Audio and video interfaces and connectors: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Electrical or optical connectors for carrying audio and video signals}}

{{RefimproveMore citations needed|date=February 2009}}

'''Audio connectors''' and '''video connectors''' are [[electrical connector|electrical]] or [[optical fiber connector|optical connectors]] for carrying [[audio signal|audio]] or [[video signal]]s. '''Audio interfaces''' or '''video interfaces''' define physical parameters and interpretation of signals. Some connectors and interfaces carry either audio only or video only, whereas others carry both, [[Audiovisual|audio and video]].

For [[digital audio]] and [[digital video]], this can be thought of as defining the [[physical layer]], [[data link layer]], and most or all of the [[application layer]]. For [[analog audio]] and [[analog video]] these functions are all represented in a single signal specification like [[NTSC]] or the direct [[Loudspeaker|speaker]]-driving signal of analog audio.

Physical characteristics of the electrical or optical equipment include the types and numbers of wires required, voltages, frequencies, optical intensity, and the physical design of the connectors. Any data link layer details define how application data is encapsulated (for example for [[synchronization]] or [[error-correction]]). Application layer details define the actual audio or video format being transmitted, often incorporating [[codec]]s not specific to the interface, such as [[PCM]], [[MPEG-2]], or the [[DTS Coherent Acoustics codec]]. In some cases, the application layer is left open; for example, [[HDMI]] contains an [[Ethernet]] channel for general data transmission.

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| rowspan=5| '''Audio only'''

| rowspan=2 |'''Analog'''

| Often unmarked on consumer audio equipment since it is so common, or labelled with [[headphones]] symbol or as "line out". Computers and other equipment sometimes use [[PC_System_Design_GuidePC System Design Guide#Color-coding_scheme_for_connectors_and_portscoding scheme for connectors and ports|Microsoft-Intel color coding scheme]], especially when there are multiple input/output plugs.

| [[Phone connector (audio)|3.5&nbsp;mm TRS minijack]]<br/>[[RCA connector]]

|-

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| [[Mini-DIN connector|Mini-DIN]] 4-pin

|-

| [[Component Videovideo|Component]]. In popular use, it refers to a type of analog video information that is transmitted or stored as three separate signals. Either [[Component video#RGB analog component video|RGB interfaces]] or [[YPbPr]]

| 3 [[RCA jack]]s

|-

| [[Composite Video|Composite]], [[S-Video]], and [[Component Videovideo|Component]]

| [[Video In Video Out|VIVO]] = [[Mini-DIN connector|Mini-DIN]] 9-pin with breakout cable.

|-

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|-

| rowspan=4 |'''Digital'''

| [[High-Definition Multimedia Interface]] (HDMI), BNC

| HDMI connector

|-

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=== DisplayPort ===

[[File:DisplayPort Connector.svg|left|200px|pinout_caption=External connector (source-side) on PCB]]

[[DisplayPort]] is a digital display interface standard (approved May 2006, current version 1.4 published on March 1, 2016). It defines a new license-free, royalty-free, digital audio/video interconnect, intended to be used primarily between a computer and its display monitor, or a computer and a home-theater system.

The video signal is not compatible with [[Digital Visual Interface|DVI]] or [[High-Definition Multimedia Interface|HDMI]], but a DisplayPort connector can pass these signals through. DisplayPort is a competitor to the HDMI connector, the [[de facto]] digital connection for high-definition consumer electronics devices.

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* [[Fahnestock clip]]s on early [[breadboard]] radio receivers.

