I have been out of the game for awhile, but what the hell is Component video output (Y, Pb, Pr)??

What devices have then now and what are they used for??

I'm no expert, but component video transmits video in three separate channels (Y,Pb,Pr);many dvd players utilize this method in delivering higher quality video;that's about all I can tell you; I'll leave the explanations for those more intelligent than I

To give a simple explanation:

The 'Y' component is the same as in the S-video 'Y/C', which refers to the luminance, or black & white, portion of the NTSC signal, and it's what provides the basic picture information.

By the way, the 'C' refers to the chrominance, or color information, which was added later as a separate signal for B&W/color compatibility. Many people believe that the compromise met by the 'Y/C' method of signal transmission is the main flaw in the NTSC standards.

The Pb and Pr are the signals that form the three primary colors, 'b' being blue, and 'r'; being red. The two signals are combined mathematically in various ways to form the green component. This should not be confused with the computers' RGB video signal, which forms all of the combinations from the three primaries themselves.

The theory is that the more that the different video signal components are transmitted independently, the greater the signal purity, partly because less filtering is required to separate the signals, which results in a picture with better color control, less dot crawl, sharper images, etc.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

Also known as Y, Cb, Cr

"The Pb and Pr are the signals that form the three primary colors, 'b' being blue, and 'r'; being red. The two signals are combined mathematically in various ways to form the green component. "

Not quite.
Y, Pb, Pr can also be written as Y, R-Y, B-Y. In other words, Y, the luma signal is a combination of R, G & B.
R-Y (Pr) is the red signal - the RGB (Y) signal resulting in a Green/Blue (cyan) signal. B-Y is Blue - RGB resulting in an RG signal (yellow). Using simple algebra, the RGB components, (which made up the original signal) can be retreived.
ie:
(R-Y) + Y = red, (B-Y) + Y = Blue, Y - R - B = Green

All video signals originate as RGB, weather the source is a video camera or a computer. Y, Pr, Pb is a form of analogue compression.

This message was edited by automan on 12/31/01 14:35.33.

Well, I was trying to make it simple, so there! : - )

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

Are you saying that if my components (DVD player) can output RGB OR Y,Pr, Pb, and my input source (projector)can accept either type of signal, I should use RGB because it isn't compressed???

In other words, does RGB deliver a non-compressed signal and Y,Pr, Pb, deliver a compressed signal??

This message was edited by Steve13 on 01/01/02 10:58.07.

i was trying to follow this thread but couldn't find my science calculator :)

The sync signals in Y/Pb/Pr are normal composite sync and located on the Y, correct?

This message was edited by dougw on 01/01/02 13:15.55.

"In other words, does RGB deliver a non-compressed signal and Y,Pr, Pb, deliver a compressed signals?"

RGB has a higher bandwidth.

"i was trying to follow this thread but couldn't find my science calculator :)"

You need a calculator? there are no numbers ;)

"The sync signals in Y/Pb/Pr are normal composite sync and located on the Y, correct? "

yes

"Y,Pb,Pr" or "Y,Cb,Cr" or "Y,I,Q": I've seen all of these in reference to video, especially component video. Do they all mean the same thing, or is there a difference?

Steve13: If your system can take advantage of RGB, you should definitely use it. RGB are the real components of a video signal: no subtractions, additions, or manipulations are required to get "pure" red, blue, or especially green. An RGB (five strand) cable carries the three unadulterated color signals, plus the synchronization information which tells the monitor where a picture starts and ends, and a signal called "burst". The five together give you what is arguably the highest quality picture available in the home today.

"An RGB (five strand) cable carries the three unadulterated color signals, plus the synchronization information which tells the monitor where a picture starts and ends, and a signal called "burst""

Sometimes, composite sync information is carries in the green channel. you don't always need 5 wires.
The sync signals in component video are not called 'burst'. You are thinking of the subcarrier burst in composite video.

BTW, YIQ signals are the modulated colour difference signals in composite video...not quite the same as the baseband Y, R-Y, B-Y.

This message was edited by steveTO on 01/02/02 11:28.38.

"Are you saying that if my components (DVD player) can output RGB OR Y,Pr, Pb, and my input source (projector)can accept either type of signal, I should use RGB because it isn't compressed???"

Another wrench in this equation is that almost all DVDs have copy guard protection built in which the DVD player will read and not send out an RGB signal. I always run a component cable along with an RGB so that you can watch all of your DVDs.

Jeff