinct signals. This maintains a higher-quality picture by preventing color bleeding and improving sharpness.

S-Video (also known as separate video, Y/C, and erroneously Super-Video) is an analog video signal format that carries standard-definition video, typically at 525 lines or 625 lines.

Usually S-Video will be better, but not always depending on the quality of the S-Video output on the player. S-VHS and straight LaserDisc/DVD players typically have the best S-Video output. Combined VHS and DVD players usually have crappy S-Video output and the composite may actually be better. Test and compare.

(Super-video) An analog color video format that combines the three YUV video signals into two channels. Brightness/luma (Y) is in one channel, and color/chroma (U and V) are in another. S-video provides a sharper image than composite video, but is not as good as component video.

S-video cables are used for the transmission of analogue video signals, split into luminance and chrominance (Y/C), which gives substantially better sharpness and contrast than a conventional composite video signal.

S-Video cables are not very common anymore since we have better and more advanced technologies, many of which can transfer audio and video signals with a single cable. Hence, they are typically used on older TV sets that do not contain HDMI or other options.

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).

Like VHS, the S-VHS format uses a color under a modulation scheme. S-VHS improves luminance (luma) resolution by increasing luminance bandwidth. Increased bandwidth is possible because of the increased luminance carrier from 3.4 megahertz (MHz) to 5.4 MHz.

What is the difference between HDMI and S-Video? ›

S-Video is a small improvement on NTSC composite video. It is 480i and analog. HDMI is digital and supports many resolutions, including 480i but typically higher.

S-Video and RGB are very similar; S-Video shows a bit of color bleed and has slightly muted colors compared to RGB.

Both composite and s-video support only interlaced, standard-definition video, now generally referred to as 480i. Progressive scan, and higher resolutions, are not available on composite or s-video connections.

S-Video cables can use different types of connectors but the most common type of connectors used with these video cables is a 4-pin connector. If a device does not have a 4-pin plug then it is possible to use a 7-pin connector cable. These connectors and plugs are usually available with most professional S-VHS devices.

The video signals used in S-video and Composite video formats vary between 0.5 and 2.0Vp-p, with a maximum frequency of 5MHz.

STREAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics.

The luminance signal (Y) carries brightness information, which defines the black and white portion, and the chrominance signal (C) carries color information, which defines hue and saturation.