If you need to connect old AV equipment to newer equipment, you may find that you need to convert red, blue, green cables to red yellow white cables (component to composite conversion). In this article, we will explain how to hook up red, blue, green cables to red yellow white cables.
The red, blue, green cables are used for component video. All these wires carry video, so you need to transmit audio separately. On the other hand, red yellow white cables are used for composite video and stereo sound. The white cable is for left audio channel, the red cable is for right audio channel and the yellow cable is for the video signal.
To hook up red, blue, green cables to red yellow white cables, having a red, yellow, white (composite) cable to red, blue, green (component) cable converter can be handy.
While you can use either of the cables for such connections, a piece of equipment may not have support for both cables. In such a case, you will need a composite-to-component converter.
Composite To Component Conversion
Before delving into a composite to component conversion, we’ll like to explain some important terms. Let’s begin with the explanation of a composite cable.
What Is A Composite Cable: A composite cable is the same as a red, yellow, white cable, which you can use to transmit analog video and audio signals.
The yellow connector of the composite (3-in-1) cable is for transmitting the video signal, while the red and white connectors are for transmitting the audio signal.
What Is A Component Cable: The component cable, on the other hand, is the same as the red, green, blue cable. You can use the component cable to transmit digital video signals, and unlike the composite cable, it is a 5-in-1 cable.
While the red and white audio connectors are for transmitting the audio signal, the green, blue, and red connectors are for transmitting the video signal. The video signal splits into three – the Y, U, and V signals.
What Is Composite To Component Conversion: So, composite to component conversion is a simple technique for splitting the video signal of a composite video into three different components – the Y component for transmitting the brightness, and the Yb and Yr components for transmitting the color difference.
The conversion helps to improve the video quality because the component video resolution (1080px) is higher than that of composite (480px).
A composite to component converter uses a frame rate of 50/60Hz for converting signals to ensure a glitch-free display.
You will have to power on the converter before use; that, you can do with the use of its switching power adapter of 100-240VAC. Note that the converter may come with an auto power-saving mode.
Input and Output Video Formats of the Conversion
Composite to component cable converters accept a wide range of input formats. They support most of the standard video systems.
Some notable video systems supported include PAL, PAL-M, PAL-N, NTSC3.58, SECAM, and NTSC4.43. Often, the converter detects the NTSC/PAL/SECAM devices automatically. In the case of the component video output, you will get 480i/576i for TV or projector displays.
The output of the converter is clean and rich in color. You can use it with CCTV cameras for video surveillance. Also, you can use it with a video multiplexer or quad processor to component video.
What Does A Composite To Component Converter Do?
Basically, the difference in the composite and component cables comes from the video transmission aspect.
The audio transmission uses two connectors – the red and white connectors. But, for the video transmission, the composite cable uses the yellow connector only while the component cable uses three connectors – the red, green, and blue connectors.
So, what the composite to component converter does is help split the video signal from the yellow connector of the composite cable into two components.
The first and second components are the brightness and color of the video signal, respectively. Transmitting the brightness (Y) and color difference (Yb and Yr) components is via the green and red and blue connectors of the component cable, respectively.
Are you wondering why you may have to convert a composite cable to a component cable? Well, there is a reason for that, and it is incompatibility.
In a scenario where a TV or PC monitor has no support or jack for composite cables, and you want to use an old VCR device that comes with only the composite cable support, a conversion may be your only option.
That way, you can connect the devices without bothering about losses in the video quality.
While we discuss what a composite to component cable converter can do, it is important to mention what it can’t do.
Do not expect the converter to output a quality that is significantly improved compared with the original one.
For instance, the input video is black and white, and you are expecting a colored output. Understand that it is most likely the case of garbage in, garbage out.
How To Use And Connect A Composite To Component Converter
Using a composite to component converter is easy. It is ideal in a scenario where you intend to connect a device like a game box with a composite port with a TV or monitor with a component port. So, how exactly can you connect a composite to the component converter?