* [[Euroblock]] "European-style terminal block" or "Phoenix connectors", screw terminal connectors used for audio and control signals

* Multi-conductor connectors:

** [[D-subminiature|DB25]] is for [[multi-track recording]] and other multi-channel audio, analog or digital

** [[DIN connector|DIN]] connectors and [[mini-DIN]] connectors

* [[DIN connector|DIN]] connectors and [[mini-DIN]] connectors
* [[Euroblock]] "European-style terminal block" or "Phoenix connectors", screw terminal connectors used for audio and control signals

** [[RCA connector]]s, also known as ''phono'' connectors or ''phono plugs'', used for analog or digital audio or analog video

** [[Speakon connector]]s by [[Neutrik]] for [[loudspeaker]]s

** [[Phone connector (audio)|Phone connector]] also known as tip-ring-sleeve (TRS) or tip-sleeve plug, phone plug, jack plug, mini-jack, and mini-stereo. This includes the original 6.35mm (quarter inch) jack and the more recent and standard 3.5mm (miniature or 1/8&nbsp;inch) and 2.5mm (subminiature) jacks, both mono and stereo (balanced) versions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021807&p_id=4637&seq=1&format=2 |title=2.5mm Audio Cables |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926064343/http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021807&p_id=4637&seq=1&format=2 |archive-date=September 26, 2013}}</ref>

** [[XLR connector]]s, also known as ''Cannon plugs'', used for analog or digital [[balanced audio]] with a [[balanced line]].

* Digital audio interfaces and interconnects:

** [[ADAT]] interface (DB25)

* [[ADAT]] interface (DB25)
* [[AES/EBU]] interface, normally with [[XLR connector]]

** [[S/PDIF]], either over electrical [[coaxial cable]] (with [[RCA jack]]s) or [[optical fiber]] ([[TOSLINK]]).

=== Phone connector ===

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* [[TV Aerial Plug|PAL connector]], common in [[Europe]] as an antenna connector

* [[S-Video]] (1 [[Mini-DIN]])

* [[Serial Digitaldigital Interfaceinterface|SDI]] - Broadcast grade digital interface over [[BNC connector|BNC]] cables

* [[VGA connector]] A type of [[D-sub]] connector standard on most video cards

* [[Mini-VGA]] Found on some laptop computers

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VIVO is found predominantly on high-end [[ATI Technologies|ATI]] video cards, although a few high-end [[NVIDIA]] video cards also have this port. VIVO on these graphics cards typically supports [[Composite Video|Composite]], [[S-Video]], and [[Component video|Component]] as outputs, and composite and S-Video as inputs. Many other video cards only support component and/or S-Video outputs to complement [[Video Graphics Array]] or [[Digital Visual Interface|DVI]], typically using a component breakout cable and an S-Video cable.

{{clear both}}

=== DVI Connector ===

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:{| class=wikitable

|-

|! style="background-color:orange #e68699;" | &nbsp;

! [[Pink]] / 701C

| Orange TRS 3.5&nbsp;mm

| Analog [[microphone]] audio input (†mono or stereo).

| Output, [[subwoofer]]

|-

|! style="background-color:blue #6cace4;" | &nbsp;

! Light [[blue]] / 284C

| Blue TRS 3.5&nbsp;mm

| Input,Analog [[line level]] audio input.

|-

|! style="background-color:pink #a9c47f;" | &nbsp;

! [[Lime (color)|Lime green]] / 577C

| Pink TRS† 3.5&nbsp;mm

| Analog line level audio output.

| [[microphone]] input

|-

|! style="background-color:lime #eca154;" | &nbsp;

! [[Orange (colour)|Orange]] / 157C

| Lime TRS 3.5&nbsp;mm

| Analog audio output for the center speaker and [[Subwoofer]]

| Output, front channels

|-

|! style="background-color:brown #ad7c59;" | &nbsp;

|! [[Brown]] TRS/ 3.5&nbsp;mm4645C

| Output,Analog 'Rightaudio output for "right-to-left" speaker'speakers.

|-

|! style="background-color:gold #cc8a00;" | &nbsp;

! [[Gold (color)|Gold]] / 131C

| Gold TRS 3.5&nbsp;mm

| [[Musical Instrument Digital Interface|MIDI]]/game

|}

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|style=background:red|

|red RCA/BNC

| red or OrPr/Cr chrominance

|-

|style=background:green|

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==See also==

* [[Audio interface]]

* [[:Category:Telecommunications standards]]

* [[Computer port (hardware)]]

* [[Speaker wire]]

* [[Speakon connector]]s

* [[Video interface]]

* [[Y-cable]]