Currently, there are three main methods of transmitting television video signals, composite video, S-video, and component video. Of the three, component video provides the highest quality video image. Component video is made up of three signals, the luminance signal, the blue signal and the red signal. The luminance or Y signal contains brightness and black and white information. The blue or Pb signal contains information about how much blue is in image. The red or Pr signal contains information about how much red is in an image. Green is not transmitted separately. Instead, the receiving device calculates the amount of green based on the information it receives about the brightness of the image and the amount of blue and red. Component video signals can have resolutions of 1080i or 720p, which are both high definition formats, 480p, which is the progressive scan format, or 480i, which is the standard video format. Component video requires three connectors, one for each of the component video signals. If you were to look at the back of most DVD players, TVs, and multi-function monitors, you would see the three component connectors, typically grouped under a Component Video label and marked Y, Pb, and Pr.
Note: Component video is for video only. If you connect your TV or monitor to a video source using your component video inputs, you must also connect the audio output of your source to the audio input on your TV or monitor.