Here is how to go about it. Take one end of the composite (red, yellow, white) cable and connect it to the side of the converter that is compatible with the 3-in-1 cable.
Then, connect the other end of the composite cable to your equipment like a gaming console. While you do so, make sure you follow the conventional color code for such connections.
That is, use the yellow connector to transmit the video signal and the red and white connectors for the right and left components of the audio signal.
For connecting the component cable, connect one end of each of the five connectors to your output devices, such as your TV or PC monitor.
Connect the other end to the free end of the composite to component converter. You must follow the color code convention while you do so.
For the best audio quality, make sure you connect the red and white audio connectors similarly to the composite audio connectors.
But, it is a different ball game for the video connectors, which in this case are three in number.
Ensure you connect the green connector, which is for transmitting the brightness and the red and blue connectors, which are for transmitting the color.
Finally, powering the red, yellow, white to the red, green, blue converter requires that you connect one end of a USB cable to your TV or monitor and the other end to the USB (input power) port on the converter.
Using a Multi-purpose Composite to Component Converter
Unlike a sole-purpose converter used for converting composite to component cables, multi-purpose converters are a bit different.
You can use them to perform one or more other signal conversion jobs. Usually, a multi-purpose converter comes with a switch that you can use to select the type of conversion to accomplish.
For instance, if you have a converter that can convert both composite video and S-Video signals to component or HDMI signals, it will come with a push-button.
You will be able to use the push-button to select your preferred input and output. For this converter under consideration, you can do four different conversions.
That is because it accepts two different types of inputs – composite video and S-Video signals, and outputs – component and HDMI signals.
To use such a converter to convert composite to component cables, you have to ensure you use the correct cables – composite and component cables.
Aside from that, make sure you select the right conversion with the push button. It is needless to mention that multi-purpose converters are a bit pricey, owing to the fact that you can use them for multiple conversions.
Example Uses Of A Composite To Component Converter
There are several example use cases where you can use a composite to component converter. But, we’ll look at a three (3) scenarios only.
- Connecting an old VCR to a TV with red, green, blue ports: Usually, new VCR players may have red, green, blue ports, but the old ones may not have support for these ports. So, to connect such an old VCR to a TV with support for a component cable, you can use a composite to component converter. The converter splits the video signal transmitted by the yellow connector of the composite cable into three components transmitted by the red, green, and blue connectors of the component cable.
- Connecting your Nintendo gaming console to a TV with component cable support: Ideally, the Nintendo gaming console comes with support for the composite – red, yellow, white AV cable. So, to connect it to a TV with only support for the component cable, you will need to use the composite to component converter. Of course, the use case is similar to that explained above in scenario 1.
- Connecting a Camcorder to a new TV: Most new televisions do not have support for the red, yellow, white (composite) cable support, but have support for the red, green, blue (component) cable. So, connecting a camcorder to a new TV set may be difficult except if you use a red, yellow, white to the red, green, blue converter. Connecting the cables to the devices and converter is not different from the explanation in 1 above.
- Connecting a CCTV Camera to Monitors: There is a high rate of security threats in the world today. In a bid to reduce theft, businesses and individuals may install CCTV cameras to observe footage on a single or multiple monitors. To connect these cameras to the monitors, you will need a composite to component converter. That is because most CCTV cameras have support for composite cables while the monitors don’t. So, a converter will help convert to connect the composite cable to a component cable, which is compatible with the monitor.
- Connecting DVD Players to new TV sets: Although connecting a DVD to a TV set seems seamless in time past, with the use of a composite cable, it is no longer so today. Newer TVs do not have RCA or composite cable jacks, making it impossible for such a direct connection now. That is where a composite to component converter plays an important role. With the converter, you can still connect your DVD to your new TV set, provided you have composite and component cables. The connection is not difficult and is as described earlier in this article.
Top 2 Composite To Component Converters
Our experts have researched the best composite to component converters on Amazon, and we will discuss the 2 top ones in this review. You may want to take note of the features, pros, and cons so that you can make an informed buying decision.
