Production Glossary
Composite Video
Composite video is a signal of analog television that has not been balanced on a RF carrier or joined with a sound signal. All of the information needed for the signal itself is contained in one single line signal. As with component video, audio is not carried through the signal, requiring the use of a separate audio cable. The yellow RCA jack is generally located next to two audio jacks, one is red and the other is white.Composite video has three standard formats: PAL (Phase Alternating Line), SECAM (Sequential Color with Memory), and NTSC (National Television System Committee). The units that make up the composite signal are Y, U, and V. The Y unit illustrates the luminance, or brightness, of the picture and enables the synchronizing pulses that allow a signal to be displayed as a monochrome picture if necessary. The U and V units stand for the chrominance and hue, and together carry the color information. Composite video has the ability to be modulated onto different frequencies when necessary. A laser disc holds a “true” composite signal. A VHS tape’s signal is changed from that original signal.
Composite video has become less useful due to the advances in digital and HD televisions and DVD players.
