Audio and video interfaces and connectors: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 09:22, 21 March 2021

Revision as of 02:55, 25 March 2021

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

{{Refimprove|date=February 2009}}

'''Audio connectors''' and '''video connectors''' are [[electrical connector|electrical]] or [[optical fiber connector|optical connectors]] for carrying [[audio signal|audio]] and [[video signal]]s. '''Audio interfaces''' and '''video interfaces''' define physical parameters and interpretation of signals. 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 includes 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 a [[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.

Some types of connectors are used by multiple hardware interfaces; for example, [[RCA connector]]s are defined both by the [[composite video]] and [[component video]] interfaces, but [[Digital Visual Interface|DVI]] is the only interface that uses the DVI connector. This means that in some cases not all components with physically compatible connectors will actually work together.