1. Composite S-Video To Component Video RGB Sync On Green Converter
This composite to component converter is arguably the best in the market today. It is a dual-purpose converter, which you can use to convert either a standard composite video or S-Video signal to an interlaced component video or RGB.
What that means is that the converter can accept inputs in two formats – the standard composite and S-Video signals, and produce outputs in two formats – the component YUV video or RGB.
To enable the converter to function well for different inputs and outputs, it comes with a selector switch, which you can use to select your preferred input and output.
For the component video output, you will get 480i/576i for TV or projector displays. In the case of the RGB output, you will either get 15.625 KHz/50Hz or 15.734 KHz/60Hz on a monitor display.
The output of the converter is clean and rich in color. You can use it with CCTV cameras for video surveillance. Also, you can use it with a video multiplexer or quad processor to component video.
The detection of the NTSC/PAL/SECAM devices is automatic, and it supports a wide range of video systems. Some notable video systems supported include PAL, PAL-M, PAL-N, NTSC3.58, SECAM, and NTSC4.43.
Powering the converter is with the switching power adapter that comes with it. One other thing you should know about the converter is that it has an auto power-saving mode.
Pros
It supports dual inputs and outputs, with the aid of a push button
The output quality is outstanding
There is no distortion in the original quality
Has support for major standard video formats
It is easy to use
There is auto-detection of video devices
The conversion is seamless
It has a power-saving mode
Cons
It needs powering to use
The power cable is short
It is a little bit pricey, though it delivers value
2. Composite S-Video To HD Component Video VGA Converter Scaler
The composite S-video to HD component video VGA converter scaler is the second on our list of top two (2) composite to component converters.
This converter is cost-effective and can be used to convert both composite video and s-video signals to component video or VGA.
When you use the converter, you are guaranteed a high-resolution output that is sharp and very detailed.
With the converter, you can get up to 1080p HD output or even 1600p by 1200p when you select VGA output.
Although you should not expect a significant transformation in quality, the converter enhances the quality of the input for better viewing. One good thing is that the converter reduces noise automatically, a feature you are unlikely to get from most similar converters.
There is no room for out-of-sync output because of video processing in real-time, allowing for the syncing of the audio and video signals.
Although you can use this converter with S-Video input, you will have to focus on selecting the composite input with the push button, so that you can feed in signals using the red, yellow, white cable.
To get the output using a red, green, blue cable, you will select the component video output on the converter.
All the major standard video formats – both PAL and NTSC formats are supported, and their detection is automatic. The converter uses a frame rate of 50/60Hz for converting signals to ensure a glitch-free display. The converter comes with a power adapter of 100-240VAC that you can use to power it.
Pros
The converter serves a dual-conversion purpose
It supports auto noise reduction
No distortion or loss of input signal
Excellent image quality
You will get a high-resolution output
Cons
You may get better quality with the 480p resolution
The power cable is not very long
Can You Plug Composite Cables Into Component Slots?
Composite cables are not designed to be compatible with component ports unless the device has been specifically custom-designed for that purpose (accepting composite signals). You will not be able to plug the yellow plug into any one of the green, blue, or red ports, and get the correct video.
Are Component Cables As Good As HDMI?
HDMI and component cables are two of the most preferred connectors to provide HD video output. They are both high quality, and they work well, but most audio-visual enthusiasts would choose HDMI for a number of reasons.
- The HDMI cable is a single cable that supports both audio and video inputs.
- It provides higher-resolution picture quality with surround sound audio.
- It’s a single cable for both audio and video hook-up that delivers superior picture quality and surround-sound audio.
How to connect component cables to a TV
To do this,
- Connect the component cable to the video and audio outputs on your video source, which is what you want to connect to your TV.
- Connect the other end of the cable to the component audio and video ports on your TV.
NOTE: Pay attention to the color coding of the ports while connecting.
Conclusion
As you have read above, the composite to component converter will enable you to connect your old RCA-supported devices to newer models of TVs and monitors.
You may be able to use other means, but using this converter is arguably the cheapest and most likely the means with the best quality and ease of use.